Last week, Belgium’s Pieter Devos announced the retirement of his now 17-year-old partner Espoir (Surcouf de Revel x Laudanum XX – breeder Johan Lannoo) – that has been one of his top horses over the last five years. 

With Devos in the saddle, Espoir represented Belgium at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon in 2018, and at the European Championships in Gothenburg in 2017 – where the pair finished 5th individually. The two also jumped at the World Cup Final in Paris in 2018, and at the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona in 2017. Together, Devos and Espoir won the CSI5* Grand Prix in Doha in 2019, the CSI5* World Cup in Bordeaux in 2018, the CSI5* Grand Prix in Oslo in 2016 and the CSI3* Grand Prix in Liege in 2016. The two also recorded big wins in Basel, Beervelde, Drachten, Hamburg, Mechelen and St. Tropez as well as podium finishes at venues such as Cannes, Doha, Geneva, Knokke, Madrid and New York. 

With this photo special, we wish Espoir a happy retirement! 

All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping