You’ve been the Chairman of the Jumping Owners Club for over a year now – what accomplishments are you most proud of since taking on the position?

I am really proud of the fact we have increased membership, which was my goal. We want to make this an international organisation, with owners from all over the world. We have owners from across the world including from Brazil, Mexico, the United States of America, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany. This is incredibly exciting as we are able to share important information with one another. We are the key spokespeople for the horses and as a result I have been to some key meetings with the FEI. These have been very informative and interesting – not only for me, but for other members who I can share the knowledge with.

The other thing we try to do is give owners an education about what to do when they arrive at a horse show. Some people would think its easy, but it is not always! We assist with the owners getting their accreditation, knowing where to sit, knowing what your access is, and what you are going to be seeing. We try to guide owners, and encourage them to go and watch their horses.

It has always been important to me to emphasize that owners are welcome at horse shows, and that they should go with their horses and watch them, because they belong there – they are the horses biggest fans!

Can you tell us you about your journey to becoming an owner?

The journey evolves when your horses start to move up in levels – especially when they start to compete at five-star shows. This is when you realize that it is a high-stakes game and this is a top level sport. At the highest levels, it is a fascinating sport, and has a lot to do with strategy, along with the breeding of horses involved. This has been the most interesting thing for me and why I was drawn to being an owner.  Additionally, the role of the owner includes being able to step in when they need to – be that for horse welfare, travel, or which shows you think your horses are most suited to.

With your personal background as an owner – what do you think makes a successful relationship between rider and owner?

It is all about communication and about trying to get the riders to talk to you. You have to remember that the simple questions are not what the rider wants you to ask. As owners can find out the ‘order of go’ ourselves, but what we should be asking the riders is the in-depth questions. I think is also important ensure you create a relationship and spend time with both the horse and the rider. I like to spend time in the stables and feed the horses carrots or go out to dinner with the rider, making the effort is key to forming a successful relationship. I try to get to know the riders personally and try to understand their goals. Essentially, you need to have an understanding before both you and the rider go into a partnership about your goals and ambitions.

From an owner's perspective what distinguishes the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors from other shows on the circuit?

I think it is really important to emphasize that the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors are what everyone should be aspiring to. When an owner is looking to buy a horse and when assessing its quality, they should be asking themselves whether or not the horse might compete at Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major one day.

I think that Rolex has been excellent in being inclusive of owners, and I have been fortunate enough to have won the Rolex Grand Prix at the CHI Geneva and at the CHIO Aachen – both times with Gazelle – so I have two large silver platters at home as the winning owner. I really want to share the fact that you never know where your horse will compete  – and the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors are what you should look to win. They are the ultimate prize in our sport.

How do you work with your riders to select the right horses, or do they come to you with a horse – can you tell us how this process works?

I think an owner and a rider need to work together. You first have to understand what a rider is aspiring to – do they want to be competing at the higher level, or are they still building their career? Sometimes I support young riders and help them work their way up through the levels at three-star and four-star shows.

If you are an owner for a top 20 ranked rider, they need the horse power. You have to think about what qualities a top-level horse needs and how to find this. I like to spend time with the breeders, and the trainers to find out what they look for and what they like about different horses. I have been fortunate enough to sit next to some of the greatest professionals in the sport and ask questions out of curiosity. You learn so much from them, and I am very fortunate to have been able to do so.

You have had incredible success as an owner – what has been your favourite memory?

It is really about being with the horses. The first time my horse Blue Angel competed at the CHIO Aachen I was absolutely thrilled. I had been to Aachen before for the FEI World Championships in 1986 when I was young, and I was just so happy to have Blue Angel there in later years. Likewise when Gazelle first came to the CHIO Aachen, it was another proud moment for me. Even today, I still go to the winners board at the entrance to the main arena to see Gazelle’s name – it was such a special moment.

I am having so much fun watching my horses, especially my young stallion Minute Man, who is ridden by Henrik von Eckermann and is a really exciting prospect. He recently jumped clear in the Rolex Grand Prix at the CSIO Jumping International de la Baule, part of the Rolex Series, and I was delighted. I get a thrill every time I see my horses making progress, or when I see them where I think they deserve to be. This is a fabulous sport and I spend a lot of time with my amazing grooms and riders.

I started owning horses when I was young, and it was only when a friend of mine saw how passionate I was about it and said you should do what you love full-time, and this is when I decided to take it more seriously. I think some owners struggle sometimes because they have other lives, but if you really focus on it for a few years, it can really make a difference. It certainly did for me.