The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping has once again returned to the picturesque city of Geneva for the final Major of the calendar year. The CHI Geneva, which is widely regarded as the premier indoor equestrian show in the world, has once more welcomed an elite field of horse and rider combinations to the Palexpo including 17 of the top 20 ranked riders.

Although the CHI Geneva officially began on Wednesday, today marked the start of the 5* jumping classes, with the highlight coming the Trophée de Genève. This prestigious class offered riders not only the opportunity to earn valuable ranking points but also a coveted place in Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix.

First into the impressive main arena, Barbara Schnieper, set the standard over Gérard Lachat’s challenging course with a faultless clear round, much to the delight of the home crowd. Her clear was quickly replicated by the next to go, Brazil’s Stephan De Freitas Barcha, ensuring the crowd would be treated to a jump-off.

By the halfway point, five additional riders had secured their places in the jump-off, including team silver medallist from this summer's Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque, along with three-time Major winner Marcus Ehning. Faults were scattered among the early competitors, with the winners of the first Major of the year, Willem Greve and Highway TN N.O.P., finishing with just four faults, as did the ever-competitive Yuri Mansur.

Sweden’s Peder Fredricson was another rider to collect an unlucky four faults. However, such is the calibre of the field at the CHI Geneva that within the next five horses, the passionate and knowledgeable fans were treated to clear rounds from both the reigning individual World and European gold medallists Henrik von Eckermann, and Steve Guerdat.

Faults were spread throughout the first round, but the most challenging obstacle proved to be the third fence – an oxer off a tight right turn –  where 18 percent of all faults occurred. However, Rolex Testimonees Martin Fuchs – the current live contender of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – and Daniel Deusser displayed exceptional levels of horsemanship and skill to produce a coveted clear round, as did 10 additional riders.

After a short break, the jump-off commenced with riders entering the arena in the same order as the first round. It was Stephan De Freitas Barcha who set the pace with a clear in the time of 40.95 seconds. Germany’s Marcus Ehning then took the lead with a smooth round in 37.79 seconds, however his time looked beatable. Next to go, Lorenzo de Luca proved this to be true crossing the line after the final Rolex oxer 3.46 seconds faster.

Heartbreak initially came for the Swiss crowd when home favourite Steve Guerdat who managed to beat the Italian’s time could not quite produce a clear round. The Palexpo then came alight when Martin Fuchs and Conner Jei took the lead with only four horses left to jump. Daniel Coyle challenged for the top spot with an incredibly fast round in 33.33 seconds but the second part of the double fell. None of the remaining riders could match Fuchs’ round, and the Swiss rider took the class for the inaugural time.

Speaking on his victory, Fuchs commented: “Conner Jei jumped incredibly this evening –  he is an amazing horse. It is always a sensation feeling to win in front of my home crowd, the atmosphere here at the CHI Geneva is great. We are now looking forward to Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix.”

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is considered the top event of this sport Do you feel under pressure when designing the Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva and what are the challenges?

The Rolex Grand Prix is ​​a challenge every year, especially since it attracts the best horses and riders in the world, so there’s a certain amount of pressure.  There is also money at stake, which adds a bit of pressure, but more importantly, it’s one of the biggest competitions of the year: the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is special! We have to make sure that the course lives up to the expectations of the riders, the public and the sponsors.

Can you tell us a little bit about the course you’ve designed for Sunday?

Well, at this moment in time it’s still being built! I already have a basic plan which I think will be similar to previous years. It is quite classic, since it’s a classic event with obstacles that are close together, and it will certainly be technical in terms of distances and heights. Of course, we are always looking to achieve maximum difficulty for this type of event.

The track isn’t 100% finalised yet as I’m working with another renowned assistant this year, Grégory Bodo. In the same way as when I worked with Louis Konickx in previous years, it happens like this: I put together a plan at home, but will discuss everything together including distances and we will adapt the course afterwards.

This is the first time in several years that you’ve not worked with Louis Konickx. How do you feel about this change and what can you tell us about your new teammate?

He’s a different person, but I get on with both of them! We have the same ideas, and we have the same perspective and mindset for the sport. For me, it doesn’t make much difference, working with Gregory or Louis.  I’ve been working with Gregory on the CHI Basel for two years now, so we know each other well. I think and hope that the results will be the same as with Louis because we’ve got great results so far!

How do you balance creativity and practicality when designing a course? Are there any specific techniques or principles that you follow?

It depends on what type of event we’re designing! In this case, it’s an event with a jump-off so that already gives us an idea of the kind of course line we are going to follow. Then, we try to be as creative as possible so as not to repeat the same lines as last year or the year before! We always try to change it a little bit to add an element of surprise, but we all bring our own style and distinctive character to the design process.

