Ad Aarts Equestrian Sports Person of the Year 2025

Coach Ad Aarts was named Equestrian Sports Person of the Year 2025 this afternoon.

The title is awarded annually by the committee to a person who has made themselves exceptionally deserving in helping Dutch equestrian athletes perform at the highest level, or who supports the equestrian sport in the broadest sense.

Ad Aarts has been national coach of the single-horse pony and para-driving disciplines since 2011, and in 2018 the four-horse and two-horse driving disciplines were added, making him national coach of no fewer than 7 driving disciplines. Additionally, Ad was the initiator of the successful Perspectives Plan, the KNHS talent development program for driving.

The successes that Ad Aarts has achieved for many consecutive years are, according to the committee, based on two pillars: his own extensive experience as a four-in-hand driver and his pedagogical qualities developed during the period when Ad was affiliated with the instructor training program in Deurne.

What stands out particularly is that whether it concerns a pony driver in the Perspectives team or a top four-in-hand driver, Ad Aarts is always willing to go to the utmost to improve the combination. Dutch equestrian sports, and thus the entire Dutch equestrian community, owe a great debt of gratitude to the always extremely modest Ad Aarts.

With the selection of Ad Aarts as Horse Sports Person of the Year, the committee not only wanted to express this gratitude and appreciation, but also to show respect for this hard-working horse man at heart and soul who operates largely in the shadows.

You can download the full jury report here.