From August 20 to 24, it’s time for the FEI World Driving Championship for Pairs at CAI Beekbergen! One of the many enthusiastic horse lovers who will be present is Sandor van Vliet, Managing Director of Axia Vegetable Seeds B.V. “I would have loved to participate as a competitor, but sadly, I had to say goodbye to my horse Hertog last month. My other horses aren’t ready for a World Championship yet. Of course, I don’t want to miss this wonderful event, and as a sponsor, I’m still able to contribute. Sponsorship is something the driving sport really needs.”
A love for horses
Sandor’s passion for horses and equestrian sport began because of his wife Sabrina, and later also their daughter Renate. “They’re both passionate about dressage; I was more drawn to driving. That’s why I bought two Welsh Cobs, from whom I learned a lot. In addition to relaxed rides outdoors, I was looking for the challenge of combined driving soon. The Cobs weren’t ideally suited for that, so I wanted to take it a step further—and that’s when the ‘big’ horses came into the picture. One horse from my first pair, Brown Dreamer, is still with me. He’s retired from driving, but Sabrina still enjoys riding him recreationally. I also have two Lipizzaners, Indian and Baccara, that I use during the indoor season.”
An outlet
One of the greys is now retired at home: the 20-year-old ‘golden oldie’ Baccara is still being used for combined driving competitions in the marathon. “The harness horses Hertog and Baccara were my steady competition pair in recent years. Losing Hertog has been a real blow,” Sandor shares. “Of course, I’m thinking about the future, and that’s why Nick Wimphof, a dressage-bred black horse, and Odysseus (by Foundation) joined my team. We’re adding Martinus to this pair to figure out the best combination. These horses are still young and not yet ready to compete this season. They’re currently in training with Mieke van Tergouw in Beekbergen. For the past four years, I’ve also been training with IJsbrand Chardon, who lives just around the corner from me.”
CAI Beekbergen
“For me, driving is pure relaxation alongside my work at Axia. It’s my outlet—being around the horses brings me peace,” Sandor continues. “The competitions are a welcome change of pace and a real challenge. I’ve been coming to CAI Beekbergen for about ten years now, first as a spectator and since 2018 almost every year as a competitor. It’s such a fantastic event. The surroundings, the obstacles, the entire setting, and the excellent organization makes it a must-see experience. Axia is proud to support an event like the World Driving Championship for Pairs and CAI Beekbergen. I’m already looking forward to August 20!”
Axia Vegetable Seeds B.V.
Axia is a vegetable seed breeding company (mainly tomatoes) founded fifteen years ago. Since then, the company has grown significantly—from just four to over 125 employees—and Axia has become a well-known name worldwide, especially in tomato cultivation. “All kinds of tomatoes you find in supermarkets and greengrocers stem from our collaboration with tomato growers. They appreciate the varieties we develop, where flavor and quality go hand in hand with high yield,” says Sandor.