Has there been a horse-rider combination that has impressed you during your career as a course designer?

There have been many and there are always new ones that impress us every time!  There are riders like Steve Guerdat, for example, who is always there.  He had found his match with Nino des Buissonnets, and then it took a little while for him to find a new combination. Now, we’ve noticed that with his “new” horse Dynamix de Belheme, he’s been able to develop a magnificent symbiosis. There are also other riders like Marcus Ehning, who has an impressive number of good horses and an unmistakable style. In a way, all riders have their own specificities, a bit like us designers have our own style. Beyond the combination, a jump-off like the one achieved last year in the Rolex Grand Prix by Richard Vogel on United Touch S, who “stole” a stride during the course, is what impresses me even more.

Looking to the future, what are your goals as a course designer? Are there any upcoming projects or events that you are particularly excited about?

Yes, I’ve been given the opportunity to design [the course] for the FEI World Cup™ Finals in Basel in April, it’s a project that I’m particularly excited about!  This is a big milestone for me, as it’s the first time I’ve been fortunate enough to design a Championship course myself. Of course, this comes with added pressure. Obviously, I also see it as an achievement, it’s the level we all hope to reach as designers.

You’ve been involved in the course design for many major events. How do you keep your tracks authentic and innovative while remaining true to the traditions of the sport?

I try not to do too many competitions each year. I’m lucky to have an equestrian centre with foals to breed and I still ride a little. I train these young horses and I think that with this diversity, of not being a course designer every weekend, it clears my mind and allows me to try to be more creative. The CHI Geneva is also different, it's big, there's the lake and it's a big ring, it's a bit like being outside. When you have indoor arenas, like in Basel, which are square or rectangular, we always come back to the same lines because we can't always come up with something different. However, we always try to innovate a little bit, to challenge ourselves every time so that it’s as interesting as possible for the riders. And a challenge for us too! When we notice that something doesn't work, we look at why, we think about it, and we tell ourselves that we won’t do it again because it doesn’t work.

What role does location play in your course design? How do you adapt to different rings, whether indoors or outdoors?

Obviously the arena matters a lot! If you have big rings, you also have longer distances - the distances automatically change because the horses have more space to gallop. A ring like the one at the CHI Geneva is like an outdoor arena, so we can use the distances that we use outside. When you have a smaller arena, it’s naturally a bit shorter because the horses don't get into the same rhythm or stride as they do outside. Even though today things have changed a lot. Over the last twenty years, the quality of horses and their training has improved tremendously which has influenced our profession as well.

In your opinion, what qualities make a great course designer?

First of all, you have to be as creative as possible while keeping the horses in mind by imagining what will work for them. Today, it is even more important to have courses that don’t cause big faults, to ensure the well-being of the horse. So, we have to think of clever ways to cause little faults here and there throughout the track. We want to avoid, as far as possible, any bad mistakes that could frighten or even injure the horses and riders.

With technological advancements and data analysis in sports, are you incorporating modern tools or technologies into your course design, such as digital simulations?

No. I think the onus is on us to do a bit more work on this. However, we work with human beings, so I’m not sure artificial intelligence would be particularly useful right now. The horse may be in slightly worse shape that day, the rider too, and we cannot design a course to say "I want this or that person to win, and for there to be so many clear rounds". I even believe that with all that artificial intelligence could bring us, we’ll not be able to find the answers and that’s also what’s good, keeping the human behind all that!

In your opinion, how important is the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping for the sport?

For me, it’s a very important concept for riders, because it’s still a Rolex Grand Slam and it’s not only open to elite riders but those who have earned their place on merit. These really are the very best, those who have worked hard during the season, who have the possibility of competing - they all have a chance, even an outsider for example who qualifies on Thursday evening in the Trophée de Genève has a chance of winning the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday. For me, it’s the best in the world.

Can you tell us a little about how the Young Riders Academy supported by Rolex was created and what its core mission is?

After being the director of the International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) for several years, I realized that to be a champion today that talent is not enough. You need to know how to manage a number of different aspects of the sport. This includes being able to manage the stables, be a good communicator, and be knowledgeable about veterinary issues and several other things.

In addition, to give back to the sport you must know how the institutions in the sport such as the FEI and the IOC work. I began discussing the idea of a programme for young riders a number of years ago, maybe around 20 years ago, with the president of the German Federation. Then he told me, that with the institution you will not be able to build up something that is strong and for the future.

Therefore, Young Riders Academy supported by Rolex (YRA) is a private project developed by Athenaeum, a non-profit organization, and we have worked together to build a programme that benefits the young rider.

