The Philippaerts-family has today announced the retirement of the now 15-year-old stallion Forever d'Arco Ter Linden (Darco x Tenor Manciais), that they co-own with Frans Lens. The stallion has spent the last ten years with the Philippaerts-family, with Ludo, Nicola, Olivier, Thibault and Anthony all riding him. Forever d'Arco Ter Linden will now return back to Stud Ter Linden as a breeding stallion.

With Nicola Philippaerts in the saddle, Forever d'Arco Ter Linden won the Nations Cup in Rome in 2014 with the Belgian team. The pair also has top five finishes at venues such as Barcelona, Den Bosch, Hamburg, Sopot, Spruce Meadows, Toronto and Washington to look back at. Over the last two years, the stallion has had success with Anthony Philippaerts. 

“He was and still is an amazing horse,” said Nicola Philippaerts in a statement from the family. “In 2015, I jumped my first clear round at the World Cup in Mechelen with Forever d'Arco. I’ll never forget that special moment. We also won the Nations Cup of Rome, finished 2nd in the World Cup of Washington and 4th at the Longines Global Tour in Hamburg. We rode the World Cup finals in Gothenburg as well. I have nothing but great memories with Forever d'Arco and wish him a long and peaceful life.”

Forever d'Arco is by the stallion Darco, that Ludo Philippaerts competed at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992. “Forever d'Arco looks a lot like his father Darco," Ludo Philippaerts stated. A real fighter during the competitions, he always went for it.  That positive mindset that he has in common with Darco is his best feature. It also is the only horse that all 5 of us have ridden. Saying goodbye is never easy, but we know that he goes back home to where he was born 16 years ago.  He’ll pass on some of his genetics as he continues as a breeding stallion at Stud Ter Linden.”