Text © World of Showjumping

“Ermitage Kalone is the kind of horse that gives you so much joy, but there are also a lot of expectations,” Sanne Melsen – Gilles Thomas’ show groom of the past six years – tells WoSJ. “Every round with Ermitage is a blessing,” Sanne says about the 11-year-old stallion, that has become a fan-favourite world-wide. “He makes it all look so easy.”

In September 2023, 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 – fuelling the fire around the then 9-year-old stallion. And the hype around the marvellous chestnut hasn’t faded, as he has kept impressing again and again. In June, Ermitage Kalone and Gilles Thomas took their first five-star Grand Prix win – in the CSI5* 1.60m Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Paris. At the Longines FEI Jumping European Championship 2025 in A Coruña, Spain, in July – their second championship appearance for Team Belgium, following the Olympic Games in Paris last summer – the duo showed that they are here to stay, jumping home team gold and individual bronze in effortless style. 

And, as Gilles’ show groom, Sanne has been there every step of the way to witness the progress of one of the world’s most talented horse-and-rider combinations.

"It was an enjoyable week, but also very stressful  – and I try to never feel too stressed," Sanne tells about her experience in A Coruña. "On the inside, you really felt it was a championship, and more important than any other week. I felt exhausted; you give so much of yourself, and really live every emotion."

Like so many others, Sanne started riding at a local pony club. However, her journey to the international showjumping scene was a little different. “Growing up, I went to my riding lessons once a week. I went to the stables a bit earlier, so I could help getting the ponies from the field and tack them up for the first lesson. I kind of grew into grooming like that. I was lucky enough because the people that own the stable were family friends, and when they went to national shows, I got to go to with them.”

In 2014, Sanne started working for Lieven Hendrix – who runs a huge tack shop business – and stayed for about five years. “My interest in horses always stayed the same though, and I rode a bit myself," Sanne tells. "As a rider, I was never good enough and also not motivated to pursue that as a career. However, I liked spending time with the horses – I enjoyed that way more than riding. The amount of love and affection you get back from the horses is something I find incredible.”

The amount of love and affection you get back from the horses is something I find incredible

Working for Lieven Hendrix, Sanne got in contact with several riders. “I can only say that I've been lucky,” she continues to explain about her career path. “I did a few shows with Niels Bruynseels and Pieter Devos, and ended up doing some freelance grooming in combination with my job at Lieven’s.”

In 2019, Gilles’ uncle Marc Van Dijck asked Sanne if she would be interested to work for them – an offer she initially declined. “In the beginning I said no, because I felt like the level that they were competing at was too high for me. I thought I was not experienced enough to be doing that. However, they convinced me to do a few shows with Gilles – and I started to like it. I had a feeling that there was a lot of room for me to grow. Because Gilles was young, and he was starting up as well, it felt like it could maybe be nice to get to know each other and grow together. And from there on, it all went quite fast." 

Officially, Sanne started with Gilles on the 1st of January 2020. “I mostly feel very lucky,” she says, looking back. “I have a nice rider who works hard. It's also kind of a family business, and it's nice to become a part of the family and to work together for common goals.”

“My role has changed since I started,” Sanne continues. “As of the beginning of this year, I only do shows. Before I worked at home as well, but never much because Gilles has quite a busy show plan. It simply got to a point where I felt it was all too much, but luckily, we found a solution that seems to work for everyone. It's not always easy because I have to let go when it comes to what happens at home. I try to get along well with our home groom, and communicate with Gilles. It's still a work in progress for us.”

I've been lucky to find a job with a rider like Gilles, where we have grown up the levels together

“I had a completely different way into it, I think,” Sanne tells about fitting into the community of show grooms. “I've been lucky to find a job with a rider like Gilles, where we have grown up the levels together. Most of the grooms who are doing this have worked as a groom way longer than I have.”

Annelies van Gestel and Jenny Ducoffre are two of the people Sanne has learned the most from. “I used to work with Annelies at Lieven’s, and I learned a lot from her. She has always supported me, and if I have a hard day, she is the first person I would call. I also learnt a lot from Jenny. She was always so kind, so open to everyone, and I owe a lot to her. I really looked up to her, and she taught me so much.”

“I try to handle him and work with him as I do with all my other horses,” Sanne tells about taking care of the phenomenal Ermitage Kalone. “You do notice in everything that he is popular. Going to a vet-check or for a hand-walk, or just taking him off the truck, there's often someone with a camera there. And Ermitage loves it! The moment he sees a camera, it is as if he's posing. It makes my life easy that he is such a simple stallion to work with. Ermitage is very cool, very smart – and he loves the attention.”

However, even superstars need their space. “When he has had enough, you notice it,” Sanne continues to explain about the hugely popular stallion’s personality. “Then he goes in the corner of his box to let you know to leave him alone. I struggled to get to know him in the beginning, but that was mainly because as a seven- and eight-year-old, he didn't do so many shows. Therefore, I didn't handle him so much back then. I really got to know him the year he became Belgian Champion, when I did a few more shows with him. During that championship week, I had more time to spend with him.”

I love working with Ermitage, but it has been a challenge to bond with him because he is so independent

“He has a big personality; he doesn't need anyone,” Sanne continues. “I can't really compare him to any of the other horses that I have because he is the king of the stable. He very well earned that label, and he knows he has it. He will always be something special because of what he did for Gilles.”

“I love working with Ermitage, but it has been a challenge to bond with him because he is so independent,” Sanne says. “I should not have favourites, but I guess everyone does. I really love Luna – she's such a fighter in the ring. She does everything that she can for you. She's not as talented as Ermitage, but she always gives her all. From the first show I did with her in 2020, we had an instant connection. If you have that special connection with a horse, it makes the job a bit easier because you know them better.”

Working with Gilles has introduced Sanne to the Belgian national squad, and the longstanding teams that are part of it. Alongside rider-groom duos such as Gregory Wathelet and Sylvain Benoit, Pieter Devos and Simon Rousic, as well as Niels Bruynseels and Keo Balateo, Sanne has learned the true meaning of teamwork.

"All of them have worked together for a long time,” she points out. “They might not be best friends at all times, but I do believe that there has to be a little bit of a distance because in the end your rider is often your boss. However, when I see how much respect they have for each other and how well they work together, that's how I believe it should be.”

The better your team is, the further you can get as a rider

“I believe it starts with respect; it is the most important factor,” Sanne shares about her view on what makes a good team. “It's not always sunshine, or rainbows, or only happiness; I think everyone struggles at some point and goes through hard times.”

“In the end, you work together to achieve something and even though the rider has most of the spotlight there are so many people behind the scenes – and I'm not just speaking about the show grooms,” she concludes. “The better your team is, the further you can get as a rider. I am lucky because Gilles is incredibly talented. However, there are a lot of incredibly talented people – and not one of them can succeed alone.”

24.7.2025 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.