They are rich, spoiled and prefer to avoid men. These are the stereotypes that horse riding women or ‘horse girls’ conjure up. Are the clichés correct? VTM sports anchor Lies Vandenberghe and model Griet Vanhees are horse girls par excellence and know what that hobby really demands from a person. “My horses are my psychologists.”
Model Kendall Jenner stars as a ‘horse girl’ in Stella McCartney’s latest campaign. Is it suddenly hip to love horses? Until now, being a ‘horse girl’ came with a lot of prejudices. But that doesn’t stop VTM sports anchor Lies Vandenberghe and Griet Vanhees, the wife of racing driver Athony Kumpen.
Kendall Jenner in the campaign. © Stella McCartney
Griet Vanhees (45): “What’s wrong with liking to be alone and having such a focus?”
“I was 6 years old when I started riding and have always had a horse since my teenage years,” says model and stylist Griet Vanhees. “Now I still have two: Quick and Bolleke, the old Shetland pony.”
© Instagram @grietvanhees
As far as she knows, girls who ride horses are anything but spoiled. “We are like go-getters, loving and ambitious. Equestrian sports require a lot of commitment and passion, because almost all your free time is spent on the animals,” says Griet. “And what’s wrong with liking to be alone and having such a focus?”
Horses bring me peace, balance and regularity. I couldn’t live without them
Griet Vanhees
Not everyone is cut out to do equestrian sports, she says. “You have to be calm and patient. And I think you also have to have a certain feeling for it.”
For Griet, horse riding is the way to clear her head after a busy day at work. “Horses give me peace and they give you so much love and warmth,” she says. “And they bring balance and regularity. I couldn’t live without them. My horses are my psychologists. They know everything about me and sense everything well. When I cry, they come and hug me. When I have a bad day, they make me laugh again.”
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Today she still regularly goes horse riding in the forest. “I want to give those animals the best life possible. I once had to sell a horse because I was pregnant and could no longer cope financially. To this day I still think about it sometimes. My horses stay with me until their last breath.”
Griet has also cared for neglected and abused horses for years. “Taking care of them cost me a lot of money. But I did it out of love and also because they deserved it. I still receive many requests from people who are looking for a good home for their horse. But I want to stop childcare. My heart breaks time and time again when I have to give up a horse due to old age.”
VTM sports anchor Lies Vandenberghe (32): “Once a horse girl, always a horse girl”
“Horse riding is often not called a ‘real sport’. Plus, it quickly sounds chic and like something for spoiled brats, rich girls or filles à papa,” says VTM face and journalist Lies Vandenberghe.
Lies Vandenberghe. © Christophe De Muynck
“It is true that there are two types of people at a riding school. Those with a lot of money and those with less. It will always remain that way, I believe. But you have that in every sport,” Lies believes. “And by the way: a fancy, embroidered saddle cloth, the most expensive helmet or bones do not immediately make you a good rider. But of course owning a horse does cost money.”
Believe me, if you have to sit on a horse for two hours for the first time, you will hardly be able to walk afterwards
Lies Vandenberghe
She thinks it’s sad that the term “horse girl” keeps some people away from the sport. “I heard how boys were often advised to stay as far away from horse girls as possible. While it is such a beautiful sport. Fortunately, I see boys more often at the riding school today. They are still in the minority, but still.”
Yes, a sport. Because that is horse riding, says Lies. “The horse doesn’t do everything. Believe me, if you have to sit on a horse for two hours for the first time, you will hardly be able to walk afterwards. Your back, stomach, arms, legs: you use all your muscles.”
Lies Vandenberghe. © Christophe De Muynck
Lies believes that a horse girl is like a beautiful soul. “Horses make you a sweeter and more empathetic person. If you don’t like animals, you don’t like people either, my grandmother liked to say. As a child I learned to care for nature and for a living being. They don’t teach you that at school. You learn how to saddle a horse, but also how to scoop shit. You don’t have that in any other sport. And there’s nothing chic about that.”
I didn’t have rich parents who could buy me a horse
Lies Vandenberghe
“There is more to it than people think,” says Lies. “A horse is not a cuddly toy. And it feels like a lot. It is not called a noble animal for nothing. You create a very special bond: you get to know each other’s emotions and fears and you have to be able to trust each other.”
Some 22 years later, horse riding is still the ultimate form of relaxation for the sports anchor. “I have such wonderful memories of all those horse camps. I didn’t have rich parents who could buy me a horse. A grandmother with her own farm.” At her solemn communion she was finally given her own pony.
Lies Vandenberghe and Kyana Dobbelaere, widow of cercle goalkeeper Miguel Van Damme. © Benny Proot
Today Lies no longer has her own horse. Although she still regularly goes riding with friends at the sea. “Once a horse girl, always a horse girl,” she jokes. “Sharing that passion with friends creates a bond. We also approach life in a similar way, I think.”
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2023-09-09 07:30:42
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