We are now celebrating our 10th anniversary, and I must say that I am proud of this project. There are many people around us have worked so hard to help create this incredible Academy, including Sven Holmberg and Valentina Ottaviani who are in charge of managing the sport, with Valentina also coordinating the educational aspects.  

Could you walk us through the key components of the Academy? How are the riders selected, and what do you hope they gain from the Academy?

Through my work with the IJRC, we have been able to create a selection panel that I think is the crème de la crème, this includes Otto Becker, Jean-Maurice Bonneau, Emile Hendrix, Jeroen Dubbeldam, and Thierry Pomel. Each federation can put forward three riders to the programme, and then the selection panel decides who is in that year’s cohort.

We ensure that none of the members of the selection panel train any of the riders prior to the selection, nor can they buy or sell horses to our students. This continues once the riders enter the programme, as we also make sure that the trainers also cannot buy or sell horses. This is to remove the business aspect. In my opinion, one of the big problems of the sport is that there is too much business and politics involved. So we are trying to create a balance but the main point of the YRA is for riders to have the following three values; meritocracy, fair play and to do something good for yourself but also for the benefit of the sport.

You have such a wide experience as a stakeholder in the sport, from Show Director to IJRC Director, what legacy do you want to leave the sport?

When I was 21 years old, I was riding a lot but I was also a lawyer – I was the youngest president of the jury in Italy at the time. This was only for a short period because I am not the type of person who can remain seated for eight hours a day. However, I think the most important thing I have learned is that you need to be a horseperson and it is all about your relationships not only with your horse but also the other stakeholders in the sport.  

For example, a rider has to understand officials and show organizers, and vice versa. You need to understand the range of emotions and problems that a rider has, but also what kind of emotions and issues an organizer can have. I think that today it is really difficult for one party to understand another but it is like in a marriage, to be happy you have to understand your partner. When you do not understand your partner, it doesn’t work. It doesn't work with a family, a horse, or in our sport. In my opinion, this is the main problem, there are not enough horse people in the sport in general – sometimes we even find there are not enough horse people within the riders themselves, and so this is the main point – to become a horse person.

What are your goals for the future of the Young Riders Academy supported by Rolex? Are there any exciting plans or developments we can look forward to?

When we started the YRA our dream was to have medals in the FEI European Young Rider Championships, and in the first year, we had a gold and silver medal! Then our dream was to maybe a medal in the Senior Championships, and we achieved this. So, the dream became a medal in the Olympics and this year Harry Charles gave us a big present with a gold medal in Paris. Now, the goal is to stay on this level and to have riders who are honest, and understand fair play and meritocracy – this is my goal for the future.

What has been the most rewarding part of your role in overseeing the Academy’s activities?

The problem is that when they are in the arena, I feel myself becoming nervous like they are my children. I didn’t think that I remembered all of them because in the 10 years we have running the YRA we have had 99 students. However, recently we had a celebration in Venice, I saw each of the students come into the Opera House and I realized that I know the name and situation of each one of them. We have created one big family. I know that they help each other and that the majority have very good relationship with each other – this is very important for their future.

Several of the riders who have been part of the Young Riders Academy have been successful in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. How important do you think the initiative is within the sport?

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is one of the pinnacles in the sport. But, what is important for the YRA is that each Major provides a place for one of our young riders to compete. This is incredibly important for the development of a rider – you may not see the results immediately but competing at these shows motivates the riders for the future.

The YRA is not 100 percent or even 50 percent behind the success of the riders, but I like to think we have some influence on their success. I think that for them to be close to the YRA and IJRC, they know that if they need anything we are there for them which makes them feel safer and secure. They know there is always someone that they can talk to.  

Rolex Testimonees Richard Vogel, Harry Charles, and Bertram Allen are just some of the talented riders who have been through the Young Riders Academy supported by Rolex. Can you name a few riders that we should look out for in the future?

When they are selected this means that there is always a potential, so most of them are very talented. Looking at this year’s cohort we have Oliver Fletcher, Seamus Hughes Kennedy, and Mel Thijssen who are extremely exciting. The others in this year’s programme also have a great future. Václav Stanek is another very talented rider – he won the big 5* class at the Spruce Meadows 'Continental' presented by Rolex this summer.

To find talent and the superstars is not the only goal of the YRA. Sometimes we have some riders who do not quite make it to the very top, but what is important to us is that they can share with their students and federations our philosophy of horsemanship and working hard.

In your opinion, who do you think will take the victory in Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix as part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping?

Hopefully one of the riders who have been part of the YRA – maybe Richard Vogel! However, in Geneva is so hard to predict a winner, you have the world’s best horses and riders! There are at least 15 combinations that have a very good chance of winning.