Frans and Carolien Lavooij: safeguarding CHIO Rotterdam for the next 75 years

Carolien:"This year, I once again enjoyed fantastic equestrian sport. Just ahead of the Olympic Games, our event had an extra special atmosphere. People could sense that something extraordinary was about to happen. And with this jubilee, it was also a truly special year. There were so many visitors, the venue was more beautiful than ever, the program broader than ever, and there was a nostalgic vibe. CHIO 2024 was so much more than just top-level sport."
Frans: "I want to start by saying that we’ve been attending CHIO for a very long time. My father-in-law, a farmer from Drenthe, told us in 1951 that he was going to see the ‘peerden’ (horses) in Rotterdam. He drove to what turned out to be CHIO in an old Volkswagen with two friends. That’s how far back our family’s connection with CHIO Rotterdam goes. This year, as always, I found it incredibly enjoyable. Every year, you meet many familiar and new faces, and together, you watch the horses and soak in the amazing atmosphere."

How it all started

Frans: "I can’t remember exactly when I started attending CHIO—it goes back many years. I grew up in South Rotterdam. In 1979, we returned from abroad, and it must have been in the early '80s that my connection with CHIO Rotterdam began."

Carolien: "When I was nine years old, I was finally allowed to take horseback riding lessons at the Rotterdamsche Manège. The following year, in 1989, I became a CHIO volunteer. I opened and closed the dressage arena gates, prepared meal vouchers, ran errands—everything you could imagine. Most of my time as a volunteer was spent with the ceremonies team, organizing countless award presentations."

Cherished Memories

Carolien: "I have so many memories from over the years, and I’d like to highlight a few. In 2017, my grandmother passed away during CHIO. That was incredibly difficult. We were so deeply involved in the event, and then something like that happens. CHIO continued without us, but we returned later. It became even clearer to me then how wonderful the CHIO community is. The event fosters a strong sense of camaraderie, which helped us find the strength to return after saying goodbye to my grandmother.

"My passion for dressage also flourished here. I’ll never forget watching Edward Gal and Totilas—it was pure magic. I have fond childhood memories of the old Interchem Stadium in the forest, watching Kür on Music under twinkling lights in the trees. And, of course, my absolute favorite memory: meeting my husband at CHIO. He was the stable manager and later served on the board overseeing volunteers."

Frans: "My fondest memory is sitting next to Her Majesty as chairman. She knows 100 times more about equestrian sports than I do. At the time, she primarily attended for show jumping, but for Totilas and Edward, she stayed longer and even joined us for lunch. As far as I know, that was her first time watching dressage at CHIO. The fact that a horse could make such an impression on our Queen was remarkable to me."

Dreams for the future

Frans (joking): "With all these wonderful memories, I still have dreams. Given the bad weather in recent years, it would be great if my daughter could create a retractable roof for the venue."

Carolien: "My dream is to ensure continuity for CHIO for future generations. CHIO means so much to so many people, and we must work together to protect it. Especially in challenging times like these, we need to support the event more than ever."

Different

Carolien: "CHIO is different from other events. Its history, the location in the woods, and the fact that it’s outdoors make it unique. We have to be prepared for all weather conditions."

Frans: "I’ve attended other events, but CHIO stands out. Larger cities, even global ones, struggle to sustain an event like CHIO. Thanks to loyal sponsors, we continue to succeed in Kralingse Bos, and that’s extraordinary. I hope this remains the case for years to come."

Barely CHIO talks at home

We were curious: when father and daughter talk, how often do they discuss CHIO? The answer might be a bit underwhelming...
Frans: “I’ve had to learn certain things. I keep quiet until my daughter brings it up. I don’t want to be the one telling her to think about this or that. So, at home, CHIO is rarely discussed.”
Carolien: “That’s absolutely true. When our roles were reversed, I tried to represent the sport’s interests, but now my father gives me the space to do things my way. I appreciate how warmly our family feels about CHIO and how much they understand the time I put into it. Of course, I am ‘the daughter of,’ but I also have my own identity.”

Frans: “When I started at CHIO, dressage was no longer part of the program. Because Carolien was riding dressage, it was one reason for me to bring this discipline back. I believe as many equestrian disciplines as possible should have a stage in Kralingse Bos, not just show jumping.”
Carolien: “Because of my father’s legacy, my position feels very different from someone without this history. This definitely adds an extra layer of responsibility. My father worked so hard for CHIO, and ensuring the continuity of the event is perhaps even more important to me because of him.”

