Hoekstra has been in the role since 2010 and helped steer Team GB to gold at London 2012 and the 2013 European Championships in Herning Denmark.

A release from British Showjumping said he was departing to "take up new challenges elsewhere in the sport".

"We'd like to express our sincere thanks to Rob for the significant contribution he has made to British showjumping and the world class performance programme during his time as performance manager," said Gordon Burton, interim world class head of performance at British Shojumping.

"When he came into the sport in 2010 his incisive style quickly unified our athletes as a team and provided vital coaching and leadership to enable them to achieve their full potential, the turning point coming at the European Championships in 2011.

"Since then he has transformed the outcomes of the discipline to inspire a new generation and his efforts will have a long reaching positive impact on the sport; we wish him well for the future."

Rob Hoekstra helped Team GB to gold at London 2012 and the 2013 European Championships, a first for Britain in 24 years ©Getty Images



Hoekstra came under criticism after the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy where Great Britain failed to reach the team final and eventually finished 18th, their worst performance ever at the Games.

The performance means they will need to impress at next year's European Championships in Germany in order to qualify for Rio 2016.

"I believe now is a good time for a new performance manager to take over to emulate and build on this success in the run up to Rio and beyond and give them adequate time to do so.

"They will be taking over a great Team; we are reigning Olympic and European Champions and have the number one in the world in Scott Brash," said Hoekstra.

"I would like to thank the owners that have given me so much support and inspiration over the last few years, without them this success would not have been possible; the invaluable support of UK Sport and the National Lottery; the riders that have performed so well and been instrumental in putting Great Britain back on top of the showjumping world and all the support staff that have been part of a fantastic team that enabled us to be so successful.

"I believe the sport at performance level is in a very exciting phase.

"With our existing Championship riders and all the new talent coming through the future looks very bright for continued British Team success.

"It has been a fantastic journey but it had always been my goal to lead the Team to victory in London and then explore other opportunities and look for new challenges within our sport and I believe this is the right time to do that."

Hoekstra will step down from the role on January 1, 2015, with a new performance manager set to be announced in due course, according to British Showjumping.

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