BY JO DE ROO
PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER LLEWELLYN

According to show chairman Gunter Van Lent; “Showjumping Mechelen is more than just sport: it’s a meeting place for athletes, families, breeders, traders and fans. Together we experience five days of emotion, excitement and friendship – right in the heart of the holidays”.

During showjumping Mechelen, one entire day is dedicated exclusively to the relationship between sport and breeding, including the final of free jumping for two-year-old horses, showjumping classes for six- and seven-year-old stallions, plus the famous Open Sires of the World Prix Léon Melchior showjumping class.
The BWP registered Adora van’t Ruytershof (Cavalier Russe Z - Brillianthina van’t Ruytershof Z x Bamako de Muze) won the free jumping for two-year-olds, from a total of 47 selected for this Mechelen final. The showjumping qualities were assessed by Eric van der Vleuten, Piet Raijmakers, and Carlos Pinto, and this daughter of Cavalier Russe Z was a clear winner, with a score of 88.50/100.
Bert Van Den Branden (1968), the founder and driving force behind studfarm ‘van’t Ruytershof’, had even more reasons to celebrate in Mechelen. Besides Adora van’t Ruytershof’s triumph, Tiger van’t Ruytershof ranked fourth in the showjumping class for six-year-old stallions, and Bert also indirectly has a hand in the World Cup class winner: Qalista DN, by Emerald van’t Ruytershof.
He provided his reflections on Showjumping Mechelen... “It’s especially nice to see the positive development of Adora and Tiger. Generally speaking, 2025 was a transitional year. We sold several young horses. My daughter Elise, who has already competed with many of our home-bred horses, is currently studying”. Elise adds: “I already have a bachelor’s degree in taxation and have now started studying tax law in Brussels.”

◆ On her dam’s side Adora van’t Ruytershof is the result of the fourth generation of home-bred mares: Brillianthina v’t Ruytershof x Diamanthina v/h Ruytershof x Carthina Z. So, you’ve been active as a breeder for quite some time. We can even go further back in time, because you jumped with Carthina’s granddam, Gesina van het Darohof. What kind of mare was Gesina?
I rode her for a year in national competitions for young horses, on behalf of her owner, Daniel Smet. She was five-years-old at the time. Gesina was very careful and had a lot of potential. She jumped spectacularly, with excellent hind-leg technique. She was difficult to ride and wasn’t the most agile horse. However, her temperament was good and willing.
◆ Carthina’s dam is Tanagra ‘S’ van het Darohof (Lys De Darmen). What is your connection to Tanagra?
I bought some of Gesina’s offspring because I was a fan of the bloodline. As a young breeder, I also wanted to acquire Tanagra, and I succeeded. I bought her as a three-year-old and immediately crossed her with Carthago. From that combination her foal, Carthina, was born. We had Tanagra broken in. Daniel Smet, from whom I had bought Tanagra, wanted to buy her back. I agreed, on the condition that the Carthago foal was mine...

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