Edwin Smits

Edwin was born in Baarlo, the Netherlands, into a family that has worked in livestock trading for two generations. Horses were always a passion — both breeding and competition — and Edwin found his own in show jumping, learning the basics at his grandparents' farm and turning professional with the support of his parents, José and Wim Smits. He entered his first competitions at thirteen, and at twenty-one founded his own company, 'Stal Edwin Smits', renting a barn with a riding hall and thirty boxes and earning his international trainer's certificate. In 1999 he launched his international career with a victory at the Grand Prix of Luxembourg, followed by many strong results and selection for the Dutch elite team. He met Dehlia in 2003 and, a year later, sold his barn in the Netherlands to settle in Chevenez — just days before the new riding centre was inaugurated.