Stal Hendrix horse of the month: Querido van ‘t Ruytershof

15 September 2026

The last 12 months have cemented Querido van ‘t Ruytershof’s position on the international show jumping stage, from winning his first international Grand Prix, to competing in his first FEI World CupTM Qualifier and most recently finishing sixth in a hotly contested Rolex Grand Prix at the Brussels Stephex Masters. The Stal ‘t Ruytershof-bred gelding was also a traveling reserve for Italy at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen.

Age: 10

Breeding: Mosito Van Het Hellehof x Dantigone E (Otangelo)

Rider: Giampiero Garofalo

Owner: Stal Hendrix

Biggest Achievement: 1st CSI3* Grand Prix, Eindhoven, May 2026; 6th CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix, Brussels, August 2026

Stal Hendrix purchased the Mosito Van Het Hellehof gelding as an eight-year-old in 2024 and the ride initially went to Lisa Nooren-Garofalo, who produced the gelding from 1.45m, to 1.55m level. The partnership was successful together, winning at CSI2* 1.45m level, before the reins were handed across to Giampiero Garofolo in June 2025. The pair made a strong start to their campaign together, finishing third in the CSI4* Grand Prix at Valkenswaard just two months later. Querido van ‘t Ruytershof has since gone from strength to strength, being placed in both the Grand Prix and World CupTM Qualifier at CSI5* Helsinki earlier this year and winning the CSI3* Grand Prix in Eindhoven. His most recent accomplishment came at the Brussels Stephex Masters, where he finished sixth in the Rolex Grand Prix.

Speaking of how Querido van ‘t Ruytershof has developed over the past years and the qualities that make him a 5* horse, Giampiero Garofolo said:

“When my wife, Lisa, first started riding Querido, she had a very good feeling. He was still a little green, but you could see he had a lot of potential. Lisa rode him for just under a year, and they had some great success together. I didn’t have very many horses at the time, so she gave Querido to me to ride for a little bit – and never got him back!

“I had a good feeling about him as soon as I started riding him. He’s definitely a show horse. At home, he is very laid back, but once he gets into the arena at a show, he always gives 200%. Querido is a horse with a really strong mentality who wants to work for the rider.”

Looking ahead to the future, Garofolo continued:

“We are very excited about Querido’s future. Currently, we are looking forward to the CSI5* Longines League of Nations in St Tropez. I feel incredibly lucky to ride a horse like him, and I’m very grateful to the Hendrix family for giving me the opportunity to ride him.”

Now a regular on the CSI5* circuit, Querido van ‘t Ruytershof at just 10-years-old has an exciting future ahead of him. All eyes are now firmly on securing a place on the Italian team at the 2027 European Championships next summer, whilst building on his impressive performances to date