June 21, 2025 
If show jumpers were awarded style points, Ermitage Kalone would take them all. His jumping rounds effortlessly combine the style of a show hunter, the precision of an equitation round, and the speed and power of a show jumper.
In Paris, speed and agility was all he needed.
The 11-year-old stallion has been identified as one of the top horses in the world. He finishes in the top 10 59% of the time at 1.60m (Jumpr stats), which he’s only been jumping for about a year. His first Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) Grand Prix—and only second-ever 5* Grand Prix—was in Madrid in May of 2024 where he finished third.
The horse is wise beyond his years and experience. Returning to the very city where he represented Belgium in the Olympic Games, the star truly emerged, earning his first international victory in the LGCT Grand Prix of Paris. With Gilles Thomas of Belgium in the stirrups, he’s been knocking at the door of a career first GP win, earning six 1.60m podium finishes since 2024.
Owned by a relative of Thomas’s, Ermitage has been in the 27-year-old’s string since age 6. As a breeding stallion, the horse has not competed as often as most 11-year olds and the pair’s progression has been slow and intentional—except for the jump-off in Paris, that is.
His performance in Paris begs the question: is Ermitage the best in the world?
According to Thomas, “I think he is one of the best for sure. He’s not very experienced because of breeding, just jumped [his] first five-star Grand Prix last year at 10. He did everything very good because we built him up slowly. It seems every jump-off I do I can go a bit faster. Today, he did an amazing job in the jump-off.”
Before Thomas took to the short track, there were only two double-clear efforts, and only one of them was fast. He knew the shot was his to take, and it was Ermitage’s day to shine.
“Ermitage has a very good front end so you can turn very short to fences,” Thomas said of his approach to the jump-off. “He’s also very rideable so already at fence number one he was in front of my leg. The more I went to the jump the better he was jumping, so I knew I had to go for it.”
The time, 42.92 seconds, was over a second and a half ahead, awarding them the win.
Thomas, current in first on the overall LGCT leaderboard, had more to risk than a podium placing in Paris—a safe double-clear could have protected his lead, while a rail down could have lost him the leader’s arm band.
“In the warmup I was thinking about this arm band,” he reflected. “I’m leading the championship and I knew there was only one clear quick round so if I did a smooth clear I’d be on the podium again. Last year I did the Super Grand Prix and it was an amazing class to ride. I wanted to give it a try to get the ticket, so I had to go for the win.”
The pieces fell into place, and Thomas punched his ticket to Prague, all while maintaining his lead in the standings.
Looking ahead to the Super Grand Prix, Thomas has competed in Prague but Ermitage has not. Fortunately, experience doesn’t seem to be a problem for the stallion, nor ambition for Thomas.
“I have a little experience in that kind of class,” he said of the Super Grand Prix. “It’s in Prague, which is a bit of a smaller ring than Madrid. Let’s not forget the teams; we’re also second overall in the teams. I have a few very good horses so I don’t know which horse I will ride in the Super Grand Prix but I have amazing choices.”
The day was just shy of a fairytale ending for Lillie Keenan, who finished second aboard Fasther, a horse she’s brought back from injury to again compete at the highest level. Denis Lynch clinched third with Mr Boombastic as the only other double-clear finish.
One thing seems certain, Ermitage’s biggest accomplishments still lie ahead of him.
