EEF President Theo Ploegmakers to Step Down

The champion of horse welfare and integrity in equestrian sport took office in 2018; the process for his succession is being determined.

EEF president Theo Ploegmakers will step down from his position on April 1, 2025, due to health-related reasons. (FEI/Richard Juilliart)

By: European Equestrian Federation | February 25, 2025

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you're listening to an article from horse sport.com. eef president theo ploegmakers to step down by: european equestrian federation |. the european equestrian federation (eef) announces with deep appreciation and regret that president theo ploegmakers will conclude his successful tenure, stepping down from his position on 1 april 2025, due to health-related reasons. ploegmakers has been a pivotal figure in european equestrian sport since taking office in november 2018, championing both sporting excellence and horse welfare. his leadership has been marked by transformative initiatives and a steadfast commitment to integrity within the sport. “it has been an honour to serve as president of the eef,” theo ploegmakers said. “i leave with great pride in what we have accomplished together. we have successfully united the european equestrian community, fostering meaningful cooperation between both large and small federations. today, the federation stands as a testament to what can be achieved through shared vision and collaboration. advertisement scroll to continue with content “when i became president, my vision was not only to create better opportunities for all european nations but also to ensure that our sport’s growth never compromised horse welfare,” continued ploegmakers. “we have built a stronger, more inclusive community where competitive success aligns with a principled approach to horsemanship. i depart knowing that we have elevated both our achievements and our values. the foundation we have established will continue to benefit european equestrianism for generations to come.”. under his leadership, the eef has taken significant steps to address key challenges in the industry, including establishing comprehensive welfare monitoring systems and promoting transparent training practices. his presidency saw the creation of the groundbreaking longines eef series, which has become a cornerstone of the sport’s development in europe while upholding high standards of conduct across all levels of competition. board member of the international equestrian federation (fei), member of the fei solidarity committee, ploegmakers also actively contributed to the fei’s equine ethics and wellbeing commission. as part of his dedication to equine welfare, his involvement has supported efforts to promote responsible practices and maintain public trust in equestrianism’s social licence to operate. ploegmakers’ guidance during challenging times, including the covid-19 pandemic and the ukrainian crisis in 2022, showcased his ability to lead the federation through complex situations while maintaining a focus on sport development and horse welfare. his initiatives to enhance collaboration between national federations and advocate for responsible training methods have set new industry benchmarks. drawing from his extensive experience as president of the dutch national federation, vice president of cdi/csi ‘s-hertogenbosch, and his background in international business management, ploegmakers has successfully modernised the federation’s approach to sport development while ensuring that animal welfare remains central to all decisions. “we are deeply saddened by theo ploegmakers’ resignation as eef president, but his health must come first, and we fully respect and support his decision to step back and focus on himself,” fei president ingmar de vos said. “as a key figure within the community and a dedicated member of the fei board, his ideas have been the catalyst for many critical conversations and initiatives that have shaped the evolution of european equestrian sport. one of theo’s many contributions has been to drive the creation of the longines eef series, which has elevated the sport and expanded its popularity across the continent in just a few short years. “we were fortunate to benefit from his extensive knowledge and expertise during his time with the equine ethics and wellbeing commission. anyone who knows theo understands that he is never afraid to challenge ideas and advocate for change. we are confident that he will face this latest personal challenge with the same determination that has defined his work over the years. “on behalf of the entire fei family, i extend our gratitude to theo for his invaluable contributions and wish him strength as he focuses on his recovery.”. the eef board will determine the process for succession, with next steps to be communicated to members and stakeholders in due course. the federation extends its heartfelt gratitude to theo ploegmakers for his exceptional leadership and dedicated service.

The European Equestrian Federation (EEF) announces with deep appreciation and regret that President Theo Ploegmakers will conclude his successful tenure, stepping down from his position on 1 April 2025, due to health-related reasons.

Ploegmakers has been a pivotal figure in European equestrian sport since taking office in November 2018, championing both sporting excellence and horse welfare. His leadership has been marked by transformative initiatives and a steadfast commitment to integrity within the sport.

“It has been an honour to serve as president of the EEF,” Theo Ploegmakers said. “I leave with great pride in what we have accomplished together. We have successfully united the European equestrian community, fostering meaningful cooperation between both large and small federations. Today, the federation stands as a testament to what can be achieved through shared vision and collaboration.

Scroll to continue with content

“When I became president, my vision was not only to create better opportunities for all European nations but also to ensure that our sport’s growth never compromised horse welfare,” continued Ploegmakers. “We have built a stronger, more inclusive community where competitive success aligns with a principled approach to horsemanship. I depart knowing that we have elevated both our achievements and our values. The foundation we have established will continue to benefit European equestrianism for generations to come.”

Under his leadership, the EEF has taken significant steps to address key challenges in the industry, including establishing comprehensive welfare monitoring systems and promoting transparent training practices. His presidency saw the creation of the groundbreaking Longines EEF Series, which has become a cornerstone of the sport’s development in Europe while upholding high standards of conduct across all levels of competition.

Board member of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), member of the FEI Solidarity Committee, Ploegmakers also actively contributed to the FEI’s Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission. As part of his dedication to equine welfare, his involvement has supported efforts to promote responsible practices and maintain public trust in equestrianism’s social licence to operate.

Ploegmakers’ guidance during challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian crisis in 2022, showcased his ability to lead the federation through complex situations while maintaining a focus on sport development and horse welfare. His initiatives to enhance collaboration between national federations and advocate for responsible training methods have set new industry benchmarks. Drawing from his extensive experience as President of the Dutch National Federation, Vice President of CDI/CSI ‘s-Hertogenbosch, and his background in international business management, Ploegmakers has successfully modernised the federation’s approach to sport development while ensuring that animal welfare remains central to all decisions.

“We are deeply saddened by Theo Ploegmakers’ resignation as EEF president, but his health must come first, and we fully respect and support his decision to step back and focus on himself,” FEI president Ingmar De Vos said.

“As a key figure within the community and a dedicated member of the FEI Board, his ideas have been the catalyst for many critical conversations and initiatives that have shaped the evolution of European equestrian sport. One of Theo’s many contributions has been to drive the creation of the Longines EEF Series, which has elevated the sport and expanded its popularity across the continent in just a few short years.

“We were fortunate to benefit from his extensive knowledge and expertise during his time with the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission. Anyone who knows Theo understands that he is never afraid to challenge ideas and advocate for change. We are confident that he will face this latest personal challenge with the same determination that has defined his work over the years.

“On behalf of the entire FEI family, I extend our gratitude to Theo for his invaluable contributions and wish him strength as he focuses on his recovery.”

The EEF Board will determine the process for succession, with next steps to be communicated to members and stakeholders in due course. The federation extends its heartfelt gratitude to Theo Ploegmakers for his exceptional leadership and dedicated service.