What are your goals, dreams and ambitions for 2022?

My main goal for this year is to do well at all the Rolex Majors and the other Rolex Grands Prix; they are my main focus. In addition, I am aiming for the FEI World Equestrian Games ^TM and the FEI World Cup™ Final. I have some incredible horses so I will aim to use those for the bigger Grands Prix and Championships. I also have some lovely young horses that I am looking forward to bringing up through the levels.

How does it feel to know you made history by winning consecutive Rolex Grands Prix at CHI Geneva in front of your home crowd?

It is always amazing to win a Rolex Grand Prix, but to win one back-to-back, and in front of my home crowd made it so much more special to me. Leone Jei is such a young horse as well; it was certainly a very big win for me!

Do you think that Leone Jei could be the next Clooney 51?

I do not compare them; Clooney 51 was the most successful horse in the history of Swiss show jumping. So, I really cannot expect to have the next Clooney 51 straight away. However, I do think that Leone Jei has shown that he has all the qualities and I think that he is one of the best horses on the circuit right now.

Looking ahead to The Dutch Masters next month; which horses will you compete with, and who have you selected for the Rolex Grand Prix?

I will ride Chaplin in the Rolex Grand Prix. He is in very good form, and I think that The Dutch Masters will really suit him. I am planning to take Leone Jei to the bigger outside rings, such as CHIO Aachen, as I think that they suit him better. 

Which horse and rider combinations do you think have what it takes to win the Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters?

I don’t think that there is one specific combination. At every Rolex Grand Slam Major, you find the best horse and rider combinations, and therefore everyone there has a chance to win. In my opinion that is why the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is so special and unique. I think that our sport is different from most other sports, it is much harder to win regularly or back-to-back, as we work with animals which makes the sport so unpredictable. This makes winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, like Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos did, such an incredible achievement.

How did your partnership with your owner Adolfo Juri came into place?

Adolfo owned horses for my uncle, Markus [Fuchs], for more than 20-years. When Markus stopped riding, Adolfo moved his horses to another rider for a few years. After that he moved his horses to me, which was a very nice gesture, and we work very well together. He has been incredibly supportive of my career, and I am very lucky to have him as part of my team. He and my other owner [Luigi Baleri] get along really well and are very supportive of each other.

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

Obviously, Leone Jei is a spectacular horse. He has an amazing mentality and is very ambitious – he always wants to try his best. Sometimes, that does make it slightly harder because he has so much blood and is so keen, I have to try and keep him as calm and relaxed as possible. Chaplin has already won so many Grands Prix, and he has such an amazing character. He is a very special horse to me. Conner Jei is very talented, but he can be a bit tricker than the other horses. He won the Rolex Grand Prix of Dinard last year, and I am planning on taking him to the FEI World Cup™ Final this year. The Sinner is also one of best horses currently and is very capable. These horses have already won many 5* Grands Prix between them and I feel very lucky to be able to ride them.

I have four very nice young horses. Commissar Pezi is a nine-year-old, and I am currently competing with him out on the Sunshine Tour for the first time. He looks very promising, he has a great jump and attitude – however he is very green for his age, but I am still very excited by him. Viper Z and Diva Van Het Cauterhof Z, are eight-years-old and they are also both with me on the Sunshine Tour. They have both jumped really well so far, Diva [Van Het Cauterhof Z] has jumped 15 rounds and has not had a fence down yet. Pina Van De Moerhoeve is my seven-year-old and she has been jumping a lot of the young horse classes out here. I have been having a lot of fun on the Tour, I am not jumping the biggest classes, but I am really enjoying bringing the young horses up through the levels.

They are all giving me very good feelings, but it is always difficult to know whether they are going to be my next 5* winning horse. However, they have a lot of quality and have jumped a lot of clear rounds – so I think the future is looking promising.

How do you plan which shows you take your horses to?

I plan my shows around the Rolex Majors as they are my main priority. I decide which horse I am going to take to which show based on their form and their strengths. Then, when there are no big shows on, I like to bring out my young horses and give them some experience jumping in some smaller classes.

