Martin Fuchs is one of the riders of the moment. Although he saw his top horse Clooney drop out with a serious injury, he still managed to secure a nice silver medal at the European Championships. Last weekend he came to the start in Spruce Meadows where he talked about his goals, his horses and the wonderful competition itself.
Picture: Tomas Holcbecher
What are you hoping to achieve between now and the end of the year?
I still have some big goals this year, including the CP ‘International’, presented by Rolex here at Spruce Meadows, which would be a dream to win. Next week we have the Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen, which would be another dream to win. Then at the end of the year, there is the Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva, which is my title to defend, so there’s a lot still to come.
What are your plans, dreams and ambitions for 2022?
For us showjumpers, the biggest goal is always the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. The four Majors are so special and part of such historic shows, so that’s where you want to thrive. Next year we also have the World Equestrian Games, which is a big goal of mine.
What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
My proudest moment would probably be winning the Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva. It was against the best riders in the world and included a really exciting and fast jump-off, and to win in front of my home crowd was just amazing.
Who has inspired you the most throughout your career?
The most important people in my career are definitely my dad, Thomas Fuchs, and Steve Guerdat. They both supported me a lot from a young age, and I’ve been looking up to them my whole life.
What keeps you motivated and hungry for success?
To work with horses is a really rewarding but hard job, but they give you a lot back. The more you work, the more you try to understand them. The more you’re with them, the more they give you back, so that’s very rewarding as a rider.
Tell us a little bit about who you’ve brought to the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’…
I brought Conner Jei to Spruce Meadows to jump the CP ‘International’, presented by Rolex on Sunday. He comes here after a big win in the Rolex Grand Prix at Jumping Dinard, so I feel like this field is going to suit him. Dinard is quite similar to Spruce, as it has quite a big grass ring with not the easiest fences, so I have really big hopes for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Which of your young horses are you most excited about?
I have two very nice young horses. One six-year-old called Captain Morgan [Weering Z] and one seven-year-old called Diva [Van Het Cauterhof Z]. I definitely think these are two horses we will see a lot more from in the future.
How much of a boost does it give you having fans back at shows?
It’s great to be back with a crowd. For us riders, it’s so different between riding in front of a crowd and riding without a crowd. It really motivates you to perform better when you have people cheering for you. It really is such a great feeling.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Just to try and really understand your horse, and to work together with your horse to achieve something really big.
What makes Spruce Meadows so special?
Spruce Meadows is one of the most special shows there is. I feel great here, and it’s such a historic place. My dad used to come here all the time, and when I was small he would always tell me what a great show it is. Then when I got to come here eight or nine years ago for the first time it was a really special feeling.