INTERVIEW LUDO PHILIPPAERTS

Fourth ranked at the 2000 Olympics, silver medalist at the 2001 European Championships, five times crowned at the Belgian Championships and winner of many international Grands Prix with the phenomenal Darco, Ludo Philippaerts is now managing his four sons' careers. Many talented high level horses performed under his saddle and in his stables, so we are very glad to have him among The Auction experts team.

I am very curious about The Auction. When Christophe Ameeuw asked me if I was interested in participating in his new auction by proposing some of my performers for the selection , I did not hesitate a minute because I think this is a project with a great potential. Horses auction sales have multiplying for some years now and they are very popular. It will be my very first time but I am confident!

The presence of my good friend and neighbor Jos Lansink is for sure one of the many reasons I accepted to join The Auction committee of Experts for the selection of the horses that will be offered at The Auction. We select the young performers based of their sports performances and results. The very bests of their generation, those who competed and won at the national or world championships, will be presented during this Act II.

Another reason I am so enthusiastic in taking part The Auction, is I want to show to my four sons, who are high-level riders, the importance of horse trading which is at the center of our sport in order to compete at the highest level. That is a fact. I have always tried to identify the best young horses I could find in order to sell them. And I am increasingly involved since I retired from the sport as a rider.

People in the equestrian world are now used to buy in auctions. But it is quite new for riders like me. We must embrace and support such innovative concepts because they are the future of our profession. So I decided to join Christophe Ameeuw in this new The Auction project and ‘put a foot I the stirrup’, for me and mostly for my sons. I am convinced that it will be great adventure that I am happy to share with my friend Jos Lansink and his incredible experience and knowledge.

Christophe Ameeuw has extensive success in events organization and the creation of new concepts. The Auction, which is to be held in the heart of Paris, will lay the foundations of a promising and bright project.