Biography

1971: Karin was born in Hoogstraten, Belgium

1980: Karin starts riding her first pony and joins the local pony club, LRV Sint Clemens Minderhout.

1986: Karin starts competing in dressage, jumping and eventing.

1988: Karin finished 16th as a junior at the European Eventing Championships in Dijon.

1990: Karin finished 11th as a young rider at the European Eventing Championships in Rotherfield Park.

1992: Karin finished 3rd individual at the CCI*** in Saumur with her BWP-horse Britt. The Belgian team won this competition and got their qualification for the Olympic Games in Barcelona.

1992, Barcelona: Karin's 1st Olympic Games with a 4th place for the Belgian team and an 8th place individual with her horse Britt.

After the Olympics in Barcelona, Karin followed an extensive training program and graduated with Trainer A diploma on the Flemish Trainer School in three disciplines of equestrian sports (dressage, jumping and eventing).

2000, February: The preparations for the Olympic Games in 2000 went smoothly until a fire broke out in the stables. Most horses were brought to safety, but three top horses (Better Times, Duc des Guillons, Glenn-Doc) found their death on a nearby highway. Better Times was selected for the Sydney Olympic Games.

2000, September: Karin fought back. Oekie, Gormley and Dances With Wolves were trained for Sydney and it was Gormley who went with Karin to the Olympics. However, Gormley crashed during the steeple chase phase and Karin broke her back.

Since the serious setbacks in 2000, Karin and her team worked hard to reach the top of the eventing world. The infrastructure and training facilities were expanded. With the help of some horse owners and sponsors, the number and quality of the horses increased.

2003, European Championships in Puchestown (IRL): 6th place individual for Karin with Gormley and bronze medal with the Belgian team.

2004, Badminton: The first time Karin competed in a CCI4* with Lamicell Chumbawumba.

2004, Athens: Her 3rd Olympics, with Gormley, she finished 16th individual and 7th with the Belgian team.

2005, European Championships in Blenheim (GBR): 4th place individual for Karin with Gormley and 6th place with the Belgian team.

2006, Aachen World Equestrian Games, Karin finished 13th individual with Gazelle de la Brasserie

2008, Hong Kong - the Beijing Olympic Games: Her 4th Olympics, with Gazelle de la Brasserie, she finished 9th individual.

2010, Lexington Kentucky (USA): Karin finished 4th individual at the World Equestrian Games with Gazelle de la Brasserie and 6th with the Belgian team.

2010, Pau: In the CCI4*, Karin finished 3th with Lamicell Charizard. Until now, this is her best result in a CCI4* eventing competition.

2012, London: Her 5th Olympics, Karin finished 15th on her 18 year old Gazelle de la Brasserie.

2012, Le Pin au Haras (FRA): Karin participated with 3 horses in the CIC3*-W, Lamicell Charizard (3rd place), Lamicell Unique (8th place) and Extebaria van 't Verahof (9th place).

2012: Karin finished 2nd in the final World Cup 2012 ranking.

2013: Karin won the Belgian Championships for the 7th time (1998, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2013) with a new upcoming talent Fletcha van 't Verahof.

2014: Karin won the Belgian Championships for the 8th time (1998, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013 & 2014). This time with the 8 year old Grandioz.

2014, Caen: Karin finished 5th with Fletcha van 't Verahof at the World Equestrian Games.

2014, Achen: Karin finished 5th with Fletcha van 't Verahof at the Nations Cup.

2014, Waregem: Karin participated with Lady Brown in the Nations Cup. They finished on the 31st place. 

2015, Strzegom: Karin finished 1st with Fletcha van 't Verahof in the Nations Cup.

2015, Aachen: Karin finished 31st with Fletcha van 't Verahof in the Nations Cup. 

2015, Le Lion d'Anger: Karin went to the World Equestrian Games for young horses with Jalapeno (10th) and Lamicell Iris (11th). 

2016, Strzegom: Karin finished 12th with Grandioz in the Nations Cup. 

2017, Strzegom: Karin finished 9th with Jalapeno in the Nations Cup.

2017, Stzegom: Karin went with Fletcha van 't Verahof to the European Championship, they finished in 17th place. 

2018, Tryon NC: Karin and Fletcha van 't Verahof flew to the World Equestrian Games in Amerika where they finished in 17th place. 

2018, Le Lion d'Anger: Karin went with Leipheimer van 't Verahof to the World Equestrian Games for Young Horses where they finished 4th. 

2019, Houghton Hall: Karin finished 6th in the Nations Cup with Fletcha van 't Verahof.

2019, Luhmühlen: Karin finished 27th at the European Championship with Fletcha van 't Verahof.

2019, Waregem: Karin finished 25th in the Nations Cup with Leipheimer van 't Verahof.

2019, Le Lion d'Anger: Karin participated in the World Equestrian Games for Young Horses with Nerium and finished in 25th places. 

2021, Arville: Karin participated in the Nations Cup with Leipheimer van 't Verahof and finished in 6th place. 

2021, Avenches: In the European Championship Karin participated with Leipheimer van 't Verahof and finished in 19th place. 

2021, Le Lion d'Angers: Karin participated with two horses in de the World Equestrian Games for Young Horses. She finished 23th with Pinokkio and 43th with Olympic de Muze.

2022, Le Pin au Haras: Karin finished 47th with Fletcha van 't Verahof in the Nations Cup.

2022, Arville: Karin finished 6th with Leipheimer van 't Verahof in the Nations Cup. 

2022, Pratoni del Vivaro: Karin finished 26th with Fletcha van 't Verahof in the World Equestrian Games. 

2023, Montelibretti: Karin competed with two horses in the Nations Cup. With Fletcha van 't Verahof (8th) and Ceres de la Brasserie (18th)

2023, Millstreet: Karin finished 4th with Fletcha van 't Verahof in the Nations Cup.

2023, Strzegom: Karin finished 8th with Leipheimer van 't Verahof in the Nations Cup.

2023, Arville: Karin competed with two horses to the Nations Cup. Leipheimer van 't Verahof finished 6th and Namira 38th. 

2023, Boekelo: In this Nations Cup Karin finished 15th with Leipheimer van 't Verahof. 

2024, Paris: Karin is selected to compete in the Olympic Games Paris with Leipheimer van 't Verahof and Fletch van 't Verahof as backup horse. 

During her career, Karin participated in several international championships and competitions. For all international entries and results, click here.