Now 50 years old, Bessil reflects on a long career that has made him one of the most sought-after managers of international show jumping horses.  He has helped riders from Belgium, Ireland, Switzerland, and his native Brazil achieve their goals of not only competing but also winning medals at the Olympics, World Championships, Pan American Games, and World Cup Finals.

As the Sport Horse Competition Manager for Ansgi’s training stable, Gut Einhaus, Bessil is using his years of experience to oversee the horses’ fitness, health and well-being as they compete in show jumping sport’s most important events.  Show jumping sport involves two athletes – the horses and the riders – and both need to be in peak condition to be competitive on the world stage.  With an eye on the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Bessil has the experience necessary to make Olympic dreams come true.

How did you first get involved with show jumping horses?

When I was living in Brazil, I had friends that worked with horses.  Two of my friends went to Europe to work with Francios Mathy in Belgium; he had won team and individual bronze medals at the 1976 Olympic Games.  In 1995, they invited me to come and join them.  That is how I discovered this job that I loved so much.  It was a bit hard in the beginning because I didn’t speak the language but, as time went on, I learned the language and learned the job.  I loved it so much that I couldn’t leave.

After working for six months with Francios, I helped a few amateur riders and then moved to the other side of Belgium.  I worked for Picobello Horses, a large breeder of sport horses, and I had some nice horses there to look after.  I was there for two years.  Then I started working for my first big show rider, Philippe Le Jeune.  It was with Philippe and the great Nabab de Reve that I went to my first major games, the 2002 World Championships, in Jerez (ESP).

Tell us about the experience of going to your first major games.

At the World Championships, Belgium was in 11th place going into the team final.  Everyone on the team jumped clear in the final round and we moved up to third place to take the bronze medal.  Nobody thought we were going to come back from 11th place.  It was so good to win a medal with horse as special as Nabab de Reve.

That story of moving up eight placings to claim a medal shows how unique horse sport can be; the most unpredictable things can happen.  What other major games have you attended during your career?

After going to my first World Championships with Philippe Le Jeune, I went to the next World Championships four years later in 2006 in Aachen (GER) with Beat Mandli of Switzerland.  In 2008, I traveled to the 2008 Beijing Olympics with Alvaro “Doda” de Miranda, who was the alternate for the Brazilian team with AD Picolien Zeldenrust.

When I was working for Karina Johannpeter, also a member of the Brazilian team, we went to the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara (MEX) where Brazil won the silver medal.  We were supposed to go to the London Olympics the next year but, sadly, her horse colicked two weeks before.

In 2016, my life took a turn.  I had been working for Karina at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington (USA) and Karina had competed in the selection trials for the 2016 Rio Olympics.  After we got the horses back to Europe, I had time off to go home to Brazil to see my family.  While I was there, I got sick and was in and out of the hospital until they diagnosed me with Churg-Strauss Syndrome, a rare disease that causes inflammation of the blood vessels.  The inflammation is very dangerous as it damages the organs and tissues by restricting blood flow.

I had never been sick before.  I spent three years in Brazil, from 2016 to 2019, away from the horses.  When I finished my treatment, Yuri Mansur invited me to come back to Europe and work for him.  That was September of 2019.

So that is when you started working with Vitiki, when you accepted the job with Yuri?

Yes, exactly.  Vitiki was Yuri’s top horse, and I was taking care of him for his first show back in St. Tropez (FRA) after a break.  He jumped clear in every class!

I spent almost four years working for Yuri, including going to the Tokyo Olympics with his horse, QH Alfons Santo Antonio.  I left for six months to work with Darragh Kenny and went with him to the 2022 World Championships in Herning (DEN) where he ended up being the alternate for the Irish team.

I then went back to work for Yuri in Holland.  I was supposed to be the manager and not travel as much, but I went to two shows with him where he did well and qualified for the 2023 World Cup Final in Omaha (USA).  At the World Cup Final, Vitiki gave everything he had and ended up placing fourth.  Yuri was one second too slow and that took us off the podium!

How did you start your partnership with the Holtgers family, and working with Ansgar “Ansgi” Holtgers, Jr.?

I began working for the Holtgers in April of 2024.  When Yuri had been in Florida two years ago, the Holtgers bought horses from him for Ansgi.  I had known the father, Ansgar Holtgers, for many years.  He told me the plan they have for Ansgi to get to the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles.  They needed someone with experience to help manage the horses and get them to the Olympics.  They asked me if I would accept the challenge, and I agreed to use my experience to help with the training and this part of the plan.

I started by doing the European show season with them last year.  There are around 12 horses to take care of between five or so grooms.  I oversee everything and help everyone, but I take special care of the two best horses that Ansgi has at the moment, Good Morning B and Tulum.

What is the best part of your job?

Just being with the horses is very good.  What I like is the adrenaline at the competition, especially at the big events, when you see the horses that you take care of do well.  When you have a special horse to take care of, the best part is seeing them do a good job in the arena.

What are some of the most difficult things about working with horses at the high performance level?

It’s difficult to have a family.  When you’re a professional, your family is the horses.

The last few years, I had some special horses with injuries to manage.  You always have to concentrate and do your best to make sure the horse is healthy and jumping well.  It’s also important not to create pressure for the rider.  You need to make their job as easy as possible.  There’s no complaining, and you always have to concentrate to help them do their best.

Do you have any favorite horses that you’ve worked with over the years?

I’ve had some horses that I liked very much in the 30 years that I have been doing this job.  Vitiki for everything he went through; it was amazing how he gave everything back to you in the competition ring.

Nabab de Reve was my first horse for the big shows.  This one I can never forget!  He was a stallion, but he was such a nice character; he was never strong with the mares.  When I drove him to the farm for breeding, he would be excited to make babies, but when you went to the competitions, you could drive him with the mares in the truck and he was no problem.  He was such an amazing horse! 

You’ve had such a long and interesting career working for some of the most successful riders and horses in the sport.  Do you have any favorite memories?

Winning the bronze medal with the Belgium team at the 2002 World Championships was very good, especially since it was my first major games.

At the Tokyo Olympics with Yuri, we were clear in the first round of individual qualification.  Then at the 2023 World Cup Final with Vitiki.  For him to finish in fourth place, just off the podium, was amazing.  Another incredible memory was being in Aachen in 2023 when Yuri won the Turkish Airlines Prize of Europe with Miss Blue.