After a fantastic performance at the Olympic Games, Larissa Pauluis has wrapped up a remarkable season. She helped the Belgian team secure a fifth-place finish in Paris, putting Belgium firmly on the map in the international dressage scene. Larissa has come a long way with her top horse, Flambeau, and looks ahead with confidence to the future of Belgian dressage.
Flambeau had unexpectedly great talent
Larissa Pauluis and Flambeau present a harmonious picture in the arena, but their journey hasn’t always been easy. As a young horse, the Ampère son initially competed in showjumping before finding his way to Larissa through a friend who was a showjumper. At first, Larissa didn’t see Flambeau’s potential, but her late husband, Grégoire Naslin, believed in him. “He was nine years old when I started riding him, and he was very difficult,” Larissa recalls. “He had great movement, but contact was a challenge. I doubted him, but my husband encouraged me to persevere. He trusted that I could bring out the best in Flambeau. I never expected him to have so much talent, but when we started working on piaffe and passage, he surprised me. He’s turning 15 this year, and the older he gets, the more he enjoys his work. When he hears his freestyle music, he lights up. I truly enjoy that he’s a dream horse for me.”
All efforts focused on the World cup- and 5* competitions
At the Paris Olympics, Larissa placed fifth with the Belgian team, and a month later, she and Flambeau won the CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle in Crozet. Her future star, Neros d’Hator (by Kheops d’Hator), finished fifth in the small final of the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in September. Larissa then kicked off a successful World Cup season, achieving third place in the freestyle in Mechelen and second in Stuttgart. “My short-term goal is to qualify for the World Cup Final in Basel. Since I’m focusing on World Cup qualifications and 5* competitions, I’ll likely take First Step Valentin to CDI Lier instead of Flambeau. I haven’t finalized my schedule up to the Nations Cup in Lier. It’s special that Belgium is hosting a Nations Cup for the first time, so I might compete there as well.”
Focused on the future
In the longer term, Larissa is aiming for the European Championships in Crozet. “I believe we can put together a strong team for Belgium, and it’s exciting to work toward that goal together. Alongside the national coach and trainers, we’ve worked hard to keep improving, though we haven’t reached our peak yet. We can be proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but we also need to stay focused on the future and maintain proper riding techniques. I think it’s essential to treat horses with care, a horse must be a happy athlete and want to perform for you. If a horse doesn’t want to do something, it simply won’t happen. Looking ahead, I have high hopes for Neros d’Hator, who was crowned Belgian champion for five-year-olds last year. I think he’s really special. He’s still a bit cautious in the ring, but he has immense quality. Flambeau also continues to improve, I hope I can enjoy him for a long time. First, a while longer in competition, then at home in the field.
