Former Dutch international dressage rider and event organizer Gerda Smelt passed away on 13 September 2024. She was 84 years old.
Gerda (née Roerink) began riding in her teenage years and competed at local and regional events, gradually working her way up top national shows on different horses in dressage, show jumping and eventing.
She married to Bert Smelt and started a family.
In the 1970s and early 1980s she was part of Holland's top dressage group and competed at internationals in Zuidlaren, Fontainebleau, Aachen. She competed Hurricane and Persian Grey at small tour level and it was Rockefeller that took her to Grand Prix.
After competing in Goodwood, Smelt was inspired and wanted to have a similar dressage event in front of a castle in The Netherlands. She and her husband became the hosts of the Dutch Championships from 1982 till 1995 on their property in Haaksbergen. The event grew from having 200 spectators to become a staple on the Dutch dressage calendar with 10,000 spectators.
She quit riding suddenly at age 50 in 1990 but continued to coach. Her last student was Ellen Visschedijk. She then said goodbye to horse sport entirely, but continued to breed sheep.
In her death notice it reads, "after a happy life, in which there was also grief and sorrow, I said goodbye to my life on 13 September. I thank all who were dear to me, for the happy moments they gave me, for their love and friendship."