{"id":48354,"date":"2026-03-26T16:15:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:15:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sohorse.eu\/?p=48354"},"modified":"2026-03-26T16:32:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:32:31","slug":"guery-philippaerts-young-riders-academy-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sohorse.eu\/en\/reportages\/2026\/03\/26\/guery-philippaerts-young-riders-academy-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Gu\u00e9ry and Philippaerts move up to the elite: two Belgians at the heart of the Young Riders Academy class of 2026."},"content":{"rendered":"

Belgium is moving forward as a group. And it\u2019s moving fast. In 2026, Mathieu Gu\u00e9ry<\/strong> and Anthony Philippaerts<\/strong> join A Young Riders Academy<\/strong>, a benchmark program designed to guide young riders toward the very highest level. Two profiles, two stories, but the same turning point: the moment when promise gives way to reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two Belgians, one continuity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s no longer a surprise. Almost a habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Leon Brutsaert<\/strong> <\/em>and Evelyne Putters<\/strong> last year, Belgium once again places two riders in the program. A consistent presence that confirms one thing: the next generation is here\u2014dense, structured\u2026 and above all ready to step up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
(La promo 2025 de la A Young Riders Academy comportait d\u00e9j\u00e0 deux Belges. \u00a9AYRA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In a strong and international 2026 class, Gu\u00e9ry and Philippaerts are not here to learn how to exist. They are here to accelerate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gu\u00e9ry, perfect timing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mathieu Gu\u00e9ry didn\u2019t apply on a whim. He waited. Observed. Calculated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u00ab I\u2019ve been looking into this academy for several years now and I find it very interesting. My father always told me that you should apply when you feel it\u2019s the right year, when you have the right group of horses.
Because beyond all the training camps and gatherings the academy offers, there is also, and above all, the competition aspect. They have connections with many top shows. So they can help you get invitations directly from the shows rather than through the federation.
And since we know that in Belgium we have a federation with a huge number of riders, being able to receive an invitation directly from a show is very interesting. <\/em>\u00bb<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Clear headed. Structured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mathieu<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And above all consistent with what he shows in the ring: European Young Riders team champion in 2025, third individually, steady results and another strong appearance at the Grand Palais during the Talents Herm\u00e8s last weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, the timing isn\u2019t just good. It\u2019s perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philippaerts, seizing the opportunity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Philippaerts family, the Academy is part of the landscape. But Anthony doesn\u2019t rely on it. He uses it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u00ab Yes, of course it\u2019s something special. I think it\u2019s a huge opportunity for a young rider like me, and they only select a few riders each year.
So we try to get in, and I\u2019m really very happy to have this opportunity. I will do my best to learn as much as possible this year.<\/em> \u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Anthony
(\u00a9 Philippaerts)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A simple, direct message. No detours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And once again, perfectly timed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u00ab Actually, it was the first time I applied to the academy, because it\u2019s also my last year in this category.
We had to go through two days of selection, which wasn\u2019t easy. But in the end, I\u2019m very happy they chose me. <\/em>\u00bb<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Last shot in the Young Riders category. And clearly, the right one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Une s\u00e9lection qui ne pardonne rien<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting into the Young Riders Academy isn\u2019t about sending a file and waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s about passing through a tight filter. A very tight one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u00ab About sixty people applied. Then they selected twenty-six, who were asked to come to Peelbergen for two days,\u201d says Mathieu Gu\u00e9ry.\n\u201cWe had young horses with which we had to perform a more dressage-type test, then a young horse course, and two rounds with a more experienced horse.<\/em> \u00bb, says Mathieu Gu\u00e9ry.
\u00ab We had young horses with which we had to perform a more dressage-type test, then a young horse course, and two rounds with a more experienced horse.<\/em> \u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"A
(Quelques-uns des candidats 2026 lors de la s\u00e9lection \u00e0 Peelbergen. \u00a9AYRA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And above all, a selection in front of a jury that misses nothing: Jeroen Dubbeldam<\/strong>, Thierry Pomel<\/strong>, Jens Fredricson<\/strong> and Emil Hendrix<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not exactly extras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the real challenge lies elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u00ab We also had a fifteen to twenty-minute interview, where they get to know us better.<\/em> \u00bb<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A less familiar ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
(\u00a9AYRA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u00ab Our sport is quite logical and straightforward. When a rail falls, it\u2019s four faults. But here, having judges makes it more subjective. We\u2019re not used to that. <\/em>\u00bb<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Same observation from Philippaerts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u00ab They don\u2019t just look at how you ride, but also at your personality. <\/em>\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Anthony<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A strong\u2026 and international 2026 class<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 selection confirms the trend: a mix of highly competitive European profiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n