"A new chapter is truly beginning for me," said an emotional Rik Hemeryck. "Herica and I have worked together for eleven or twelve years. This parting is extremely difficult for me, because we had always agreed that the horses would not leave... but life sometimes turns out differently. You get attached to these horses, so there are a lot of emotions involved. Nevertheless, we are closing this chapter on good terms. I will always cherish all the wonderful moments we shared."

And there was certainly no shortage of success. "Just think of the victories in the Grand Prix of Deauville and Saint-Lô, the second place in the Sopot GP where we also won the Nations Cup with Inoui, and the fantastic wins with Navaro in Stuttgart and Fontainebleau. Winning the 4* Grand Prix of Bolesworth with Ulyss Morinda is also something I’ll always remember. And, of course, Sam de Lauzelle, whom I bred myself and produced until he was eight."

Despite the setback, Hemeryck remains professional to the very end. "It's very tough, but I will personally bring the horses to Stephan Conter for Daniel on Monday. We’ve actually done several deals with Stephan recently, so I have absolutely no problem with Daniel taking over the reins," Hemeryck shared with Jump-Off.

Looking to the Future

Despite the void left by his top horses, Hemeryck is already looking ahead.

"I’m fortunate enough to still count on Tolino d'Holbeek Z (Tobago Z x Toulon), a fantastic seven-year-old that I co-own and have high hopes for. I think I’ve shown over recent months that I remain very competitive. Luckily, I’m in good health, so I’m fully open to new opportunities for the future," Hemeryck concluded, filled with emotion yet without a trace of bitterness.