Belgium’s European champions put pure riding skill on display in groundbreaking competition

Pieter Devos claimed victory in a showjumping first on Thursday night, winning Jumping Mechelen’s inaugural ‘Battle of the European Champions’ – a groundbreaking horse swap competition that saw Belgium’s four Red Musketeers exchange mounts across multiple rounds.

The 37-year-old from Kapellen emerged victorious after a thrilling jump-off against teammate Nicola Philippaerts, bringing opening night at the prestigious Belgian indoor show to a dramatic close. The competition marked the first time a 5-star horse swap has been staged at this level, offering spectators a rare window into the adaptability and horsemanship of Belgium’s elite riders.

Format

The innovative format pitted European team gold medalists Gilles Thomas, Thibeau Spits, Nicola Philippaerts, and Pieter Devos against each other – and their teammates’ horses – across five grueling rounds.

Each rider began on their own mount before systematically swapping onto every other horse in the field. Between rounds, competitors had a mere two minutes to familiarise themselves with their new partner over two practice jumps before tackling the full 1.45m course.

The starting lineup featured some of Belgium’s finest: Thomas aboard Riviera van het Dennehof, Devos partnering Diabella PS, Philippaerts with Rakker van St Anneke, and Spits riding Quendelin van’t Merelsnest.

Opening Salvos

The competition began with mixed fortunes. Only Philippaerts and Rakker delivered a clean opening round, while Thomas, Devos, and Spits each collected a single time penalty riding their own horses.

But the first swap immediately revealed the depth of skill in the Belgian camp. Thomas, taking over Devos’s mare Diabella PS, made a telling adjustment before entering the ring. Commentator Niels Bruynseels noted the LGCT champion had changed his spurs.

“Diabella felt quite sensitive to me,” Thomas explained afterwards. “Once she’d completed her first round, I could settle her, and we managed to produce a clean performance.”

The strategic adaptation paid dividends; Thomas and Diabella jumped clear, as did Spits aboard Thomas’s Riviera. Philippaerts and Devos were less fortunate, each dropping a rail.

Building momentum

Round three showcased the quality of both horses and riders. All four combinations navigated the course without fault – a testament to the partnerships these top-level athletes can forge even with unfamiliar mounts.

Heading into the decisive fourth round, all four riders stood on four penalties, setting up a winner-takes-all finale.

The deciding round

The third and final swap proved decisive. Thomas, now aboard Spits’s Quendelin, caught the last fence. Spits encountered similar trouble on Rakker, leaving both riders tied for third place on eight penalties.

Devos, meanwhile, guided Thomas’s Riviera home without incident. Philippaerts matched him, steering Diabella PS clear to set up a straight shootout for the title.

Jump-off drama

For the final showdown, Devos returned to the mare that had carried him to a fault in the opening round, while Philippaerts took on Rakker for the second time.

This time, Devos found the winning formula with Diabella. The pair delivered a faultless jump-off performance to seal victory in the historic competition. Philippaerts, seeking his second win of the evening after earlier claiming the Belgian Indoor Championship, had two rails down with Rakker to finish runner-up.

Star performer

While Devos claimed the glory, one horse stood above all others. Diabella PS was the only mount to complete every single round without a fence down – an extraordinary achievement across five demanding trips and four different riders.

The 10-year-old mare by Diatendro proved not only her talent but her consistency and temperament, jumping clear for Devos, Thomas, Philippaerts, and twice in the jump-off with Devos.

Why it matters

The competition brought back echoes of the World Championship Final Four – a fan-favourite format that Thomas himself cited as inspiration when the horse swap was announced.

“I always loved watching the Final Four at the World Championships,” the poster rider for Jumping Mechelen 2025 had said before the event. “It’s a shame that class no longer exists, so it’s fantastic we can do this in Mechelen. It’s a really interesting class to watch.”

The format strips away the advantage of a long-term partnership, testing raw riding ability. Can these athletes adapt their style to different horses in minutes? Can they find the key to unlock a mount they’ve never ridden in competition?

Thursday night proved they can, and at the highest level.

Looking ahead

The horse swap closed out a spectacular opening night at Jumping Mechelen, which continues through December 30. The week’s main event, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier, takes place on Monday afternoon as riders battle for crucial points on the road to the Fort Worth Final.

Thomas, Devos, Philippaerts, and Spits will return to their regular mounts for the remainder of the show, though Thursday’s innovative competition demonstrated that in the hands of Belgium’s best, any of these horses could challenge for major honours.

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Final results – Battle of the European Champions:

1. Pieter Devos (4 penalties, clear jump-off)
2. Nicola Philippaerts (4 penalties, 2 faults jump-off) 3= Gilles Thomas (8 penalties) 3= Thibeau Spits (8 penalties)

Horses competing:

• Diabella PS (Pieter Devos)
• Riviera van het Dennehof (Gilles Thomas)
• Rakker van St Anneke (Nicola Philippaerts)
• Quendelin van’t Merelsnest (Thibeau Spits)

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Jumping Mechelen continues through Monday, December 30, with the FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier scheduled for Monday afternoon. The event also features World Cup Qualifiers in dressage and driving, plus the FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy final.