At 20 years old, Lauranne Spits is discovering the Saut Hermès the way one enters a cathedral: slightly intimidated, eyes wide open, yet already deeply immersed. Competing in the Talents Hermès with Parel van het Russeltveld, the young Belgian is experiencing a weekend out of time, somewhere between accelerated learning and raw emotion. By her side, her brother Thibeau—who has been through it before and is now established at 5* level—directs, advises, fine-tunes. A family story, Grand Palais version.
A setting beyond everything
The Grand Palais is not just a competition. It’s a sensory experience.
And Lauranne Spits understood that from her very first steps into the arena.
« “It’s quite incredible, honestly. Having the opportunity to ride in a place like this is already huge. And then you learn from everything: the riders, the way they work, how they manage their horses… You almost feel like you’re living like a five-star rider, with the hotel, the shuttles… It’s a bit crazy for me. (smile) It’s really a different experience, and I’m very grateful to have been able to come this year. I hope I can come back.” »
Here, everything is amplified. The looks, the silence, the light.
« “No, clearly not. That’s exactly why I’m trying to make the most of it. You never know if you’ll get this chance again, so I’m taking everything I can from being here.” »
Between two worlds, the Grand Palais arena
Entering the ring here for the first time feels like stepping into another dimension.
« “I was a bit overwhelmed. I didn’t necessarily think I belonged here, or I thought it would be very difficult to get here… And in the end, I am. So yes, I was really very happy.” »
And then there’s the arena itself, unique.
« “Yes, it’s quite special. It feels like you’re riding outdoors… while being indoors. There’s the light, the sun… it gives a real outdoor feeling inside an indoor arena. It’s quite unique. And honestly, it’s spectacular to ride here.” »
Parel, a partner still discovering
By her side, Parel van het Russeltveld, 11 years old, is discovering it too.
“My mare isn’t really used to this kind of atmosphere, with so much crowd. She’s still a bit tense. The first day, she was very tense, but it’s getting better. Round by round, it improved. I hope she’ll be at her best to finish on Sunday.”
A partnership still in the making, still adjusting.
« “Yes, she’s quite sensitive, so I know what I need to do, and not do, before going into the ring. Even when she lacks confidence, she always tries to give her best. It’s up to me to give her as much calm as possible. She always does everything for me, she’s really incredible.” »
The bond is there. Deep.
« “I got her in my last junior year, about three years ago. She was seven at the time. The idea was to progress together over bigger courses and eventually sell her later. But my parents kept their word: they gave me time to grow with her. And today, I’m here thanks to that. Without a horse, you don’t come to competitions like this. So I’m really grateful to still be able to count on her.” »
Gentle pressure and the gaze of others
Because at the Grand Palais, there’s more than just fences.
There are expectations too.
« “Yes, clearly. This morning, I was quite tense, even though the course wasn’t huge. But the atmosphere changes everything. You want to do well, especially when you’re surrounded by five-star riders. And then a lot of people know that I’m ‘the sister of…’, so maybe they expect something. I’m just doing my best. I’m not yet where I want to be, but I’m working to get there.” »
Thibeau, a very discreet advisor
For this first Saut Hermès, Lauranne isn’t alone.
She moves forward as a pair. As a family.
« “Yes, clearly. It’s the first time we’re competing together at an event of this scale with my sister. At first, she was selected and I wasn’t… so I was almost a bit jealous. (smile) But no, she fully deserves her place. This kind of event is completely different. You learn so much just by watching the best riders perform here. And in the end, I also got to be part of it. So it makes the experience even nicer.” »
If Thibeau hadn’t had a spot at this Saut Hermès, he probably wouldn’t have come to watch his sister.
« “Not really, no. I would probably have been competing elsewhere, in Lier for example. Lauranne is someone solid, she knows how to manage on her own. But of course, if needed, there’s always someone in the family to be there. Now that I’m here and she’s riding, it’s obviously more practical.” »
A big brother’s role (Thibeau has just turned 25), but almost invisible.
« Honestly, it’s quite simple. She knows her job very well. I mainly try to help her a bit with the courses, to give her confidence. We exchange impressions, we compare ideas. But in the end, she knows her horse and her feelings best. If I can add a little something, great. But she’s already capable of building her own plan.” »
In course walks, details make the difference.
« “Yes, of course. We’ve been trained to be autonomous, but having a second opinion is still important. Sometimes just confirming an idea or adjusting a detail can make the difference. And if I can help at that level, that’s already very good.” »
And above all, no rivalry at this event. Not even comparing performances.
« “(laughs) No, not really. We’re not even in direct competition, so that changes things. Maybe it would be different in a jump-off together… but here, the idea is mainly to support each other. We both just hope to have a good show.” »
Learning, always learning
At the end of the day, Lauranne Spits doesn’t lose sight of why she’s here.
« “A lot of things. Every competition teaches you something, whether it’s good or bad. You never come home without having improved. And for me, that’s the most important thing: I’m here to learn.” »
Two Spits under the glass roof, but one shared mindset: moving forward together. Lauranne discovers, Thibeau refines, and the Grand Palais becomes the setting for a full-scale family learning experience.
