JOS Lansink has stepped down as chef d’equipe of The Netherlands show jumping team. The Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) confirmed the news this week.

Lansink had held the role since 2022, when he succeeded Rob Ehrens in the top job. In his first year, he led the country to team silver at the 2022 World Championships in Herning, Denmark, qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Dutch team missed out on the bronze medal in Paris by 0.57 of a second, while Maikel van der Vleuten won the individual bronze medal.

“Sometimes you have to make choices in life and I did that,” Lansink said in a press release. “I have fulfilled the role of national coach with great pleasure. It is a beautiful task, but also a task that takes a lot of time. When I do this work, I want to give it my full 100% and do it the way I think it should be done. I want to see the riders and horses regularly at work at competitions and not just look at the results.

“That takes a lot of time and I did it with pleasure, but I have a company at home with many activities and I can no longer combine that. I also experienced the cooperation with the riders and KNHS employees as very pleasant and I am very grateful to everyone for that, but for now, I am taking a step back.’’

The KNHS said his departure was “a huge loss” and confirmed they are looking for a replacement.