Top Athletes about 75 years of CHIO: Adelinde Cornelissen

CHIO
Adelinde Cornelissen

She was the last Dutch European dressage champion, achieving this incredible feat in her homeland, no less. Specifically, in Rotterdam - the Kralingse Bos. In the Rotterdam Arena. The final top rider we spoke to during our fantastic anniversary year is none other than the 2011 European Dressage Champion in both the Grand Prix Special and the Grand Prix Freestyle to Music: Adelinde Cornelissen.

Despite the time of year, Adelinde’s schedule is as packed as ever. Convincing her to take a break from her horses and business to share her story with us wasn’t easy. But once she made time, she truly opened up and, as always, spoke in her characteristic “Adelinde” way—enthusiastic and personable.

You Enter Another World

Adelinde: “Parzival was the first horse I rode in Rotterdam. Before that, I didn’t have a Grand Prix horse and wasn’t invited to compete in the Small Tour. I had never even been there as a spectator. When I think of CHIO Rotterdam, I think of the forest, the stables nestled among the trees, the friendly atmosphere, and the pancake house. Where else can you go for a forest ride before warming up? I love that. And I always think of the beautifully decorated arena in Rotterdam. You truly enter a special world.

The European Championships were something extraordinary. Championships are always special, but they feel even more so when hosted in your home country. It’s close by, and that means more friends and family can come to watch compared to an event abroad. Rotterdam also hosts the Nations Cup, which I’ve had the honor of competing in several times. Although you compete against each other later in the event, during the first part you’re a team—and I’ve always enjoyed that camaraderie and spirit.”

2011 European Championships

"I’ve ridden many horses at CHIO, some of them multiple times. I’m not much for keeping stats, but I think I must be close to ten appearances. Of course, the 2011 European Championships were the most special. I’ll never forget that moment when the rider before me entered the ring, and a storm suddenly broke out. The event was paused, and we were sent to the indoor arena.

We didn’t know how long we’d be waiting, so I just kept walking Parzival to stay warm. In the end, it took 45 minutes. Thankfully, Parzival always stayed focused, but it was challenging. The rider before me was allowed to restart, so I had to quickly re-warm-up. Despite everything, it all worked out in the end, as we know.

Parzival even enjoyed competing in Rotterdam. At first, he was scared of everything, but over time, he changed. The bigger and more impressive the atmosphere, the more he loved it. He really thrived in those moments. That’s how he was with everything. At his first photoshoot, he reacted to every flash like lightning, but later he posed like a seasoned model.”

Looking to the Future

"As for the future, I hope I’ll have the opportunity to compete at CHIO again, including in 2025. But that’s not up to me. I’ll do my best to make it happen. Next year, I also hope to be there as a coach during the youth observation rounds. In general, I want to keep doing what I love—riding and teaching.

We recently opened our own stable, and it’s going really well. Bit by bit, it’s becoming our own. We’ve put a lot of thought into how and where we want everything, and it’s been a fun process. Having our own stable means more organizing and managing, but it’s all worth it.

The Olympics aren’t really a goal for me. What I enjoy most is training horses from a young age. The journey to the top, figuring out how to develop a horse’s talent step by step—that’s what I love.”

Staying Fit

"Aside from riding, I enjoy other sports too. I grew up with it—my father was a gym teacher. I’ve done many sports over the years, but school and training forced me to narrow it down. As we know, horses won.

I still love running, though. It’s the easiest sport to do anywhere. My running shoes go with me everywhere, even to competitions. I think it’s important to stay fit myself, not just my horses.”

"Now that we’re talking, it’s already the end of the year. It’s a cozy time, but I don’t take entire days off for the holidays. My horses don’t know it’s December. The stables are decorated, though—my staff loves that. We also always have a team dinner in December.

My parents and brother visit for Christmas, but I still make time to ride and train. I even have a few lessons planned.”

A Special Bond

"Of course, competing at home is great, but my favorite events are Falsterbo outdoors and Stockholm indoors. Falsterbo is special because it was Parzival’s first international competition. In Sweden, they don’t host many big events, but when they do, they go all out. And the audience is always incredible—large, enthusiastic crowds.”

"I’ve had the privilege of riding many wonderful horses, but Parzival will always hold a unique place in my heart. He brought me to where I am today. Without him, I might still be teaching in a classroom. His character was extraordinary—from a very frightened horse to my brave partner. He loved his life in the sport. Winning his trust and seeing how much he changed—that’s what makes him so special to me.”

Last vacation in 2013

"Riding is my life, but teaching has become just as important to me. Officially, I’m a teacher, and that part of me is still very much there. I enjoy working with others, achieving goals together, and using my experience to help them. Horses are so central to my life that I never take vacations. My last holiday was in 2013 when I planned to spend seven days in Ibiza, but I returned after just four. I simply couldn’t stay away.

Perhaps part of the reason is what happened when I got back—we discovered Parzival’s heart arrhythmia, and now I associate vacations with that memory. In 2013, I rode in the World Cup final in March, and afterward, I went on vacation. When I returned, Parzival was unusually calm under saddle, whereas he was normally full of energy after just a few days off.

At the time, I was already using a heart monitor while riding because I found it fascinating. I knew his heart rate exactly, and it was far too high. I immediately called Jan Greve, who told me that this might signal the end of my top horse’s career. Needless to say, I was devastated.

A colleague of Jan’s recommended that I take Parzival to a clinic in Ghent, Belgium. I followed their advice, and to my immense relief, they were able to restore his heart rhythm. We rebuilt his fitness very carefully, and by the end of the summer, we competed in the European Championships in Herning, where we won a bronze medal.

Once again, this shows what an extraordinary character Parzival had. He was truly one of a kind."

A Life of Passion

"Lastly, I want to say to all your followers: Live your life and seize the day. And to everyone involved with horses—remember, we all started because of our passion for these animals. Let’s keep that in mind and share it with the world.”

Beautiful words from our dedicated compatriot, who certainly lives by them every day—even during the holidays. Wishing you an incredible 2025, Adelinde, and we hope to see you in June at the Kralingse Bos. Don’t forget your running shoes—a lap around the Kralingse Plas is nearly five kilometers!

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