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In September, Ermitage Kalone (Catoki x Kannan, bred by Magali Dessalles and owned by Joris Van Dijck) and Gilles Thomas won the Belgian Championship for seniors in Lanaken – fueling the fire around the 9-year-old stallion. “Because he is also a breeding stallion, everyone was at Zangersheide to see him so from day one there was a lot of pressure,” 25-year-old Gilles Thomas tells World of Showjumping. “Leading up to Lanaken, he had not done so many shows, and I think his performance there really shows how good he is – I think now everyone can see it.” 

Gilles, who in 2022 placed third in the CSI05* 1.60m CN International presented by Rolex at Spruce Meadows with Aretino 13 (Artani II x Caretino) and fourth in the CSI5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva with Calleryama (Casall x Contender), ranks the victory in Lanaken as his most emotional yet. “Someone actually said to me before the championship started that we would become Belgian Champions – which I thought was a special thing to say, even though I did not believe that myself.”

Joris Van Dijck – the nephew of Gilles Thomas’ uncle Marc Van Dijck, who Gilles rides for – gave Gilles the ride on Ermitage Kalone when the stallion was six. Van Dijck had found Ermitage Kalone as a foal – in a French magazine. “He was 18 months when I bought him,” Van Dijck recalls. “I saw him in a French magazine! Everything was already online back then and it was not so popular anymore to advertise in a printed media. However, I saw Ermitage Kalone there: For sale, Catoki x Kannan, and I was directly interested. I called the breeder, Magali Dessalles, who sent me a video. We had the X-rays done in France and as everything was ok, we bought him – it was a quick arrangement.” 

There was a lot of interest in him right from the start

“He was a really, really nice horse for his age,” Van Dijck continues. “Like all our other foals, he was put in the field and when he was turning three, we presented him for the BWP stallion approval. He jumped really good, got approved directly and that was the beginning with him – there was a lot of interest in him right from the start.”

As a youngster, Van Dijck rode Ermitage Kalone himself. “He was super nice to get used to the saddle,” he recalls. “He never did anything wrong. I rode him myself, that is what I try to do with most of my young horses, because I like to feel how they are in the beginning. If we think they are good enough, they then go to Marc and Gilles when they are around six – like we did with Ermitage Kalone as well. The setup at Marc’s is perfect: He has everything at his place that is needed for breeding, so Ermitage doesn’t have to travel for covering, and Gilles is there to ride him.”

When I saw him free jump as a three-year-old, I knew I had never had another horse like him

“Of course, you always hope for a little bit more,” Van Dijck says when asked about the stallion’s future. “When he was five, we hoped that he would still be good when he would turn seven, when he was seven, we hoped he would be even better in a few years… And now we hope his positive evolution will continue. I have always believed in him though; when I saw him free jump as a three-year-old, I knew I had never had another horse like him. I knew he was special, but you cannot know if they will reach the top when they get older. At the top, it is not only about jumping; it is also about their mentality, how they can cope with the traveling – there are so many aspects that come into play.”

For Van Dijck, following his talented stallion’s journey is extremely emotional and he has no intention of selling a horse that brings him so much joy. “It gives me everything; a lot of stress, but also so much happiness. Whether I see him on a training or winning a championship, the feeling for me is just the same; I get so much joy out of just watching him and it is always very emotional for me. I am really happy to be an owner of such a horse and I have a strong connection with him. He grew up at my place, so I know him very well – better than anyone else – and it is like I cannot let him go, that’s it. People say I am stupid not to sell him, but money is not everything in life. If I would sell him, it would break me. It is not easy, and some nights it takes me a few hours before I can sleep.”

People say I am stupid not to sell him, but money is not everything in life

“I think Gilles and Ermitage are made for each other. Gilles is not the biggest name, but for me, there is no better rider than him for Ermitage. When you see them together, it is magic – he is a fantastic rider and they are a fantastic couple.” 

“Every year, we have gained a bit more experience,” Gilles Thomas tells about his journey with Ermitage Kalone. “He has always been very consistent, jumping many clear rounds since he was a youngster. This year, he has only had one pole down, at the Sunshine Tour in the beginning of the year – that is all. However, he has not done so many shows because he has also been breeding all summer.”

He has never been flying one meter above the jumps, he simply knows where the poles are

“He is such a clever horse,” Gilles continues. “He has never been flying one meter above the jumps, he simply knows where the poles are. When I first started to ride him, I knew he was a good horse but I did not really understand how exceptional he was. However, it became clear to me pretty quickly and after having jumped him a few times at home, I told my friends that I have a very special horse in the stable – and every show I did with him, he improved.” 

Ermitage Kalone has been breeding since he was approved as a three-year-old, and his sports career has been carefully combined with these activities. “As he was breeding from March to August, he only showed at the beginning of the year at the Sunshine Tour and then again in July,” Gilles explains. “However, I kept riding him every day. I knew I would not get to do many shows with him, and as the Belgian Championships are held at the end of the outdoor season in September, we made that our goal – and it worked out. He did Valkeswaard, Moerzeke and one class in London before going to Lanaken.”

He has the perfect type; he moves like a dressage horse, he is big, beautiful and can jump really well

Despite his young age, and relatively low profile on the international showjumping scene, Ermitage Kalone has already been hugely popular as a breeding stallion. “First of all, he is a good jumper. Secondly, especially in Belgium, many breeding stallions come from the same families and similar bloodlines,” Gilles explains about why he thinks the stallion is in such demand. “Ermitage is by Catoki and has totally different blood, I believe that is one of the reasons why he has been so popular. Also, he has the perfect type; he moves like a dressage horse, he is big, beautiful and can jump really well. I still remember when he was seven and I took him to Lanaken, one of the first people that came to tell me I had a really good horse was Philipp Weishaupt – who rode Catoki. I think that his good mind and rideability comes from Catoki and the scope from Kannan.” 

Even though the 9-year-old stallion doesn’t have a huge amount of mileage, he has taken on everything he has been asked with ease. “When I jumped a 1.50m class with him for the first time, it felt like he had done it a hundred times before,” Gilles tells. “And the same in our first 1.55m; he is a very comfortable horse for me to ride. He does not have so much experience, but he has a great mindset, and feels very mature. When you are at home, he feels quite normal, but when you enter the ring, he gets more blood – he knows when it is important.”

After their championship title in Lanaken, Gilles and Ermitage Kalone jumped in Barcelona to gain some experience before the stallion is returning to his breeding duties. “Then we are going to build him up towards Mechelen at the end of the year,” Gilles tells about their plans for the rest of the season. “I don’t know if I will jump the World Cup with him there, but for us Belgians, Mechelen is an important show. And for next year, we will try to make a good plan for him together with our Chef d’Equipe to aim towards Paris.”

“For sure our biggest goal is to keep him fit and happy,” Gilles concludes. “I have ridden a few good horses – even though I am still young – but Ermitage is just outstanding. My uncle Marc, who has seen a lot, says he has never had a horse like him before. I think there are many possibilities with him, and as long as he stays healthy, it will just come down to time and experience. The way he has been improving until now has been incredible. He simply needs to gain experience, and for sure we are going to do our best to be ready for Paris Olympics next year.”

31.10.2023 No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.