THE FEI has paid tribute to former FEI dressage and para dressage Director, Trond Asmyr, who sadly passed away on Saturday, January 4th, after a long illness. Norwegian-born Asmyr served as the FEI’s Dressage and Para Dressage Director from June 2009 until May 2016.

While at the FEI, Asmyr attended the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, two editions of the FEI World Equestrian Games, multiple FEI World Cup Finals, and various FEI Championships. He was pivotal in implementing the recommendations of the Dressage Task Force, created after the 2008 Olympic Games, and initiated key improvements to the FEI Dressage Rules on training techniques.

Prior to joining the FEI, Trond Asmyr was a highly experienced international dressage judge and had over 30 years of judging experience on the national circuit in Norway. He had been the Vice President of the Norwegian Equestrian Federation and had served on the Federation’s Board of Directors for over a decade.

After he left the FEI in 2016, Asmyr went back to international judging and, as a Level 3 dressage judge, officiated at numerous FEI Events.

“Trond was a highly experienced dressage expert and we are deeply saddened by his untimely passing,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “He was a passionate and dedicated member of the FEI team, bringing clarity to the sport, implementing complex decisions, while remaining professional and fair to everyone.

“This is a big loss to international dressage and we express our deepest condolences to Trond’s family, friends and the Norwegian equestrian community.”

Dressage Ireland also paid tribute, stating: “It is with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of Norwegian international dressage judge and former FEI dressage Director, Trond Asmyr.

“Trond was a frequent visitor to Ireland and he was a valued member of the ground jury at the Dressage Ireland National Championships for many years.

“All in Dressage Ireland extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Trond Asmyr. May he rest in peace. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.”

New chef d’equipe announced for Dutch show jumping team

THE Dutch Equestrian Federation has announced that Wout Jan van der Schans has been appointed as the new chef d’equipe for the Dutch show jumping team, replacing Jos Lansink, who stepped down at the end of 2024.

In a press release from the Dutch Equestrian Federation, 63-year-old van der Schans said: “It is, of course, a wonderful challenge, which also fits in with my other activities. Being a national coach has been discussed before, but at that time, I had too many sporting ambitions myself. It is now time to take a step back in the sport.

“I still want to remain active, but not at the highest level. In addition, I have always enjoyed coaching riders. Of course, I know many of today’s top riders from the competitions myself and I have a good understanding with those riders. We also know each other from the team competitions and know what we have in common and how we view the sport.”

Van der Schans was on the Dutch team at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul and at the 1986 World Championships in Aachen; he also competed at four FEI World Cup Finals, as well as three European Championships. He runs his own stable in Nijkerk and was longlisted for the Tokyo Olympic Games with GAS-Bombay.

Catch Me If You Can retires from jumping

CZECH show jumper Anna Kellnerova has announced the retirement of Catch Me If You Can (Catoki x Acordplus). The pair competed up to five-star level with good results, including participation at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The mare, who is now 17, was previously competed with great success by Germany’s Laura Klaphake. They jumped together at the 2017 European Championships in Gothenburg and were on the German team who won the CSIO5* Nations Cup in Aachen in 2018; they subsequently claimed team bronze at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon the same year.

Kellnerova paid tribute to Catch Me If You Can on social media: “Dear Queen C, there is so much I could write about the last six years we got to spend together in and out of the ring. We have grown together as a pair and got to experience some incredible firsts, all the way to the Olympics, as well as being there for each other during some challenging times.

“Your strength and determination to give your all was admired by me, our whole team and, dare I say, also the people watching you perform. You are truly one of a kind. But most importantly, I wanted to say thank you for being the horse and partner you are, uncompromising and caring.

“I can’t wait for your next chapter in life, taking time for yourself in the fields and hopefully having a few future champion foals. Thank you Catchi, forever grateful.”

Event cancelled at

Kronenberg

THE ‘Outdoor Horst’ event held at Peelbergen Equestrian Centre, Kronenberg in The Netherlands has been cancelled for March 2025.

The event started in March 2022 on the beautiful grounds of Grandorse and the Peelbergen Equestrian Centre and has seen 10 super competitions.

Organisers have been working hard in recent months to try to ensure the continuation of the event, but major eventing fixtures such as this incur high costs and, despite the large number of participants and volunteers, they have not been able to secure the financial side of things for the March event.

In the coming months, organisers will be working to try to continue eventing at Peelbergen Equestrian Centre and Grandorse. In the meantime, they extend their thanks to all sponsors, riders and volunteers for their efforts in recent editions.