Leunus van Lieren Severely Injured in Riding Accident

Dressage

The Netherlands

Dutch dressage horse breeder, trainer and rider Leunus van Lieren got severely injured in riding accident at his home yard Stable Hexagon on Thursday 25 July 2024.

Van Lieren fell with a horse that slipped and got crushed underneath it. When the horse tried to get up it hit Leunus several times with its legs.

"It caused multiple injuries, including broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and an open femur fracture with arterial bleeding," Stable Hexagon reported. "After a long operation at the hospital in Goes he gained consciousness later in the evening."

Van Lieren remained in the ICU overnight.

Stable Hexagon reported three days later that "his condition is stable for now if there are no complications, but his recovery will take the required time."

The day of the accident, Van Lieren's KWPN stallion Hexagon's Power Dutch was supposed to compete in the Pavo Cup but was withdrawn because of those circumstances.

"This disappointed Leunus because as soon as he awoke from anaesthesia he asked how Power Dutch had done in the competition," said the barn manager.

Today Hexagon issued an update on Leunus' condition as he is leaving the hospital today after two weeks of hospitalisation.

"The first steps of his recovery are going according to plan, and he is looking forward to being home again, and being able to watch his horses and riders," the stable communicated. "His further rehabilitation will still take some time, but Leunus is going full steam ahead!

Leunus van Lieren is the KWPN Breeder of the Year 2017. Head rider at the barn is Dutch team member Thamar Zweistra. Leunus' son Laurens represented The Netherlands at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen and was working the Olympic Games in Paris as a commentator for Dutch TV.