The Dutch bondscoach Wim Ernes passed away at the age of 58. With the death of Wim the equestrian world looses a fantastic man and a special horseman.
Wim Ernes was a horseman in every inch and was known for his role as Dutch Bondscoach, international judge and president of the Dutch stallion commission for dressage. Until the last he was as much involved as he could with the equestrian sport. Earlier this week he, as icon of the Dutch equestrian sport, got a golden KNHS-brooch as mark of appreciation for his enormous merits for the Dutch equestrian sport. The Dutch federation thanked Ernes last February during the KWPN Stallion approval in 's-Hertogenbosch with a golden KWPN-brooch for his commitment for the pedigree.
The effort of Ernes to augment the equitation and the judging of many people, was unequalled. In the 90's of last era he was already a successful bondscoach for some time, a role he retook in 2013. The last few years he was seen a lot as bondscoach. He also helped develop the education for judges. Beside that he was also member of some approval commissions of the KWPN.
In November 2015 he said goodbye to the stallion approval commission dressage, where he was president for the last three years. As a judge his highlight was the Olympics of London in 2012. As Bondscoach his historical success were the olympic silver for the Dutch team in Atlanta, 1996 and European gold in Aken, 2015.
The national and international equestrian sport and breeding looses an extremely competent and respected, but above all an lovely person.