Wout-Jan van der Schans has been appointed as the new national coach for the TeamNL showjumpers. Van der Schans succeeds Jos Lansink, who announced last year that he could no longer combine the position with his other commitments. As a rider, Van der Schans has competed in the Olympics, World Championships, and European Championships and remains active in the sport as both a rider and trainer.
“This is, of course, a fantastic challenge and aligns well with my other activities,” says Van der Schans (born 1961) about his new role. “The position of national coach has come up before, but at the time, I still had too many competitive ambitions. Now it’s time to take a step back in the sport. I still want to stay active but not at the very highest level. Additionally, I’ve always greatly enjoyed mentoring riders. Many of today’s top riders are people I know personally from competitions, and I have a good relationship with them. We know each other from Nations Cup events and understand what to expect from one another and how we view the sport.”
Preparations have already started for upcoming major international events, such as Jumping Amsterdam and the first two Longines League of Nations competitions in Abu Dhabi and Ocala, initiated by Jos Lansink. Van der Schans commented, “The planning for these events naturally demands a lot, requiring timely and thorough preparation, and Jos has already laid the groundwork. Over the coming weeks, I will have extensive discussions with Jos to ensure a smooth transition for the riders.”
Career
Van der Schans has had a long and successful career as a rider, competing in the Olympics, World Championships, and European Championships. Initially, like his father Piet, he excelled in eventing, even becoming Dutch champion in the discipline twice. However, in 1985, after acquiring the horse Treffer, he made the definitive switch to showjumping. In 1988, he competed with Treffer at the Seoul Olympics, where the team finished fifth.
He considers his 1996 World Cup win with Leroy Brown at Jumping Amsterdam his most cherished victory. “Winning there in such a strong field with that horse was truly special. Competing before an enthusiastic Queen and a cheering crowd in the stands was incredible.”
Some of the most renowned horses Van der Schans has achieved international success with include Olympic Treffer, Broere VDL Corland, Leroy Brown, Capetown, and more recently, G.AS-Bombay, with whom he was on the longlist for the Tokyo Olympics. Van der Schans operates his own equestrian stable in Nijkerk.
Confidence
KNHS Technical Director Iris Boelhouwer is pleased with Van der Schans’ appointment. "I’m thrilled to welcome Wout-Jan van der Schans to his new role. His extensive experience and passion for the sport make him a perfect addition to the team. I am confident that he will make a significant contribution to our ambitions and the further development of our riders and horses."
“This is, of course, a fantastic challenge and aligns well with my other activities,” says Van der Schans (born 1961) about his new role. “The position of national coach has come up before, but at the time, I still had too many competitive ambitions. Now it’s time to take a step back in the sport. I still want to stay active but not at the very highest level. Additionally, I’ve always greatly enjoyed mentoring riders. Many of today’s top riders are people I know personally from competitions, and I have a good relationship with them. We know each other from Nations Cup events and understand what to expect from one another and how we view the sport.”
Preparations have already started for upcoming major international events, such as Jumping Amsterdam and the first two Longines League of Nations competitions in Abu Dhabi and Ocala, initiated by Jos Lansink. Van der Schans commented, “The planning for these events naturally demands a lot, requiring timely and thorough preparation, and Jos has already laid the groundwork. Over the coming weeks, I will have extensive discussions with Jos to ensure a smooth transition for the riders.”
Career
Van der Schans has had a long and successful career as a rider, competing in the Olympics, World Championships, and European Championships. Initially, like his father Piet, he excelled in eventing, even becoming Dutch champion in the discipline twice. However, in 1985, after acquiring the horse Treffer, he made the definitive switch to showjumping. In 1988, he competed with Treffer at the Seoul Olympics, where the team finished fifth.
He considers his 1996 World Cup win with Leroy Brown at Jumping Amsterdam his most cherished victory. “Winning there in such a strong field with that horse was truly special. Competing before an enthusiastic Queen and a cheering crowd in the stands was incredible.”
Some of the most renowned horses Van der Schans has achieved international success with include Olympic Treffer, Broere VDL Corland, Leroy Brown, Capetown, and more recently, G.AS-Bombay, with whom he was on the longlist for the Tokyo Olympics. Van der Schans operates his own equestrian stable in Nijkerk.
Confidence
KNHS Technical Director Iris Boelhouwer is pleased with Van der Schans’ appointment. "I’m thrilled to welcome Wout-Jan van der Schans to his new role. His extensive experience and passion for the sport make him a perfect addition to the team. I am confident that he will make a significant contribution to our ambitions and the further development of our riders and horses."