In World of Showjumping’s series ‘That Special Bond’ we talk with some of the top names of the sport, to discuss the horses that have shaped their careers, fulfilled their dreams – and sometimes even broken hearts.

Next out is Spanish super-star Sergio Alvarez Moya. Here he reveals how he at one point missed out on a very special horse, only to find him back in his stable a few years later.

“I think the special one was Action-Breaker. I had him from he was 3-years-old, and he had his entire career together with me. I did a few championships before him, but I never jumped Grand Prix and big classes like I did with that horse – it was just so easy for him and he jumped one clear round after the other. We had a special connection.

Action-Breaker is 17 now, and we still have him at home. He is breeding a little and is enjoying life. When I did the Grand Prix of Aachen on him, I promised him that I would never sell him and he is so far the only horse I have kept. “

“The money maker is not that easy, but it is probably Carlo. I have had him now for five years, and every year he has made good money. But by now it is close between Carlo and G&C Arrayan, who I only have had for one season.

Many times I get the question about the best horse I ever had, and I think the most complete horse is Carlo. He is an athlete, very nice to ride and he always wants to do right. If I had to give him points I would give him an eight on everything and then a ten on mentality. If you see Action-Breaker, the potential he had was way bigger than Carlo’s but Carlo is more complete. He is super fun to ride, not complicated at all. At home he is easy going, just as at shows – and you can always count on him.

I have had Arrayan for a year now, and it was my brother Julio who told me to buy him. He was training the guy who used to ride him, and said to me that the horse had a lot of potential but needed some flat work and that there were some control issues. And actually he was right. In the beginning it was not so easy and the control wasn’t there yet. He is a bit strong to ride, but he is very competitive. Arrayan learned a lot in one year. He always tries hard, and on the latest WBFSH Ranking he was second. “

“It is actually quite funny – he got away, but he came back: We almost bought Carlo when he was 4-years-old.

My brother and Dirk Schröder wanted to buy a horse together, and were looking at Carlo in Holstein. They saw him free jump, and then ridden by the home rider. The jump was very good, but Carlo was really wild. They ended up not buying him because of a very small money difference, and shortly after Jörg Naeve bought him instead. Well, we didn’t buy him then – but he came to us a few years later.

Then I had a horse that passed away as a 6-year-old, Charter St. I always thought he was really special, but he didn’t make it. He had a virus that attacked his heart. One day he had fever and we brought him to the clinic and he was treated and they told us to check him in the night and he was ok, also the day after he was good. But the morning after that he was gone. He was a real eye-catcher, and fantastic to ride. He was still very young, but I really believed in him.” 

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