Being there

Carolien: “I’ve always visited many other competitions and still do, but now I do it more intentionally. Recently, I’ve been to London, but also to Barcelona, Dublin, Windsor, Las Vegas, Aachen, Kentucky, and Paris. In the Netherlands, I always attend major competitions like Amsterdam, Den Bosch, and Maastricht. It’s essential to show my involvement. From the FEI to exhibitors, and from organizations to tent builders, I want CHIO to be visible everywhere. Being present and meeting others creates connections!”

Frans, joking again: “My daughter takes her role very seriously. But all kidding aside, it was different for me. I joined CHIO because my daughter asked me to. I’ve been on a horse a few times, but that didn’t go well. I’m grateful to Carolien, to Rotterdam, and to equestrian sports that we’ve managed to preserve CHIO through very challenging times.”

Only in Rotterdam

Rotterdam plays a significant role in this conversation. Could CHIO ever be held elsewhere?
Frans: “No! So many people in this city have contributed to the event in so many ways for so long—it’s unthinkable.”

Carolien: “My answer is also a resounding no. I’m proud of the network that supports CHIO. For example, the port is incredibly important to our event, and the loyalty of port companies is amazing. It would always be different in another city.”

More than four days of Equestrian Sport

Statement: CHIO is much more than just equestrian sports. We asked the chair and former chair to respond.
Carolien: “Absolutely. First and foremost, I want to highlight ‘Working Like a Horse.’ This social program has been running strong for ten years, offering opportunities to underprivileged children in Rotterdam across various areas. Then there are the networking clubs that meet throughout the year. That’s truly unique. It’s not like when the tents come down in June, CHIO is over until the next edition. CHIO is much more than just four days in June.”
Frans: “FEI now requires competitions to include a social element in their programs. They’ve been so impressed by this aspect of CHIO; no other event has done it to this extent. It’s typically Rotterdam. Going back to ‘Working Like a Horse,’ every year we reach three to four thousand children with six or seven active programs.”

Favorites

Returning to the sport: Carolien: “Dressage is my favorite discipline, though I don’t have a favorite combination at the moment. When it comes to dressage—or even show jumping—Kim Emmen amazed me during the Paris Olympics. Her composure and strength were remarkable, performing so unexpectedly well. Previously, Edward Gal and Totilas were my favorites, partly because I knew them both personally. My former horse was stabled with Edward and even next to Totilas. I also deeply admire Isabell Werth. Competing at the highest level is already an achievement, but staying there for so long is phenomenal. (Laughing) My mother’s favorite is Marc Houtzager—perhaps a nod to her roots.”
Frans: “I’m a simple man, and show jumping is the easier discipline to follow. I can tell if it’s going well or not. With dressage, especially freestyle, I enjoy the audience more than the test itself. For example, I can’t judge a piaffe, but I love seeing how it moves the crowd. I want to highlight three show jumpers who stand out to me—not so much for their achievements, but for their accessibility. Show jumpers aren’t always great communicators... Jeroen Dubbeldam, Rob Ehrens, and Emile Hendrix are exceptions. They’re interested not just in the competition program but also in people personally.”

CHIO Rotterdam in three words

Voor we vader en dochter vragen het gesprek zelf af te sluiten, vragen we ze het CHIO in drie woorden te omschrijven. Vader Frans twijfelt geen moment: “Top, hippisch, Rotterdam.” Carolien heeft iets langer nodig, maar ook zij heeft drie mooie woorden voor ons evenement: “Verbondenheid, topsport, uniek.”

Securing the next 75 years

In closing, we asked Frans for his final thoughts: "I have a deep love for Rotterdam—not just CHIO but also Feyenoord. CHIO Rotterdam has a broad social impact, and the city should shine internationally. CHIO Rotterdam excels in equestrian sports, and I’ll do everything I can to preserve and strengthen it for Rotterdam."

Finally, Carolien: "To everyone who follows CHIO and supports it, I want to say: We carry this incredible event together. From volunteers to officials, riders to sponsors—this is CHIO Rotterdam. We must continue this collaboration to safeguard the next 75 years."

Beautiful words from a father and daughter who are Rotterdam through and through. Words full of passion and warmth but also with a clear message. Thank you for everything you have already done for CHIO and undoubtedly will continue to do. Wishing you a wonderful New Year, with a toast to past and future years of CHIO Rotterdam!