Iris Boelhouwer Resigns as Technical Director of Dutch Equestrian Federation

Dressage

The Netherlands

Iris Boelhouwer will resign as Technical Director of the Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) in May 2025. She ran the Dutch national federation for a period of five years.

The official press release of the KNHS is full of praise for her leadership in that period.

"With a clear vision on talent development and performance at the highest level, she has, together with riders, coaches and team top sport, allowed the Dutch equestrian sport to grow further and excel internationally," the KNHS stated.

Boelhouwer commented, "I look back on the past five years with great pride. They were years in which we experienced wonderful sport, including team silver jumping at the World Championships in Herning. I felt privileged to be part of two Olympic Games: Tokyo 2021, in the middle of the challenging corona period, and Paris 2024, where everything came together and we performed at the highest level. The dedication and passion of all TeamNL riders, drivers and vaulters in the past 5 years are admirable and have led to wonderful championships at home and abroad, with impressive results. It is now time for me to make a different choice.”

Stakeholders in the sport are far more critical about her management. Dutch respected equestrian journalist Jacob Melissen speaks of " five years of dismal policy" and lists a string of blunders the federation made in a column in De Hoefslag. "In all disciplines at all levels during international championships, performances were too often below par. The fact that Hermès could not start in Tokyo was her responsibility. The disrespectful dismissal of national coach Rob Ehrens was her work. Forgetting to register a pony team for the European Eventing Championships was the result of her failed policy," Melissen wrote.

Cees Roozemond, general manager of the KNHS, is grateful to Iris for her tireless efforts in recent years: “I have come to know Iris as a very driven technical director with a big heart for equestrian sports and the people she works with. I think it is a shame that she is leaving, but of course I respect her choice. Together with the TeamNL riders, horses, technical staff, owners and the top sports team, she has achieved great results. We can be proud of that.”

Iris Boelhouwer will continue to perform her duties in the coming period and a suitable successor will be sought.