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Sanne THIJSSEN

Sanne THIJSSEN, Dutch Jumping athlete.

Name Sanne THIJSSEN
FEI ID 10097112
Gender Female
Date of Birth 09/11/1998
Competing for Netherlands - NED
Registration Jumping 2024
Last update 24/05/2023
FEI Database



Jumping 70x70
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport? She rode in her first jumping competition at age seven.
Why this sport? Her father has competed in equestrian jumping at international level. She began competing on ponies before changing to horses and starting her international competition career at age 15.
Club / Team Stal Thijssen: Sevenum, NED
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievement Winning the individual competition at the 2022 Global Champions Tour event in Madrid, Spain. (worldofshowjumping.com, 15 May 2022)
Most influential person in career Her father. (worldofshowjumping.com, 13 Mar 2019)
Hero / Idol US rider Kent Farrington. (eqwo.net, 02 Feb 2016)
Sporting philosophy / motto "Never give up." (worldofshowjumping.com, 13 Mar 2019)
Awards and honours She was named Top Athlete of the Year in Limburg, Netherlands, in 2021 and 2022. (dehoefslag.nl, 05 Nov 2022) She was named the 2016 Talent of the Year by the Royal Dutch Equestrian Sport Federation [KNHS]. (knhs.nl, 15 May 2018)
Famous relatives Her father Leon Thijssen represented the Netherlands in equestrian jumping at the 2005 European Championships in San Patrignano, Italy. Her siblings Mel and Mans have both represented the Netherlands in jumping at the European Young Riders Championship. (SportsDeskOnline, 13 Jan 2023; sliedrecht24.nl, 16 Oct 2019; peelbergen.eu, 20 Feb 2018; fei.org, 21 Aug 2016; eqwo.net, 02 Feb 2016)
Ambitions To win a gold medal at a major competition. (worldofshowjumping.com, 13 Mar 2019; chio.nl, 18 Jun 2022)
Other information INDEPENDENT WORK She has established her own equestrian business, which she runs alongside work for her family stables, Stal Thijssen. "If I only drive for my father, I'm busy from 07:30 to 17:30. If you still have to do your own horses after that, at a certain point that breaks down. That's why I took this step. I took the plunge and started my own business at a different location, close to my father's stable. My horses are also sometimes in his stables when horses are at international competitions there. On a typical day I start with dad's horses and in the afternoon I ride my own horses. It varies in competition. Sometimes I have a day when I only ride dad's horses and the next day I only ride my horses. In the end it is always nicely divided, so say 50/50." (paardensport.knhs.nl, 07 Apr 2022) ACADEMY She was one of seven European riders selected for the 2018 Young Riders Academy [YRA] full academy programme, which aims to grow athletes and educate them to a modern sport system. Riders selected for the scheme get access to boarding and training at a renowned stable, as well as education in communication, business, economics, and legal practice connected to the equestrian environment. (knhs.nl, 15 May 2018)
Milestones In May 2016, at age 17, she became the youngest winner of the Eindhoven Derby in the Netherlands. She rode the 15-year-old Ulena at the event, a horse that her father had previously competed on. (worldofshowjumping.com, 08 May 2016)
Further Personal Information
Residence Sevenum, NED
Occupation Athlete, Breeder, Horse Trainer
Languages Dutch