Once he was at the top himself. Today, his riders and horses jump even higher. Former Belgian champion Lieven Devos has quite some ambitions with his Asian trainees. Very cautiously he would even dare to mention the Olympic Games. No lack of expertise, knowledge and experience, that’s for sure.
Born in the West-Flemish village of Gits in 1971, Lieven followed his father to the Belgian LRV competitions at an early age. “My father belonged to the generation that was blown away by the fourteen-year-old miracle Ludo Philippaerts.” In contrast to his father, Lieven Devos did not stick to the local level. From LRV he went to HROV and at the same time he tried his luck within the prestigious national youth league Gouden Laars, which he won. “I was a contemporary of Gilbert de Roock, Kristof Cleeren and Dominique Joassin, a memorable crop.” Devos was talented, but went on with his studies, with success. He first obtained his Latin-Mathematics degree in secondary school and graduated from university in Industrial Informatics. In between, he had started launching Jacques Vanmaercke’s stallions. Randel Z, Canadian River, Papa II, etc. Lieven Devos and the Hellebos stallions grew up together in the National Cycle for young horses.
In the meantime, Lieven Devos had earned his stripes internationally with the juniors and the Young Riders. He had acquired the taste and would become a professional show jumper. “I was hooked by the game and had Jean-Claude Van Geenberghe, Philippe Vandelanoitte and former chef d’equipe of the American jumping team, George Morris, guide me.” Thanks to their influences, Lieven immediately adopted the modern and contemporary riding style. “Top breeder Hubert Vandekerckhove was the first to structurally support me and provide me with Grand Prix horses.” Afterwards, Lieven acted under the wings of Picobello Horses for six years. He rode with the Van Geenberghe family in the – at that time – brand-new Zilveren Spoor complex. With Perlana he won his first major prize in Le Touquet, France. Meanwhile, he made the top ten with two horses on his first world championship for young horses in Lanaken. With Wembley, one of the super horses from the stables of his good friend Willy Matton, Lieven won his first world cup in Athens. Meanwhile, Lieven Devos became self-employed and founded Linico Horses. “In between, I relied on the advice of numerous top riders, including world champion Philippe Le Jeune and world cup winner Leslie Howard.” After having gained experience at an international level for years, Lieven Devos became Belgian champion with the magnificent mare Myra (Voltaire) in 2009. “The absolute highlight of my career. Owner José Timmerman had never wanted to sell his horse and offered me the opportunity to prove my worth.” So I did.
Since the nineties, the show jumper from Gits links his sports career to coaching trainees and trading horses. His area of expertise is Asia. In fact, one of his clients won gold at the Asian Games in 2014. “Today I focus less on my own sports career in order to further develop the careers of my clients.” In 2015, he anticipated the expansion of his training and trading activities and moved his stable to Vlamertinge. “I still ride too, but mainly at home. Perry Geryl releases my horses in competition, just as some trainees. The young horses are prepared by Cedric Deknudt and Benny Naessens.” Moral support for Lieven comes in the first place from his family. “My wife Stefanie Robberecht and my children Arthur and Marie motivate me every day to make the best of it. My brother, Pieter Devos, a namesake of the famous show jumper, has been standing by my side my whole life.
”Did you know that Lieven Devos participates every year in a number of trotting races by way of hobby? If horses and sports are your passion… If you succeeded in making your hobby your profession… If you do what you love, then you can do more.
Would you like more information on the training possibilities, the offer and the infrastructure at Linico Horses? Then you are right where you ought to be.
