Rien van der Schaft Appointed as New Spanish Dressage Team Trainer

Renowned Dutch Grand Prix rider and trainer Rien van der Schaft has officially taken on the role of Spanish national dressage team trainer, stepping in after Francis Verbeek stepped down. Van der Schaft brings decades of elite-level experience, including coaching roles for Finland and a competitive history with the Dutch team.

His appointment comes at a crucial time, as the Spanish Equestrian Federation (RFHE) faced internal delays due to recent elections. With the 2025 European Championships on the horizon—set in Le Mans, Kronberg, and Crozet—Van der Schaft is now tasked with building a solid competition structure and preparing Spain’s top dressage riders for international success.

While the RFHE has yet to make a formal announcement, Van der Schaft confirmed the news to Eurodressage, expressing enthusiasm for this new challenge. His focus is now on establishing clear plans and strong collaboration with the federation and riders, aiming to shape a competitive team despite the late start to the season.

Rien van der Schaft-credit CHIO Rotterdam