There is only one owner in the world that is directly responsible for the success of two riders in the world top 20. With Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca as its most high-profile ambassadors, the Wolvertem, Belgium based Stephex Stables was a dominating force in 2017.
Receiving a whopping 52% of reader vote, Stephex Stables was voted the 2017 NoelleFloyd.com Owner of the Year. Jan Tops came in 2nd place with 18% of the vote. Lothlorien Farm, Judith Golkel, and Rushy Marsh Farm were also recognized.
But Stephex Stables is unique in both its size and sheer effectiveness. The large dealing and competition stable is overseen by Stephan Conter, who also runs the Stephex Group’s STX horse trucks company, a summer and fall competition circuit that includes a CSI5* week, as well as finance and real estate ventures. Conter also plays an active role in the developing careers of his daughters, Zoe and Emilie. He is even an outspoken advocate for the sport.
Deusser and De Luca’s success in the ring was exemplary in 2017; De Luca became the highest-ranked Italian rider in the world, winning in Paris, Rome, St. Gallen, Cannes and elsewhere. Ridden by De Luca, the Stephex-owned Halifax van het Kluizebos topped the 2017 WBFSH Show Jumping Studbook.
And Deusser saw success of his own, with the triumphant return of Stephex-owned Cornet d’Amour to the top level this fall, winning the World Cup Grand Prix at Oslo and the Grand Prix of Paris at the Longines Masters. Just this week, Deusser took top honors with the Stephex-owned Tobago Z in the Zangersheide Sires of the World at Jumping Mechelen CSI5*-W.
The resounding success of Stephex Stables is most seen in its riders, including Conter himself! Long retired from the sport as a rider, he tacked up this week at Mechelen to compete in the Belgian Star Masters, and placed 4th.