1994-2000

In 1997, King Darco and Krawaat confirmed their status as genuine prize-winning horses. Together with Ludo, they occupied the podium at various major competitions. Ludo also triumphed with Cardinal (f. Zeus) in the extremely challenging Derby in Lummen.

In the meantime, Ludo was thinking ahead: he prepared his pool with jumpers Nura (Codexco x Farao de Guldenboom) and Opus Sept (f. Vondel). At the end of 1997, he signed a new sponsorship agreement, this time with the Royal Begemann Group.

This financing and a great deal of prize money allowed Ludo to unreservedly live out his passion. He did not shy away from giving new horses a chance. As such, in 1998 he achieved excellent results with Kibeaura (f. Major de la Cour), Landino (Landgraf I x Roman) and Nicky Laudrum (Darco x Echo de Thurin).

Nura and Krawaat proved to be the highlights: triumph at the Nation’s Cup trials in Lisbon, silver at the Nation’s Cup in Mechelen and a second place at the World Cup in Bordeaux.

Ludo maintained his reputation in the international jumping world, performing at major competitions. Consistency played a part in this: Ludo repeatedly treated the audience to strong performances. This secured him starting rights, time after time, at tournaments around the world.

2000 brought a new sponsor and a new top horse – once more a son of Darco. The Verelst group jumped at the opportunity to be involved as financiers; they became owners of Otterongo. When stallion Parco (Darco x Attack Z) from Jan Bongaerts powered into the picture, Ludo once more confidently headed to the most challenging international events.

Riding with Parco that year, Ludo finished in the honours, becoming Belgian Champion for the fifth time. Otterongo once more delivered a heroic performance on the other side of the globe. Seemingly undaunted by the long flight to Australia, he jumped into fourth place at the Olympic Games in Sydney. 

There was no stopping Otterongo in 2000. He gave his rider one of the most memorable victories of his career with a win at the German Masters in Stuttgart. ‘Philippaerts left the German team exasperated. No obstacle was too difficult for the Belgian pair’, read the German sport pages. Top rider Marcus Ehning and multiple Olympic Champion Ludger Beerbaam were left in his dust – defeated on their own grounds.