What are you goals for the rest of this year, and what are your plans, dreams and ambitions for 2022?

This year, I was selected to jump in a few World Cups for the first time, which has been an amazing experience. I am competing in the World Cups in Madrid, London and Mechelen, and having a good result in one would be a great way to end 2021. I am going to CHI Geneva, and as it is my home show, I want to perform really well there.

I have been on an upward curve the second part of this year and my goal is to continue this and keep it going. I want to get higher in the rankings – hopefully in the top 50 – that would be a big achievement for me and enable me to jump in some bigger classes. I dream of competing in a Nations Cup. As a proud Swiss and patriot, to wear the red jacket is always something special for me and to have that chance next year would be great.

What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?

My proudest moment happened a few years ago when I was 16-years-old, from the outside you may not think that this is the best moment in my career but for me it is. I was at an international U25 show in Chevenez, and as I was 16 my trainer wanted me to jump in the junior Grand Prix; however, I really wanted to jump in the U25 Grand Prix, as I had a wild card to jump in it, and it meant I could also win a wild card to jump at CHI Geneva. All week I was fighting to jump in the bigger class, and my trainer kept on saying it was a bad idea and I should not jump in it; but I fought so hard to jump in the class that eventually he let me enter into it – and I won it and got the wildcard to CHI Geneva! I was riding Cortino 46, and I think it was one of the proudest moments of my career because I felt like I had proved everyone wrong.

You were (are!) an accomplished junior skier; why did you decide to focus on show jumping?

I don’t really know why I chose one over the other, as I was really passionate about both sports. But I guess in the end I did have a preference for show jumping, and I have never once regretted choosing it over skiing.

Is there anything you’ve learnt as part of your undergraduate studies that you apply to show jumping, and vice versa?

I think that in general that sport is a good life school for everyone. The systematic thinking that you learn in engineering or maths studies are also an asset in several situations in horse riding. I think that in sports we have the tendency – which is sometimes a good thing – to sometimes let emotions get the best of us and we feel more that we think. It’s what is also so beautiful about sport, that you can bring a bit of systematic thinking, which is a good thing.

In engineering you have a problem, and you solve it with the tools that you have, and I think to bring this mindset to horse riding is very valuable. Sports and systematic thinking are very complementary, and my undergraduate studies have really helped me learn this.

Just like tennis and golf, show jumping has its very own Grand Slam. Which of the other sporting ‘Majors’ do you love watching, and which is your favourite and why?

As a Swiss person you can’t say you don’t watch the tennis Majors, especially when you have an athlete as great as Roger Federer. He is just as incredible off the court – he is a very sympathetic person, and the vibe that he gives off during interviews is amazing. He has progressed personally a huge amount, when he first started out, he was the ‘bad boy of tennis’ and he has now turned into the most fair and polite athlete. I feel that everyone has something to learn from his or her path, and to follow that path at the highest level is something that is, of course, extraordinary.

My favourite Major would either be Wimbledon or Roland-Garros, but I think if I was pressured to choose just one it would be Roland-Garros. I think that the tournament is more interesting because Federer does not play as well on clay and so there is bit more pressure.

Who has inspired you the most throughout your career? Is there one rider you idolise?

I don’t like the word idolise – because there is a lack of criticism about idolising someone. Just looking and worshipping someone without questioning what they do, I think can be very harmful. I like to look at all the riders and choose my favourite part that I want to emulate.

When I was a small child, I went to CHI Geneva every year and I would watch the riders on the flat and during the warm-up, and I would pick what I liked most. I would go back to the stables on Monday and try it out on my own. The riding teacher would always say, ‘Edouard, what are you doing?’, because I was very fond of Pius Schwizer at the time, and he would always ride with his elbows out. So, on Monday I would be on my pony with my elbows out, and everyone would ask me what I was trying to do. I look at everyone and cherry pick what I like most and not idolise because I think that idolising gets you into a stagnating state.

My parents have always been really big supporters and are a huge inspiration to me. They never get too deep into show jumping and that is a problem I have sometimes – I get so obsessed with some things that sometimes it is hard to get me out of the situation. My parents have done a very inspiring job because they always know when to pull me out but still keep me deep enough that I care enough to do the work to make it happen.

What keeps you motivated and hungry for success?

I think that anything that is related to horses and competition keeps me hungry and motivated. I have always been a competitor ever since a was a small child – I had to be the first one to touch the car when racing to it or I had to have the best grades at school. Some people may say it is a bit toxic at certain times, but I am just a competitive person to my core and I always want more.

Tell us a little bit about your current stable of horses and their personalities… Which of your young horses are you most excited about?

I have the best string of horses that I have ever had this year, and there has been a lot of movement lately on that side of things. I don’t really have that many young horses at the moment – we have built up some seven-year-olds but they are all now eight or nine.

I have had the ride on Quno for the last few months. He had already gained some experience jumping in bigger classes with his previous rider, and I hope I can make the most of his experience to build mine up in the bigger classes.  I have a few horses who are owned by Mr Arturo Fasana, one of which is called Gamin Van't Naastveldhof and I think that he is going to be the real deal. It is always hard to tell at this point, but the way things are going,  it looks really good and we are all really excited about that horse.