How is Clooney 51?

He is very good. He gets ridden every day as it is good for his shoulder to keep active. He gets to go out on hacks and goes in out in the field – I think he likes retirement! We are just so pleased to have him home and for him to be in such good shape.

At CHI Geneva, you had someone making crepes outside your horse’s stables. Can you tell us about that?

He is my friend from France. He likes to come to the shows and take care of me and my grooms. All of the riders like to stop by in between classes to have a snack!

What keeps you motivated and hungry for success?

For me the special partnership between horse and rider is so exciting and keeps me motivated. Each horse is different every day, and I really enjoy spending time with them. When you work with a horse every day to improve and your work pays off at a big show, it is so rewarding.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?

One of my proudest moments was competing at my first Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva in 2018. I also competed there in 2019, and it was a huge step in my career. Last year, I won my first 5* Grand Prix, which was an amazing moment in my career.

What are your plans, dreams and ambitions for 2022?

I hope 2022 is going to be the best year so far for me. I am aiming to be a part of the US Team for some FEI Nations Cup™ events and hopefully the FEI World Championships this summer. I would also love to be part of all the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors. That is a big goal for me and is definitely one of my main ambitions for this year.

When did your love for show jumping start, and who has inspired you the most throughout your career?

Everyone in my family is involved in horses, my parents have a big training and sales operation in America and they are a huge inspiration to me, so I have grown up with horses in my life. When I was 15-years-old, I went to train and work for Eric Lamaze. I was with Eric for five years, and he has really been my mentor in the sport. We have travelled the world together, and he was the one who first took me to Europe to compete. I have learned so much from him and really appreciate the chances he gave me. I really admire Daniel Deusser and love the way he rides, too – I try to emulate his style in my riding.

What attributes do you believe a successful show jumper needs?

I think that you have to be competitive, but you also have to be able to take the losses. In show jumping, you lose a lot more than you win, so you have to be able to cope with the ups and downs of the sport. Often when things don’t go well it is easy to want to change everything, but you just have to take a step back and make sure you are doing the basic things right. I think to be the best and win the biggest classes you need to have the balance between patience and drive.

Tell us a little bit about your stable of horses – which ones are you most excited about?

I am very lucky – I have some great horses and amazing support from Georgina Bloomberg. My main horse is Theodore Manciais, and I have had him for a long time now. He has jumped the Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva twice before and won a 5* last year. Another one of my top horses is Quibelle, who is owned by Georgina Bloomberg. She jumped a clear for Team USA in the CSIO5* FEI Nations Cup™ Final in Barcelona. We have had some great results, and I think she is going to be my top horse for big team events. I am really excited about her. I feel very lucky to have such great support from Georgina and her team, Jimmy Doyle is her trainer, who also helps me now. It’s a great relationship, we go to most of the same shows and I get to take advice and tips from Georgina and Jimmy.

How important is your team – your groom, your farrier, your coach, your vet, your owner?

They are crucial – they make the whole thing go round. I have a great group of grooms and managers, as well as an excellent vet and farrier. Without even one of them the whole thing would not work. When I win a big class or a Grand Prix, it is really nice, but it is really the team behind me that makes it possible. It is like any other sport, such as Formula 1, the team is vital to the success of the rider. When things don’t go well its tough because you feel like you are letting your team down, as they work so hard for your success.

What do you love most about show jumping? Competing, the camaraderie with the other riders, travelling the world…

I love working with the horses. Being able to create a partnership with your horse and pushing your relationship to the limit to achieve things that you never thought were possible. The camaraderie at the shows with all the riders is very fun, we are all in it for the same reason. It’s really fulfilling to compete against so many talented riders. We all try to help each other, and even when you don’t win you are still happy for the other riders.

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

I got a great piece of advice this year from Denis Lynch, which was to always push ahead and to try not to make changes when things go wrong. You should stick with your plan. It has worked in the past and it will do in the future.

Rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has tipped you as a future star – how much has he influenced your career so far and what other riders to do you look up to?

I met Daniel when I was 15-years-old, and I really look up to him as a person and a rider. I have always been fixated on his riding and his way of doing things. We have similar builds and so I have always watched him. As the years went on, we have become really close, and I consider him one of my best friends in the sport. I train at Stephex Stables over the summer, and they really treat me as part of their family. I try to ride around Daniel as much as I can and watch what he does. I try and learn as much as I can from him.

There are so many riders that I look up to and we have some great riders in the USA, including McLain [Ward], Jessica Springsteen, Beezie [Madden], Kent [Farrington] and Laura [Kraut], who are so incredible. They are obviously talented and very helpful when I’m looking for a bit of advice.

As a young rider, do you feel there are enough opportunities for up-and-coming riders in the sport?

I think there are a lot of ways to get to the top and a lot of different avenues within the sport. Surrounding yourself with good people and making the most of any opportunities makes a big difference.

I am very lucky because my parents are quite well known in the sport and so they have helped me with my career. I have been able to train with some of the top riders in our sport, which has been an excellent opportunity for me. I am very fortunate to have the right people behind me which has allowed me to reach some of my many goals.

How positive do you believe the Rolex Grand Slam has been for the sport of show jumping?

It’s really the peak of the sport. If you win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping you have transcended the sport and you have achieved something that people will speak of for generations. I think it really changes the game and the next person that wins it will not be forgotten. I wake up every morning with this goal in mind. Currently, I really believe Daniel Deusser is knocking at the door and I have a feeling that he will be the one to do it next. He has a great team of horses, and people, and he has a really cool head in the big moments.

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?

I love to watch tennis and golf. I don’t play much golf; but I play a lot of tennis, although not that successfully! I can really appreciate any sport and the effort and sacrifice that has to be made to get to the top level.

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

I decided to start buying horses for Daniel Deusser 10-years-ago. Before that I had bought horses for other riders for over 20-years, but I decided that I really wanted to get to the top level of the sport. From there, I made the decision to find a top-level rider, and my decision was Daniel. I then threw everything into that decision and really went for it. Once you start to win Grands Prix and become a serious competitor it becomes very addictive, and you want to continue that success by having the best horses and riders.

I now have multiple riders, including my two daughters [Emilie and Zoé] and watching them succeed on my horses is very motivating for me. I am also very proud when I see horses that I have bred or sold doing well. We sell a lot of horses, in the Grand Prix in Wellington last week, we had two horses that I still own in the jump-off as well as a few others that we used to own, and watching the horses being successful gives me such a kick.

With your breeding programme, how do you decide which horses to keep and which to sell?

Normally, I say every horse is for sale. If a horse has had very good results, then of course the price of the horse will increase. I do not keep all my best horses because if you look at all of the horses we have sold, there are so many that have achieved incredible results. For example, if you look at the Olympic Games last year, we had seven horses jumping there and I only owned one, so that shows the quality of the horses that we sell.

If a horse is a really good match for one of my riders, then I will wait for a season before we think about selling that horse. Davidoff De Lassus is a very good match for Zoé, and so we will keep him for another year unless we have an exceptional offer.

If one of your daughters forms a special bond with a horse, does that change your opinion on selling that horse?

Yes, definitely! Emilie is more of a seller than her sister; she is willing to sell when a good offer is made. Zoé would like to keep every horse, but I think she is starting to understand that we are normal people, and we still need to make a living out of the sport to continue our beautiful story.

You have an amazing group of riders in the Stephex Stables team, including Rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser and your two daughters, Zoé and Emilie – how do you select which horses to pair them with?

