Seventeen dressage riders have been selected for the Horse Sport Flanders Talent Team Dressage for 2024. The new team members were announced during the CDI-W/CSI-W Mechelen, which is taking place in Belgium this week.
In 2023 Horse Sport Flanders (formerly known as VLP) divided the riders into an A, B, High Potential and Future squad. This year the website of Horse Sport Flanders just lists the 16 selected riders in one group.
The Talent Team and Talent Plan was founded 17 years ago, based on the example of The Netherlands (Rabo Talent Team). Selected riders get financial support for their training and education.
Evi Vereecke, Technical Director for High Perforamnce Sport: “The Talent Plan is bearing fruit. Together with several experts, we have worked hard on an update this year, in which we will place even more emphasis on various support for young people in the coming years. Because...investing in youth is sowing for the future."
Every year a "Talent of the Year" is proclaimed. For 2023 Belgian eventer Jarno Verwimp has been selected for that title. The last time a dressage rider was named Talent of the Year was in 2017 (Laurence Roos). The first ever dressage winner was Julie de Deken in 2010 (she has now quit horse sport entirely). In 2014 Jorinde Verwimp earned the title.
Member of the 2024 Talent Team Dressage are:
- Ine Blommaert
- Jette De Jong
- Xyliana De Rover
- Evelyne Dieltjens
- Liezel Everars
- Suraya Hendrikx
- Alexine Herweyers
- Emilie Herweyers
- Lauranne Lammens
- Elisabeth Leduc
- Sophia Leo
- Laura Luyten
- Zoë Niessen
- Anna Peeters
- Helena Theeuwes
- Athalina Van Roey
- Aude Verheecke
Related Links
Jette de Jong and Lauranne Lammens Submitted to 2023 Talent Team A-Squad
Laurence Roos Named VLP Talent of the Year 2017
Julie de Deken, Belgian Talent of the Year 2010