Most influential person in career |
Belgian rider [and his uncle] Ludo Philippaerts, and coach Jos Lansink. (studforlife.com, 18 Jun 2019; ridersacademy.eu, 29 Jan 2019) |
Hero / Idol |
German jumper Christian Ahlmann. (vlp.be, 08 Oct 2013) |
Injuries |
In March 2014 he broke his collarbone after he fell during training. He required surgery and was out for a month. He made his comeback in April at an event in Antwerp, Belgium. (fei.org, 27 Apr 2014; equnews.be, 23 Apr 2014, 14 Mar 2014) |
Awards and honours |
In 2018 he was named Vlaamse Liga Paardensport [Flemish Equestrian League] Talent of the Year. (jumping-mechelen.com, 26 Dec 2018) |
Famous relatives |
His uncle Ludo Philippaerts and his cousins Nicola, Oliver, Thibault, and Anthony Philippaerts have competed in equestrian jumping at international level. His grandfather Toine Philippaerts was also involved in equestrian sport. (studforlife.com, 18 Jun 2019; fei.org, 09 May 2014; noellefloyd.com, 26 Jul 2013; hbvl.be, 14 Jun 2011) |
Other information |
CAREER
Between 2013 and 2015 he worked with Enda Carroll at Ashford Farm in Bocholt, Belgium. In November 2015 he moved on to ride with Jos Lansink at his facility in Meeuwen, Belgium. "It is a great honour for me because Jos is one of the best riders in the world. I want to get better as a rider, that is my first target." (internetgazet.be, 18 Nov 2017; horses.nl, 16 Nov 2015; worldofshowjumping.com, 16 Nov 2015)
PROFESSIONAL RIDING
He was brought up around horses, but he had to work hard to make his dream of becoming a professional rider come true. "It's difficult to know which level you'll be able to perform to. Of course, you hope to be able to go to championships and the highest level but when you're in that situation, you realise that it's much more difficult in reality than when you dreamt of it as a child. The road is very long. My mother is a teacher and my father is an office worker in Hasselt so they weren't able to buy me horses or a big truck. My mother really wanted me to study but in the end, things didn't really work out that way. I still finished school, but after that, I started working right away." (studforlife.com, 19 Jun 2019) |