December 30, 2024 
The first World Cup™ win of his 15-year-old stallion Vestmalle des Cotis, by the way.
It’s always a good day to be a Belgian, but especially on Monday night in Mechelen, with hometown hero Hans-Dieter Dreher, Gilles Thomas, and Pieter Devos keeping the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ right at home.
It might have looked like a small world based on the victory lap, but like any FEI World Cup™ it was a properly decorated start-list. This evening, however, Dreher and the 15-year-old Selle Français gelding Vestmalle des Cotis were a cut above the rest, albeit just a hair over the time.
The pair completed the second round course on 36.14 seconds ahead of Thomas’ 36.22 seconds aboard 10-year-old stallion Ermitage Kalone, who also finished second in the recent Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva. Devos was aboard the rather young Casual Dv Z, who landed in third with 9-year-old Zangersheide mare on 36.26 seconds.
For good measure, Gregory Walthelet (BEL) slated himself into the fourth position with 14-year-old stallion Bond Jamesbond de Hay, clocking in at 36.76 seconds, further protecting the Belgian contingent. The remaining riders in the 10 horse jump-off fell more than a second and a half away.
For Dreher, a stride less and a deep breath made all the difference.
“My horse jumped amazing…I have a fast horse. I did a stride less from two to three (fences one and two of the jump-off). He is a very sensitive horse; the most important thing is that he stays calm,” Dreher explained, noting the result was a long time coming. “Every year he wins a lot but this is his first World Cup win and the best win of his career.”
When riding for a home crowd, the energy is always on another level, though there were a few spectators close to Dreher’s heart that offered him the same calming presence he gave to Vestmalle des Cotis.
“It’s so impressive to win here, I have all my family here today too so it really means everything,” said Dreher.
Thomas, ever the bridesmaid these days, is figuring out how to calculate risk with Ermitage. During the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, he felt perhaps he should have risked a little more, but in Mechelen, he concluded a little less.
“[Ermitage] is maybe not the fastest yet as he is not the most experienced in the jump-off but he is getting faster and faster each time. It was a bit my fault. I took too much risk on (fence) one. I saw my distance from far away and was really far off. I even asked myself what shall I do! I’m a little disappointed in myself because if I had started better, we could have done better,” said Thomas.
An athletic perfectionist at just 26 years old, you might say Thomas is a little bit hard on himself, but take it from Devos and Casual Dv Z. They’ll only get better.
“[Casual Dv Z] is only nine and has had a lot of pressure this season. I think the future will be amazing with her and that is what I take with me today…I will keep coming until I win! She will now have a break and we will build her up again for the final,” said DeVos.
