Marriët Smit-Hoekstra: “My family remains my priority! I love being at home because I want to be a good mother!”

In Maastricht, Marriët Smit-Hoekstra beams as if it were her first major victory ever. One hand in the air, a smile that lights up the entire arena: the joy radiates from her. But behind that enthusiasm lies a story of perseverance, an extraordinary connection with her horses, and a season in which one stallion changed everything. In an honest and open conversation, Smit-Hoekstra talks about a year that transformed her sporting career, the emotional toll of top-level sport, and the daily reality of a rider balancing young horses, big classes, and her family.