The 2025 season had a lot to offer Team Philippaerts. Thibault made his debut in the Global Champions Tour in London and just missed out on victory with second place in New York. Nicola and Katanga van het Dingeshof became European Team Champions in La Coruña. For Olivier, 2025 was a transition year, combining sport with new business responsibilities. Anthony continued to build his career step by step and showed his own potential and that of his horses. Ludo travelled the world in search of young horses and saw his vision take shape.
2025 became the year of the big breakthrough for Thibault at the highest level. In New York, he finished second with Pittmann van het Lilleveld. A few weeks later, he helped his team St Tropez Pirates to victory in the Global Champions League, riding Quilano and Lyandro. “2025 started in a difficult way,” says Thibault. “Some of my good horses were sold, so the season looked very different than expected at the beginning. But when one door closes, another one opens. In the last months of the year, everything moved very fast. At the right moment, I got chances with the right horses, and I took them. “At first, there was doubt about taking part in the Global Tour, but in the end I did, and I made my debut in London. In September, I finished second in the Grand Prix of New York, something I never expected. A few weeks later, I played my part in the team victory in Rabat with two horses. In Spruce Meadows, I was part of the Belgian Nations Cup team together with Olivier and Nicola for the first time. I experienced so many ‘first times’ this year. Many dreams I had as a child came true. That gives me a lot of motivation for 2026.”
Nicola prepared his season in the United States, laying the foundation for a very strong year, with the European Team title as the highlight. “I look back on the year with a very good feeling,” says Nicola. “For the fourth year in a row, Katanga jumped very well in Aachen and stayed double clear in three Nations Cups, in La Baule, La Coruña and Barcelona. In La Coruña, she played a big role in winning the European Team title. With Gadget Mouche, I won the five-star Grand Prix in Tryon. He joined us this year and immediately showed his quality. In his last four Grand Prix, he won two and set the fastest jump-off time twice. Next year, I want to continue the positive line with Katanga, with a focus on the World Championships in Aachen.” Nicola concluded the season in Mechelen with the Belgian Indoor Championship title.
For Olivier, 2025 was a year without major sporting highlights. Within the family business, he took on new responsibilities. “From a sporting point of view, the highlights were limited,” Olivier explains. “At the start of 2025, my best horses were sold, and I focused on training young horses. That takes time and is an investment in the future. Sport-wise, it was a transition year. I expect better results again in 2026. On the business side, the year was challenging but important. I took on new tasks within the company. Our construction works are moving forward well, and we expect to move into our new facilities halfway through 2026. Each of us, Thibault, Anthony, Nicola and myself, will have our own wing in the new complex. The goal is to be ready for the next 30 years.”
Anthony and his horses Gabell and Hermione made steady progress throughout the year. “2025 was a good year for me,” says Anthony. “Together with my horses, I really took some steps forward. The year started well in Oliva, where I trained young horses and grew together with Gabell. We jumped clear for the first time at two-star level. In Kessel, we went double clear in the three-star Grand Prix. After that came a successful Sunshine Tour, with my first clear round at four-star level. In Sentower, I finished fourth in the three-star 1.60m Grand Prix. I want to approach 2026 in the same way. I will keep working hard and take things step by step. Together with Gabell and Hermione, I want to continue the line of 2025 and keep improving.”
For Ludo, 2025 was the busiest year ever. Alongside the construction works and buying and selling of horses, he closely followed the careers of his four sons. “I travelled a lot this year, both for the sport and the horse trade,” says Ludo. “At times, it was really intense. But you keep going when you want to give all your sons the same chances. And they all did a fantastic job. Nicola finished a very strong year with Katanga by winning the European Team title. Year after year, they perform at a very high level in Aachen. Olivier had a more difficult year after Legend of Love retired and his best horses were sold. He focused on training new horses. Thibault also saw some good horses leave, but he kept working hard and peaked in the second part of the year, with a team victory in the Global Champions League and a podium finish in his debut year on the Global Champions Tour. He is ready for 2026. Anthony also worked very hard and was rewarded with strong results at the Sunshine Tour. I expect him to break through at the highest level in 2026.”
