The news has filtered back from those who were there that Exloo was a superb event – if freezing – which Cath Brockie has mentioned in her fun feature about the weekend.

The Hippisch Centrum is a super, purpose-built event venue which is extremely well suited to driving and has been the scene of many superb driving shows, not least the 2023 European four-in-hand and World Para Driving championships.  The obstacles are either in the arena or round a field beyond it’s quite straightforward to view the action all at once.

The main arena is next to the enclosed stabling building which has an indoor arena.  It was the setting for the 2025 FEI Driving Forum which was held just before this same event last year.  A year ago it was slightly chaotic in the background while the forum was proceeding due to the new FEI vet checks that were being rolled out for the first time for all equines on arrival.  Not unlike the non-Schengen passport control experience for some of us travellers just now…

AACHEN IN SIGHT

This year, with the Aachen combined discipline World Championships on the horizon, there’s a sense that everyone is stepping up their game, especially in the horse fours.

There no were ‘big name’ Chardons at Exloo 2026 because they, like Boyd, were training and producing teams for other drivers.  Jean Thornton from the USA was delighted to be driving Chardon horses and was helped by Bram.

From Boyd’s base in Valkenswaard three teams were fielded – Wayne Van Niekerk from South Africa, Robert Wilkinson from England and Taren Lester driving for the USA.

Wayne splits his time between being a surgeon in South Africa and where his horses are kept in Holland.  He also competed in the Horse Pairs World Championship in Beekbergen in 2025.  Part of his support team in Exloo this year was a new and enthusiastic driving groom Ella Woolmer, who is based in Berkshire, who helped Emma Golding in Lähden, then Boyd and his crew in London at the World Cup.

Robert Wilkinson had a superb event to finish on the rostrum in third place behind Dries Degrieck (BEL) and Anthony Horde (FRA).  Having scored 60.21 in the dressage, he stormed round the marathon to finish 4^th, then won the cones.  Evidently, he and the crew were delighted.

Dries must still on the crest of a wave after his World Cup final win in February.  Fourth after the dressage in Exloo, he won the marathon then had only three penalties in the cones to win the class on 148.79.  Anthony Horde, an experienced horse fours driver, whose son Louis is also flying the French flag with aplomb, had a so-so dressage with 64.43 then was 2^nd in the marathon and cones to finish on 169.28.  Robert was fractionally behind on 170.00, just ahead of Glenn Geerts (BEL) who was on 170.58.  Glenn posted afterwards on Facebook that he was delighted with some new horses that he’d taken to the event.

It was curious to see some of the other names in the class who have stepped up from horse pairs, including Frank Grimonprez (FRA), Marcel Luder (SUI) and Peter Bennett (GBR).

BUMPER ENTRY

While much of the focus at an international event tends to be on the horse fours class, especially in a World Championship year when qualifying scores are being chased, entries were also excellent across the 2* and 3* classes.  Lars Schwitte (GER)  – another Boyd associate – won the 3* horse pairs ahead of Jelmer Chardon (NED) and Dutch marathon supremo Stan Van Eijk, who remains world number one.

In the 3* pony singles, Desiree Van Lambalgen won for the home nation, ahead of Karina Blaabjerg of Denmark and Lotte Zaaijer, also for Holland.  Cath Brockie distinguished herself brilliantly with 4^th overall, having been 2^nd in the dressage and 3^rd in the cones.  Naturally the Dutch led the charge in several of the classes, including the 3* pony fours which Marijke Hammink won, ahead of Joris Wouda and Hendrik-Jan Beekhuiszen.

Another class which is in the spotlight due to a looming World Championship in September is the 3* horse singles.  Tony Ecalle (FRA) won the dressage and maintained his lead throughout, with Larissa Jansma (NED) in 2^nd and Kim De Groot (NED) in 3^rd.  Eline Houterman (NED), whose father Jeroen is the renowned course builder, won the marathon; former world champion Saskia Siebers (NED) had two horses and finished just over a point apart with both; and former world para champion, Tracy Bowman (USA) was in the mix too, having been 4^th in the dressage.

Four para drivers made up their class and once again, it was Hans Arends (NED) who triumphed, ahead of Josien De Boer (NED), Ivonne Hellenbrand (GER) and Francois Gallant (FRA).

No sooner had everyone got home and defrosted, than attentions turn to an even bigger event in the FEI Driving calendar, Kronenberg in southern Holland on 15-19 April.  If Exloo was busy with 129 starters, Kronenberg is even busier with 204 on the list at this stage.  All the heavy hitters in the horse fours are entered, and there are classes for the Under-25 drivers – another section which is boosted by an international championship this year.

So, the European outdoor season is underway as the North American one draws to a close.  The roads to the championships in Aachen, Azar Kisber, Osorhei and Munich are open and the selection campaigns have started.

JESSICA WÄCHTER

We were shocked and saddened to learn about the death of Jessica Wächter just after Exloo.  The circumstances seem to be horrific, and it’s beyond belief that our driving world can be touched by such extreme tragedy.

Jessica was a talented and committed horse woman who was especially good at producing young horses.  She won a remarkable seven gold medals at the FEI Young Horse World Champions and many silver and bronze medals too.  Her list of achievements with several horses from the young horse classes to 4* is impressive and bely her years.

She was only 33 and had so much more to give.  Our thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends.