Swiss show jumper Steve Guerdat is back at the top of the world, having recently crowned himself the new European champion earlier this summer. Alongside Dynamix de Belheme, the Swiss rider looks ahead to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with a wink. "However, the most beautiful moment is when I come home and see my daughter's smile..."
"You know, in our sport, we experience a lot of highs, but just as many lows, sometimes even more lows than highs. That's why I think about the horses I have the privilege to ride, the team that helps me every day, all the sponsors, and so on. The title was a new high point, thanks to them..." Guerdat says. "My father, who is currently dealing with some health issues, and my daughter Ella. Both are great sources of motivation."
"She doesn't quite understand when I win something, what it exactly means. But it's just a moment of happiness when you see her smile every time she looks at me. What's nice is that when I returned from Milan, she was also focused on that gold medal, a true winner," Guerdat laughs. "Fortunately, hugs from mom and dad are still more important than the medal. That's a good thing too!"
Unconditional trust in my horse
"I often receive feedback that everything looks very simple with Dynamix. That's because she has 100% trust in me, and it's mutual. Dynamix came to me when she was only 5 years old. She has never competed with another rider besides myself. In our sport, we often say you must become one with your horse. That's the case with her. I don't even need to think about turning left; she senses my intention, and she responds incredibly to it. There is a real harmony between us; we know each other inside out and understand each other. I had never experienced that before," Guerdat explains.
Not even with Nino des Buissonnets or Jalisca, your previous top horses?
"Nino had extraordinary intrinsic qualities, very similar to those of Dynamix. But he was difficult to control. It was challenging to find the right balance between allowing his quirkiness to shine while making him understand that I was still the one determining our direction. Jalisca had a similar mindset to Dynamix, but not the same physical abilities. She compensated for that with her heart. Dynamix combines all the qualities of my former top horses. She has intelligence, genius, and also the physical abilities. Often, it's either one or the other. She combines both, which explains why she's so special."