Verboomen Gets Ride on Brieussel's Fellini du Soleil

Dressage

Belgium

European dressage champion Justin Verboomen has received the ride on French Stephanie Brieussel's top Grand Prix horse, Fellini du Soleil.

Fellini du Soleil is a 12-year old Hanoverian bred gelding by Foundation out of Rubina (by Rubin Royal x Donnerhall). He is bred by Marianne Eichenberger.

Stephanie Brieussel

The horse sold to France to Gildas Nicoleau in partnership with Dominique and Stephanie Brieussel.

In 2022 Stephanie made her international show debut on the gelding at the CDI Deauville. She competed him straight at medium tour level and placed second in the Inter B and won the inter II with 68.236%.

They moved up to Grand Prix level in 2023 in Le Mans and showed in Waregem, Le Mans, and Kronenberg that year. They did a similar series of CDi's in 2024 and won silver at the 2024 French Championships. In 2025 went to Compiegne, Jardy, Deauville and Macon Chaintré at the end of July 2025; the latter being their last show as a pair. They did not compete at the 2025 French Championships.

Justin Verboomen

The chestnut has now been sent in training with Justin Verboomen who lives near Brussels, Belgium.

"Stephanie contacted me 1,5 month ago to know if I was interested to ride her horse. She came to my barn with Fellini for two days and we trained the horse together," Justin told Eurodressage. "I really like him. He's sensitive and he has a lot of talent for many exercises.

Brieussel explained to Eurodressage why she made the decision to move Fellini to Belgium.

"My husband had open heart surgery at the end of 2025 and I had so much work in the stables, doing the job of of two, without a groom or assistant rider. It got better, but then I had a big problem with my right shoulder and saw all these doctors and was diagnosed with severe tendinitis and I required surgery. That took one month, had to do lots of physiotherapy. I was out for six months. The season of 2025 wasn't great for me and Fellini because I had much pain while riding."

Humble to My Horse

Brieussel wanted to give her horse a fair chance and decided to find a new rider for him while she gets back on track.

Justin on Fellini du Soleil (Photo © Sharon Vandeput)

"I have to humble and be honest to Fellini, who I believe is a very talented horse. I couldn't ride him the way I want, so I was thinking to find someone else to ride him. My husband and I talked about it and we think Justin has a style of riding that is fine and soft. But Justin also had to agree. Fellini is my baby, all my horses are my babies. We went there for two days and had a great contact, both with the horses and between us, so we decided to give it a try."

Verboomen presented Fellini du Soleil at a Belgian national squad training at Stable Vanderhasselt where Jan Nivelle coached the riders. The Brieussels were there too.

"Jan knows the horse very well and Justin is a genius on Fellini," said Stephanie. "We're giving them all the time they need and there is no rush for shows. There is zero pressure." Justin confirmed this. "I haven't planned a show schedule yet. When I feel ready I'll first do some national shows in Belgium and we'll see," he said.