According to his groom Sean Lynch, he has a personality of his own when home for too long, he has a huge heart and he loves his treat ball: Meet Daniel Deusser's First Class van Eeckelghem in our next Close-Up!

Last year, First Class van Eeckelghem (Balou du Rouet x Feinschnitt I van de Richter) jumped to team bronze at the Olympic Games in Rio and he has top-three finishes from the CSI5* Grand Prix of Doha (twice in 2016), the CSI5* Grand Prix of Treffen (2016 and 2015) and the CSI5* Grand Prix of Chantilly (2016) on his record – to mention some. First Class van Eeckelghem was also on the winning team in the 2016 Nations Cup Final in Barcelona.

He might seem big and sweet, but when not on the road "he is a lion that attempts to attack everyone when passing his stable" says First Class' groom Sean Lynch. "He is normally one of the first horses that's fed in the morning, and until he is fed he will kick the wall just because he can and you can scream and shout and it won't help at all..." 

First Class' favorites are his treat ball and Cavalor Fruites. "You can be 100 metres away and the first treat goes inside and he is at the door with the head on the side!" says Lynch. 

The 12-year-old gelding is Lynch's favorite in the stables, but there is not much cuddling going on as First Class hates kisses. "Actually he couldn't think of anything worse!" Lynch laughs.

All photos (c) Jenny Abrahamsson.