THE STORY OF Harrie Smolders
Born and raised in the small village of Lage-Mierde in the Netherlands, Harrie Smolders grew up surrounded by horses. While his family was not competitive, their passion for horses shaped his childhood. He began riding at eight years old on his sister’s pony, gradually developing a deep bond with horses.
During his pony years, he won several national titles in show jumping, as well as in dressage and eventing, already showing remarkable versatility.
At 18, he left Brabant to further his career and focus on training young horses. His ability to understand each horse and bring out its full potential quickly became his trademark. His career reached the international stage riding exceptional horses such as Emerald NOP and Don VHP Z.
Over the years, Harrie Smolders has become one of the most consistent riders in the world. He has been ranked in the Top 25 globally for more than a decade and held the World No. 1 position for eight months in 2018. His achievements include Olympic appearances, multiple European and World Championship medals, and silver medals in FEI Jumping World Cup Finals.
Beyond competition, he is recognized for his horsemanship and commitment to the welfare of his horses. His philosophy is simple: think long-term, respect the horse, and never force results. Today, Harrie Smolders stands as a symbol of excellence and consistency at the highest level of international show jumping.
Reflecting his story and philosophy, in 2018 he collaborated with CWD to create The One – L’Original bridle, a tribute to his style and vision.
Discover it in images below.
