“Becoming vice world champion with your grandson is something you can’t plan,” says a proud Emile Van Rossem. With three medals in one season, gold at the Belgian Championships, bronze at the European Championships, and silver at the World Championships for Young Horses, 16-year-old Niels Van Rossem has written his name into the history books. Behind that success stands a close-knit family where three generations share the same passion for both breeding and sport.
Three generations, one stable
At the Van Rossem family, everything revolves around horses. Grandfather Emile founded the breeding program and watched with pride as his grandson stood on the podium in Lanaken with a horse he bred himself. “In 2017 we already became world champions, but becoming vice world champion with your grandson is something entirely different,” Emile says.
“You can’t predict that. Although we knew Niels and Speedy were in form: they made the final of the Belgian Junior Championships, and my son Steven also rode him in the Belgian Championships for seven-year-olds. I have five grandchildren, and they all ride. It’s in their blood, so I have to keep breeding. On average we breed eight foals a year, next year it will be thirteen. For the next generation.”
Niels’ father Geert adds: “Speedy was ridden by all of us, my brother, myself, and Niels, who started riding him as a four-year-old. We quickly noticed that the two of them clicked. I became vice Belgian champion with him last year, and my brother rode him at the seven-year-old championships because Niels was at the European Pony Championships that weekend. But honestly, Speedy jumped best with Niels. It was only natural that he would ride him at the Worlds.”
Is Niels already ahead of his father at that age? Geert smiles. “Much further. He has better horses and better guidance. We used to do a lot by feel, but young riders now know exactly what they’re doing. He has our experience as a foundation, plus technical coaching in both dressage and jumping. The evolution in the sport is huge.”
“Only talent isn’t enough”
The family runs Stoeterij Mivaro as a true family project. What began as a side business for Emile and his sons has grown into an established name. Steven is now active in the business full-time. Geert remains realistic about Niels’ future: “He has talent, but that alone isn’t enough. It’s about hard work, perseverance, and learning to deal with ups and downs. Whether he becomes a professional rider one day, time will tell. He’s still young.”
There’s no shortage of horses at Mivaro, but selling them is part of the business. “Niels’ Belgian and European Championship pony was sold, and Speedy van Klapscheut also left after the Worlds,” Geert explains. “That’s part of a rider’s life. Luckily, there’s already a successor in the stables: Muze van Klapscheut Z, another seven-year-old with whom Steven jumped the World Championship final.”
For Niels, saying goodbye to Speedy was emotional. “The World Championships were our last show together. I could have done so much more with him. We were a great team; he always gave me everything. Speedy was the best Klapscheut I’ve ever ridden.” The day after his silver medal, he was back at school. “They knew what had happened, but by Monday, everything was back to normal. Two more years of school, and then I hope to do something with horses. My dream is to become a professional rider.”