Firstly, I am a businessman and I like things to go quickly. This is why I mainly buy horses around six- to eight-years-old, but I still do run a breeding programme. These horses can be ready to sell in around 24 months and that is how I like to work. I am open to selling any horse, if not I would own thousands of horses. For me it is not a problem to own that many horses – the problem is that it is too complicated to train that many horses. To train a horse up to the level where it could be a Grand Prix winner you need to educate them with the highest care and quality. So therefore, we do sell a lot of the horses we breed unbroken.

The level of breeding in Belgium is extremely high – I think the best in the world. That means the horses are not cheap, but it does mean that you have a chance to choose the best horse for your rider. I make my decisions on which horse to buy for which rider based on my gut feeling. I cannot explain why I choose a horse sometimes, but I just trust my feeling. So far, this has brought me much success. 

How important is it to have a balance of experienced and young up-and-coming riders in your team?

It is very important. A few months ago, we had two riders in the Top 10, so you need to have a lot of horses to ensure they can stay up in the rankings. It is not like it was 20 years ago when the riders could take the winter season off, now there are shows every weekend. I think the rankings system is an addiction to the riders and that is a problem. To continue to be at the top of the sport riders need to compete almost every weekend to ensure they continue to gain ranking points. So therefore, we need a lot of younger riders to train the horses at home when our top riders are out competing.

There are a lot of young and talented riders in our sport right now. I believe that you cannot just discover your next top rider tomorrow, you need to work with them for a couple of years and ensure they are trained properly. Some of the top riders in the world now were not the best when they were 18-years-old, but they had an excellent work ethic and dedicated themselves to the sport. It is nice to see that with hard work you can get the results that you deserve.

How many horses do you currently own and which would you pick to achieve the best results this year?

With Daniel we are in a very luxurious position – we have a really strong team of horses. It is not always like that, so we feel very lucky right now. For example, Tobago Z jumped unbelievably well last weekend in the 5* Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival. He looked like he was eight-years-old and jumping in a 1.30m class. Killer Queen VDM is also jumping very well, so I think we are in for a very exciting year.

Can you share some behind the scenes insights into an owner/rider relationship programme?

I speak to my riders about everything. We choose which shows each horse will go to, but I do have a strong opinion on which shows we should prioritise, which are the Rolex Grand Slam Majors and the other Rolex Shows. All the riders agree with me, as these shows are simply the best in the world. Hopefully, one day people will say the same about the Brussels Stephex Masters. It is very exciting that CSIO Roma and now La Baule are also supported by Rolex. In my opinion, shows supported by Rolex are on a different level to all the other shows, and all my riders love to compete at them.

Which Stephex Stables horses are you most proud of – past and present?

I am proud of so many of them. We have sold so many great horses that naming some does not do justice to all horses. But I will say that in every Grand Prix we have at least five horses we have sold and that makes me very proud.

Killer Queen VDM has been tipped as a horse that could win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, what caught your eye when you first saw her?

She has a lot of character. She is a beautiful lady, but she has a lot of character and that can be difficult for Daniel sometimes. She has all the scope you could want in a top-class show jumper, and she wants to be the best in the world.

She has to compete against the best horses in the world in the ring, but she also has to compete against her neighbour in the stables, Tobago Z. She has to prove to Stephex Stables that she is better than him; we put them next to each other in the stables, so they know they have to compete against each other to be the best.

Maybe together Killer Queen VDM and Tobago Z, can win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. We nearly won the Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen in 2019, but Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z was beaten by Kent Farrington and Gazelle. We actually sold Gazelle to Kent, so we were beaten by one of our own horses. But I think, Tobago Z could win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, he is in great form at the moment. 

Out of the four Majors that make up the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, which of them is your favourite, and why?

This is a very easy answer for me – CHIO Aachen. It was my dream to win at Aachen so to achieve that was incredible. In my opinion it is the best show in the world.

You host some incredibly successful events, such as Knokke Hippique and Brussels Stephex Masters – how to you keep innovating these shows?

We always aim to be the best and to keep getting better. We are building a new stadium for the Brussels Stephex Masters, and there will also be a new venue for Knokke Hippique next year. We are organising a new show in Marbella so that is very exciting for us.