Nederlands
English
FrançaisThe Story
Stud farm, breeder, trader, but above all pioneer
Jozef & Arthur
Shortly after 1900, Jozef Van Langenhove was a farmer at Den Dries in Denderbelle (East Flanders). He had three workhorses that each produced a foal every year. His youngest son, Arthur, became his successor on the mixed farm, which was located in the middle of the village among residential houses.
Arthur worked with and bred horses but did not take them to competitions. That changed when he bought the mare Bea van 't Langhof in 1962 and took her to the inspection in Deinze, where Bea immediately became champion. From that time on, Arthur started breeding selectively. He specialized in purchasing foals and eighteen-month-olds, training them, and then selling them as well-trained workhorses. [ ... ]
10 National Titles
A long line of champions remains unmatched by any other breeding stable today. In the past, A. De Baene won 7 titles, C. Peten 8, while J. Hazard and A. Simoens both secured 9 championships. The Van Langenhove family claimed no fewer than 10 titles.
Eddy is still the great helmsman in East Flanders and deserves general recognition and appreciation as a craftsman.
Excerpt from the book by Henk ter Agter - “Impressive Belgian Draft Horse Breeding Stables Past and Present.” The full text can be found in the book starting on page 159.
Stable "Langhof"
In the quote above, renowned journalist and draft horse expert Henk ter Agter perfectly summarizes what Stable van ‘t Langhof of the Van Langenhove family stood and still stands for. On these pages, we present the history of Stud Farm Van Langenhove, breeding stable ‘t Langhof, and how Eddy Van Langenhove can be seen as a pioneer in his own unique way in the modern world of the Belgian Draft Horse.
Numerous championship titles adorn the record of Stable van ‘t Langhof, countless horses have found their way to new owners through them to build successful show and/or breeding careers, they were pioneers in the field of artificial insemination, and so much more.
The first years were a maze in there, but after a while, you notice the differences and small symptoms more quickly, although every mare is still unique!
- Eddy Van Langenhove
Quality has always been and will always remain my priority. Always. There must be quality spanning generations; a one-hit wonder is worth nothing.
- Eddy Van Langenhove
It's a beautiful profession, but without passion, you can't keep going.
- Eddy Van Langenhove
Text: Eva De Smidt with great thanks to Henk Ter Agter
Photos: Van Langenhove family archive, including: Antoine Hallet, Eli Hutois, Hubert Peffer, Robert Piessens, Ton van der Weerden, Eva De Smidt, and others.
Edited in 2022 with additions where possible (2025).
Sources: Archives of De Paardenkrant & Landbouwleven • Membership magazines KMBT/VFBT/KVTH, including articles by Jan De Boitselier, Lutgarde De Greeff, Eva De Smidt, and Ann Muys - and show reports by Henk ter Agter, Leo van den Bulck, and Eva De Smidt • Book “Impressive Belgian Draft Horse Studs Past and Present” by Henk ter Agter • Overview of stallion bloodlines by Leo van den Bulck