Then I have Cortino 46 who I have had since I was 15 and I have competed in five Youth European Championships with him. He has been the most incredible horse for me, I won my first 5* with him, as well as jumping in my first 3* Grand Prix – most of my experience from 1.45m to 1.60m comes from him. Balenciana K is another very good horse that I have, but she is a bit of a lady, she wants to be spoken to politely. She is sensitive so it is not easy to deal with her, but with the right management she will do anything for you.

And then I have Babylone Des Erables, who I also ride for Mr Arturo Fasana, she has competed at 3* level this year and she is a very competitive horse over 1.50. Finally, I have Illusion who is an eight-year-old and my youngest horse, also owned by Mr Arturo Fasana, and I think that he could also be a really good horse. It is always really hard to tell and it is always raw speculation anyway – but if I’m not excited, I don’t know who will be!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

My previous trainer had a phrase that he always said, and I really like, which is ‘You should never think you are smarter than others’. We would go and try new horses together, and you sometimes hear riders say, ‘I think I could do a better job with this horse’, and it can sometimes be a little bit rude. I think that it is a very good phrase to live life by.

As a young rider, what does the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping mean to you? How positive do you believe the Rolex Grand Slam is for the sport of show jumping?

I think it is the most prestigious thing that you can win in our sport. It groups some of the most legendary shows in our sport together. I mean, of course I love Geneva the most – but all four shows are the best of what our sport has to offer, and they all have so much history. There has only been one person to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – Scott Brash – and that makes it the most exclusive prize in the sport.

Not by anyone’s fault, but by history, every other title to win has been won by numerous people and over time more people are going to win them. So, if you want to be in the most exclusive group in our sport then you have to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. I want to be remembered as someone in the sport and the way to do that is to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping and become part of this exclusive group.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which three items would you take with you?

That is a tough question! I think probably a book – although I don’t know which one, then my laptop – but there would be no Wi-Fi, and then some pictures of my family and people I love.

What is your earliest equestrian memory?

My earliest equestrian memory comes from when I was 10-years-old, and I remember watching the top riders at the London International Horse Show [formerly known as Olympia] racing camels!

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?

One of my proudest moments was winning Individual European gold medal for Ireland in 1995, I had a massive point to prove because I left the British team two years prior, aged 32, because I wanted to compete in major Championships. Previously, I had won many good 5-star Grands Prix, but this was a huge moment in my career, as it vindicated a lot of what I had done previously. It proved my planning, thinking and direction was correct.

I changed nationality again in 2008, which was unprecedented, but it was something the owners I had at the time wanted because they wanted to have a horse on the British team at the London Olympics in 2012. At this time, I had just broken my back in three places, so I wasn’t even sure I was going to ride again, so to jump the last round on Vinidicate in order to the win the gold medal for Great Britain at home was something only dreams are made of. What made it more special, was Vinidicate was a true family horse, my wife was the half owner and my son, Harry persuaded me to buy the horse as a four-year-old.

How did you get into the breeding side of the sport?

One of my very good friends, Kevin Cooper, who lives down the road from me, got me into the breeding side of the sport. He would always talk about it and he had a nice Irish mare, who was very good 1.40m jumper. We were at a show together and he asked me what I thought of the stallion Carnaval Drum, who he had just brought, and I said: “That’s a good one, let’s use him”. I rode the progeny, he was called Carnavelly, and I won the six-year-old World Championships, the German Masters, the Berlin Grand Prix, and the World Cup at The London International Horse Show on him. To have had a hand in that horse was fantastic, and that really inspired me to breed myself. Kevin has also bred many good horses since.

What do you believe are the main elements of breeding a top show jumping horse?

I can’t say for sure, because sometimes you get horses that don’t have any top pedigree lines at the very top of the sport. But I do 100% believe that if you have a really good dam, with top breeding going back two or three generations, you are improving your chances of breeding a top horse. 

All a stallion can do is better the mare, so in percentages of probability, you need a very good mare to start with. If you have that, then you are increasing the chances of your success rate – it is not guaranteed but you are giving yourself a fair chance. However, with some mares it doesn’t matter who you put them to, they still produce outstanding horses.

Has there ever been a time when pairings have had unexpected results??

Definitely! The perfect example is Liscalgot who was ridden by Dermott Lennon. They together won the Individual World Championship in Jerez de la Frontera in 2002. Liscalgot’s dam was bought by a breeder to act as a way of keeping his grass down in his paddock. One day he decided to put her into foal, but she would not load into the lorry, so they chased her down a road in Ireland to the nearest stallion who happened to be Touchdown. This combination bred the world champion in 2002!

The partnership between horse and rider is incredibly important – is that something that you look for when selling to new owners?

I think it is very important. When I sold Spirit T to Jessica Mendoza a few years ago, I could instantly see the partnership was going to be successful. Her father, Paul Mendoza, took some more convincing, but I could see how well the horse and rider suited each other, and it has turned out to be an exceptional partnership.

