Harrie Smolders Named The 2017 Dutch Rider Of The Year!

Harrie Smolders riding Don VHP at the 2017 European Championship in Gothenburg Ph.©Thomas Reiner

Three cheers for Harrie Smolders!

With a 2017 show season marked by one dominant performance after another, the 37-year-old Smolders earns further recognition, being awarded the Dutch Rider of the Year.

A first-time recipient of this award, Smolders is well-deserving in the acknowledgement of his accomplishments in a single season, most notably — LGCT Individual Champion, Individual silver medalist at the 2017 European Championship in Gothenburg, anchor rider for the gold medal winning Dutch team at the 2017 CSIO5* FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona. 

An elated and humbled Smolders posted a heartfelt message to his team via his official Instagram account on Wednesday, February 14, 2018:

“Beyond honored to have been voted the 2017 Rider of the Year in The Netherlands. It’s a good moment to say a huge thank you to our incredible team and the phenomenal horses who I’m lucky enough to work with every day.”

Smolder is set to receive the award at the Indoor Brabant Dutch Masters on March 8th-11th, 2018 

Source: Dutch Masters