A legacy forged in the sand

“I didn’t grow up in the sport; I grew up among horses,” says Belgian entrepreneur Gilbert De Roock. “My father, uncle, and grandfather all rode recreationally, and I simply followed their example.” He fondly recalls his first rides along the beach with his parents, where a chance encounter with a showjumping horse changed his life. “One day, I decided to ride my father’s showjumper instead of my own older leisure horse… and I was hooked.”

What began as childlike curiosity grew into a structured path: regional competitions, then youth classes, and eventually the leap into professional life after he put his academic career on hold. “That’s when I decided to team up with Stephan Conter,” he adds.

Initially, the plan was to divide responsibilities: Conter would focus on the business, while De Roock trained and competed the horses. But soon, both were involved in every aspect of the sport. “At that time, Stephan wasn’t yet the powerhouse he is today. Like me, he grew into it. Our partnership lasted almost 20 years, but eventually, it was time for me to follow my own path.”

From passion to profession: navigating a changing industry

De Roock has witnessed the evolution of equestrian sport up close, and he doesn’t romanticize the past. “A top horse today simply cannot be compared to a top horse from 20 years ago,” he says. “Back then, it was all about power. Now it’s about technique, agility, and precision from both horse and rider.”

He is quick to credit breeders for this shift. “They are the foundation of our sport. Without breeders, there is no future. And without sport, there’s no reason to breed. It’s a vicious circle.”

Breeding as an art form

Although trade fuels his business, breeding remains his true passion. “Every year I breed about 10 to 12 foals, more if you count the embryo transfers, which I outsource to the Liegois family.” His focus? Proven dam lines combined with outstanding stallions. “I have nothing against using young stallions, but I prefer a certain level of certainty. It’s about stacking the odds with quality genes, even though there are never any guarantees.”

Importantly, all of his broodmares have competed in sport themselves. “They are not just paper champions,” he adds. “They earned their stripes in the ring.” On ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), De Roock is clear: “I’m not a fan. I believe in exclusivity, and ICSI dilutes that. It lowers the mare’s value. That’s just a fact.”

A philosophy rooted in quality, not quantity

“Exclusivity? That could be my middle name,” he says with a smile. “I have no interest in horses for the mass market. I only want the best, and I believe that should be the goal of the entire sector. Quality must always come first.”

That conviction brought him to Equbreeding.auction, where he found not only premium horses but also exceptional service. “There are auctions, and then there are auctions. These young men, Jody Bosteels and Niels Haese, really impressed me with their professionalism.”

Matching horses with visionaries

The connection was instant. “They told me that Ninjo van ’t Ameldonk was the perfect horse for my stable, and they were right. I even tried to buy him before the auction, but they stuck to the process.” After a successful trial, De Roock secured the horse at the auction. “It was a flawless match, and I haven’t regretted it for a second.”

During the event, he also spontaneously decided to purchase a foal: Cardentino De Will Z. “First, I look at how a foal moves, but the pedigree has to be there as well. In this case, both boxes were ticked. The 2024 collection was truly impressive.”

The future of auctions: curated quality

As a veteran in the industry, De Roock sees auctions as a lasting factor in the modern horse economy. “They are here to stay, no doubt about it. But only those who focus on quality will truly make a difference in the long run.”

For Gilbert De Roock, success in equestrian sport doesn’t come from chasing trends but from recognizing value before others do, developing talent with precision, and never compromising on quality. In a world that often settles for ‘good,’ De Roock quietly pursues the ‘exceptional.’