"My whole life revolves around equestrian sports," Ludo shares. From an early age, he knew he wanted to become a rider. That dream came true, and with his sons joining, that dream became bigger than he had ever dared to hope.

And who is the boss at home? Ludo doesn't have to think long. "In the house, I decide absolutely nothing. In the stable, maybe a bit more." Veronique laughs. Each is the boss on their own turf, and that's how it has worked for years.

Cheering together, falling together

Choosing the single best moment? Impossible, says Ludo. You have his sons' championship medals, and those two World Cup victories in Mechelen. "Winning in front of a home crowd. There is nothing better."

Yet there is also that one moment that never quite fades away. Rio, the Olympic Games. Nicola, young and competing at his very first Games, leaves the arena with a horse that suffered a minor injury. What follows is a storm of hate messages. "They called us horse killers," Ludo says softly. "While our horses are everything to us. That deeply affected us." Heavy weeks, even months, follow. Veronique nods. "That sticks with you."

It's right there that you see what makes this family strong. Because after every fall, they get back up together. "You lose more than you win," Ludo says. "Then you start over from the basics. That is the beginning of everything."

The heart of the family

While Ludo sets the sporting direction, Veronique is the driving force behind the scenes. She keeps the family together, celebrates every victory, and stands ready during every setback. And sometimes she acts as referee between Ludo as father and coach, and her sons. "That isn't always easy," she admits.

During competitions, she holds her breath, and that worry grows over the years. "Only when everything has gone well and nothing has happened am I at peace." After every round, she tells her sons the same thing: "You did your best. You can't do more than that." Because rider and horse are a team, and sometimes luck just isn't on your side. "Winning is important," she says, "but there are other values in life that are even more important."

Stay who you are

In a world full of glitter, this family consciously chooses simplicity. Honesty. Staying true to yourself. "It's an environment where a lot is at stake," says Ludo. "That's why it's so important for the children to keep their feet on the ground." They learned that mainly by example: thinking things through calmly, deciding nothing in a rush. The motto comes from Ludo's own father: "Shoemaker, stick to your last."

Those values are now also being passed down in the family business that Ludo built from the ground up. "Handing that responsibility over to your children is a very difficult step," he admits honestly. But the boys are finding common ground, and their roles are gradually falling into place.

When Thomas and Claudia, the founders of Kentucky, described the sons as well-raised young men, it touched them. "It makes you proud," Veronique says. "It's confirmation that we did a good job."

A match for each other

Maybe that is also why the bond with Kentucky feels so natural. It started years ago, small and simple, and grew step by step. Today, the family relies on Kentucky products every day for the care of their horses.

"With Thomas, you know where you stand," Veronique says. "He stands his ground. But so do we." Ludo sums it up: "He built something wonderful from scratch, just like us. We're a great match for each other."

Passion for the horse. Hard work. Staying honest. Together. That is the Philippaerts family. That is Kentucky.