Israeli Roy First Declares for Poland

Dressage

Israel

Israeli dressage rider Roy First has declared for Poland. The 35-year old First is based in Belgium.

Riding for Israel

Frirst made his international show debut in 2016 aboard the Oldenburg mare Hadassa (by Hotline x Sandro Hit) at the CDI Fritzens. He also competed in Deauville and Darmstadt this year.

His first major international representation was at the 2019 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo, where he rode the Rhinelander mare Spice Girl (by Stanford x Londonderry) to an 18th place in the 5-year old consolation final and the Dutch warmblood Infinity Win T (by Everdale x Jazz) to a 15th place in the 6-year old consolation final.

A five-year break from international showing followed. First returned to the CDI ring in Lier in February 2024 competing Infinity Win T and the Oldenburg gelding Ecstasy F (by Elton John x Hotline) at small tour level. He also took these two horses to the CDI's in Sint-Truiden and Le Mans.

Declared for Poland

First has now declared for Poland.

"I always had dual nationality, as my father’s family is from Poland," Roy told Eurodressage. "I’m already playing with the idea of changing my sport nationality for many years. It was a long process for me to make this decision and I just decided now it will be the best move for my carreer."

With Spice Girl at the 2019 WCYH in Ermelo

In 2007 Roy First left Israel to begin his training as a professional dressage rider as a working student with Coby van Baalen in The Netherlands. He briefly moved back home but returned to Germany in 2011 to work with Johann Hinnemann and later on with Judy Reynolds. As of 2017 he was back with Coby van Baalen and stayed with her until the end of 2024.

Switching Coaches

In 2021 Roy met his fiancé, Belgian Hans Buytaert, and the connection with Belgium was made. In 2022 he moved to Belgium and set up his own business. He is now based at Delphine Meiresonne's yard in Zandhoven, Belgium.

Roy recently started training with Belgian Olympian Domien Michiels.

"It became a bit to much for me and my horses doing the long drives every week and then shows in the weekend, so since last December I have started training by Domien. It’s all very new but going very well," said First.