Gerard Horst
Growing up on a farm, Gerard Horst (1953) was introduced to equestrian sports from an early age. At the age of 6 he already had his first pony, a Welsh pony. In the late 1980’s, inspired by Udo de Haan, he started driving. In the 1990’s, fascinated by the Hackney, he became involved in the harness sport. In 2017, an unfortunate confluence of complications after surgery, left him with a spinal cord injury. This seemed to put an end to his equestrian hobby. But the blood runs where it cannot go ! After a long rehabilitation he looked for possibilities to start driving again. And so true, he succeeded with the help of a groom/trainer and by roommates as far as the care of the ponies was concerned.
After a classification as a para-driver, the Covid pandemic threw a spanner in the works, in 2022 Gerard Horst started driving again in dressage and cones competitions, and in 2023 also in combined driving competitions. At the end of 2023, he was included in the B-cadre para-driving of the Royal Dutch Equestrian Sports Federation (KNHS).
Lynley Benneker
Lynley Benneker (1999). When she was young and her parents had Haflingers, Lynley had no interest in horses. At an age of 11, she was reintroduced to horses through a friend. Then she was infected with the horse virus after all. Then she started riding at an equestrian center. In 2015, she got a pair Friesians as care horses. At that stable, Lynley learned a lot and eventually rode several horses. When the horses there were sold in 2018, she acquired an e-pony she had saddled herself, named Saffier. She still rides Saffier recreationally under saddle.
In the summer of 2024 she came in contact with driving team De Heemhoeve. Meanwhile she drives and trains the driving ponies and also helps at the driving competitions. Since 2025 she is also taking the reins herself at driving competitions.
Leanne de Leeuw
Leanne de Leeuw (born 2000) was given riding lessons at a riding school for her 8th birthday, fulfilling her childhood dream. She took riding lessons at this school until she was about 14. During her secondary school years, she did have several horses to look after, which she also rode.
Since 2020, she has been volunteering at a small-scale care centre. It was here that she was introduced to driving a Shetland pony and enjoyed many lovely drivings with it. She also helped the children with their riding lessons there.
Leanne found driving so interesting that, in early 2026, she contacted the driving team “De Heemhoeve”, of which she has been a member ever since.
Roos Kuipers
Roos Kuipers (2004) had always wanted to ride horses. Although her parents had no interest in horses whatsoever, Roos was given a trial lesson at a local riding school as a present for her 7th birthday. She absolutely loved it, and that was the start of her passion for horses. Around the age of eleven, she started doing more voluntary work at the riding school, such as mucking out stables in exchange for extra lessons and helping out at internal competitions. Later, around the age of 16, she also began feeding the horses and turning them in and out at the riding school from time to time as a volunteer. In 2024, she took a brief break due to her studies in Nijmegen, but since late 2025 she has been enthusiastically getting back into it all. In early 2026, she also got in touch with the Heemhoeve, where she hopes to learn a lot about driving.
Gerard Benneker
Gerard Benneker (1964) is Lynley’s father. As a young man, Gerard learnt the basics of driving in Lutterzand, later refining his skills with Friesian horses whilst studying in Wageningen. He purchased his first Haflinger whilst at university. He began driving and breeding with this horse. And so, within a few years, he came to own four Haflingers. Gerard has also taken these Haflingers on holiday, first under saddle and later in front of a carriage. Following a change in his life circumstances, he stopped driving and riding. The Haflingers remained with him until they died of natural causes. He now owns just one last Haflinger, aged 27.
When his daughter Lynley joined the driving team ‘De Heemhoeve’ in 2024, this rekindled Gerard’s interest in the sport of driving. Gerard is now a loyal supporter and ‘back-up’ groom for Lynley and the driving team ‘De Heemhoeve’.
Saskia Croes
Saskia Croes (1964) is the wife of Gerard Horst. Originally she had absolutely no experience with horses/animals. Meanwhile and with the growing up of the children (of course all pony ridden) and the support of Gerard she gained a lot of knowledge and experience. The moment Gerard became wheelchair-dependent, she took on the daily care of the ponies, including breeding Hackneys on a small scale.
Gerard and Saskia together manage the "animal mess" at "De Heemhoeve".
Charlotte Croes
Charlotte Croes (2003) and "daughter of" has ridden under saddle from a young age and also helps and rides in the harness sport. She has her own (three) Hackneys, with which she breeds and drivdes. She also contributes her bit to the care of the animals at "De Heemhoeve" stable.