Last weekend the 14-year-old Max Sebrechts won the World Championships for Childeren at the international show jumping in Opglabbeek. Our Belgian editorial office took some time to sit back, relax and have a little chat with this new World Champion.
Last weekend you became World Champion in the children’s class. What does this victory mean for you?
I’m very happy with this victory, of course. If somebody told me two years ago that I would win, I probably wouldn’t have believed it. Two years ago I would have never thought that I was able to win.
Did you expect to win yourself?
I was a very happy already when I heard that I could compete. It was a great opportunity to be able to ride at a big event like this. At that moment, I didn’t took into account that maybe I could win.
Of course, it is not possible to win without a good trainer. Who’s your trainer and how does he or she works?
I try to ride every day but sometimes, because of my schoolwork, that’s just not possible. Ilse Dirikx learned me how to ride when I was six and she trained me until I was twelve. After that we hired Julien Bergot as a rider and he took over Ilse’s task as a trainer. Julien is training me and my horses almost every day now and he also helps me at competitions. I learned a lot from both Ilse and Julien. Last winter, Julien and I also had a few trainings with Brecht Bille. The last months I also get a training from Jeroen De Winter once a week.
You became World Champions in the children’s class with means you had to ride horses. Does this means you’re going to say goodbye to the ponies?
No absolutely not. I’m still going to try to get good results in the pony classes. I hope to be able to get a few good results in the 1.25-1.30 classes. I’m going to try to combine horses and ponies as good as possible.
What’s the biggest difference between horses and ponies?
To be honest, I only started riding horses during the Easter holiday last year. I immediately rode my first course then. The first horse I was riding was Fantast, the horse of my uncle Jef Sebrecht. I’m still riding him and I’m very grateful that I get the opportunity to ride an amazing horse like him. The second course I rode with a horse, was in the summer. To be honest: I didn’t think the transition from pony to horse was that difficult. I didn’t have a lot of problems with it so I was able the make this transition without difficulties.
What are your ambitions for the future?
I would love to ride the big tour for juniors. I would be great to get some good results there. I still hope to win a few classes with my ponies as well.
Finally: who is your biggest example?
I really look up to Pieter Devos. He is a great rider and he achieved so many things already.