Sometimes partnerships do not work out, but I think with enough time and a smart rider, who does not try to force issues, a partnership can develop. Many people now, do not give the horse time or a chance, they pay so much money that they expect instant results. It has never worked like that – a horse does not know how much it costs.

What is your breeding set-up like?

We have nine mares, none of which are very old. I believe the younger mares produce the best horses. If you also look at horse racing the successful ones tend to be by young mares. So, I have taken that onboard. I try to mainly breed from good pedigree; over a few generations with the mares themselves. They must also have a good jump and confirmation. We have no mares over the age of 16, and we start to take embryos from them around 8-10 years old.

How long do you usually keep a foal for before it goes onto the next home or before you break it in?

I am not very commercial; I like to keep the foals and not sell too early. Each year we breed between six and nine foals and I’ll buy one or two as well. I like to wait until they are in the spring of their fourth year, before we break them in, this allows the horse to be strong enough to show me what they are like and I will not misread a situation with the horse not being ready or strong enough. We never loose jump our horses; they will have a few small jumps with a rider when they are first broken in and this gives us an accurate representation of their talent. Loose jumping can give out a lot of false impressions, and I cannot judge a horse loose jumping at a sale because it can be totally inaccurate.

Why do you do it / what is your ambition?

I love it. I love seeing the foals being born and bringing them up. Earlier on in my breeding career I sold one horse too early, and I have learnt from this. I sold Clear Round and Party aged two-years-old, for £1,500, because I judged the horse too early on his loose jumping. He ended second in the Grand Prix at The London International Horse Show. It taught me to never be impatient and if you judge a young horse every time they jump and perform you will be disappointed. They need time to develop, and all are vastly different in their development.

Which homebred are you most proud of?

Clear Round and Party – he was the first horse that was born here. I must stress I never gave him that name, that was Geir Gulliksen!

What does the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping mean to you? How positive do you believe it is for the sport of show jumping?

I think that Rolex has taken show jumping to next level, it is now on par with all the other sporting Majors, such as tennis and golf. Rolex has picked the four most iconic arenas in the world, they are without a doubt historic venues and the history in them needs no explaining. The level of competition associated with those arenas, over the years, is the best in the world.

CHIO Aachen is beautiful, manicured, and the attention to details unrivalled. It takes your breath away every time. They have taken CHI Geneva to another level, way beyond any other indoor show in the world. The CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ is a long plane ride away, but it is worth every second when you get there. The crowds are phenomenal, and they have created the best show jumping arena in North America. The Dutch Masters is magnificent and steeped in history. Each of those venues are also outstanding for the horses, great stabling, warm up arenas and plenty of room to move them around. 

CHI Geneva is the next Major and it brings the whole equestrian world together, with the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final, the Rolex Grand Prix and the fantastic prize money. It is without doubt the pinnacle of the whole indoor season and is proper Grand Prix showjumping with no pay cards and no gimmicks.

Who has been your biggest inspiration throughout career?

I loved watching the pure belief of Hugo Simon. I would watch him, his warm-ups, his approach at beginning of a show. He was the only man to jump every class in the show, and he would try and win them all even on his best horses. His horses had to win and the belief that he gave his horses to win was something you rarely see. I have never seen that level of intensity; a few riders want to win the top few classes at a show, but they usually mainly focus on the Grand Prix. But Hugo wanted to win from the first day, to the final Grand Prix. His mental preparation was amazing, and he prepared his horses to win. They knew what to expect from him as a rider, they were ready, and his belief in himself and his horses was extraordinary.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

Paul Schockemöhle, in 1984 when I won my first World Cup in Brussels on a seven-year-old, called April Sun. After my round he offered to buy the horse, and I was quite naïve at that age and I told him that the horse wasn’t for sale. He said are you sure? I told him my plan was to go to Seoul Olympics. Paul said good luck and look after him they don’t come around that often. The following year the owner sold him!  So ever since then with owners or partnerships I make sure there is a clear plan. It is better for everyone involved.

If you had to give advice to someone entering the equestrian industry, what would it be?

Solely concentrate on your riding career, and do not mix too many things into it. It is very hard to try and establish yourself in the industry. It’s a marathon not a sprint. First and foremost, make sure you do a proper apprenticeship and learn everything you can about good horse care on a daily basis.

As a rider you must work hard and have good training and be dedicated. I would recommend not to worry about the breeding until further down the line. It takes up a lot of time and lot of expertise – I wouldn’t as a young rider try and do it all because it is too much. Nowadays, to be a very successful rider you need a really good team around you, dedicated owners when things don’t always work out, good staff and a long-term plan and goal.  Take your career step by step.

Tickets are still available for the 60th edition of the CHI de Genève, and after last year's cancellation, you can't miss this year's competition!

This 60th edition of the event will also host the 20th edition of the IJRC Rolex Top 10 Final. Spectators will be able to watch some of the world's best equestrian crossbreds compete in several disciplines including indoor cross-country, dressage and show jumping. The highlight of the show will be the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday.

Current contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, Daniel Deusser (Germany), along with local heroes Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat, will be vying for another victory in what is undoubtedly a masterclass in equestrianism and competition.

Buy your tickets here