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As 2023 draws towards a close, reigning European Champion Steve Guerdat talks to WoSJ about a year that will go into the books as one to remember. From being 2023’s most successful Nations Cup rider, to winning the individual gold medal in Milan, before closing the year with his third Top 10 Final-title – the Swiss 41-year-old won’t forget the last twelve months anytime soon. 

Guerdat’s season started a little bit differently than it normally would. “This year, I chose to not aim for the World Cup Final but rather focus on getting all my horses ready for the outdoor season. So, in January and February, I did the tours in Oliva and Vejer de la Frontera,” he tells. 

It was in Vejer de la Frontera that Guerdat’s mare Dynamix de Belheme (Snaike de Blondel x Cornet Obolensky, bred by Frederic Aimez) gave a small indication of what was to come from her – during the third week of the Sunshine Tour, she won the CSI4* Grand Prix presented by Equine America. Placing 4th in the Rolex Grand Prix at her next show – The Dutch Masters, one of the four Majors of the year in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – Dynamix once again showed she would be one to watch for the season ahead. Back outdoors on grass, the 10-year-old mare jumped clear in the second round of the CSIO5* Nations Cup in La Baule, double clear in the CSIO5* Nations Cup in Falsterbo, as well as clear in the first round of both the Rolex Grand Prix in Aachen and Dinard. At the beginning of September, the pair were crowned European Champions – after five flawless rounds. 

I had high expectations set for myself to be able to live up to what Dynamix deserves

“The Europeans were of course what made this year one to remember,” Guerdat says. “I know what a special horse Dynamix is, and I really, really, really like her, so I had high expectations set for myself to be able to live up to what she deserves. Dynamix is a horse that most of the times jumps clear rounds, and it does not really matter to her how many rounds she jumps, so I expected the format of the Europeans would suit her. I knew that if I would be riding well, get off to a good start in the Table C and then keep a clear from there, I would have a chance to be in a good position at the end of the championship. However, it was her first championship – a stop on the way to Paris, our main goal – and you never know until you actually do it with them.”

“There were many reasons this gold medal meant a lot to me,” Guerdat says. “First of all, it was a big relief for me to give Dynamix what she deserves. I have had her since she was five, and we – me, my team and her owners – have done this full journey together with her, which makes her even more special to us. Secondly, I was really happy because the European Championship is so difficult to win: Everything counts so you can’t miss one round, you can’t afford a fence down. For a long time, I also thought that I maybe had missed my chance at winning this title – I was so close with Tepic La Silla in Donaueschingen in 2003 when I was less than one penalty point from the gold medal and finished 6th. So, I kind of always thought I had missed my occasion there and in the years after I have been quite far away from the individual medals; it’s been a long battle for this gold. To have my family, friends and supporters in Milan – which is not too far from home – was also very special.”

Both Dynamix and Venard have been brilliant for the Swiss team this year

Guerdat did not only take the title at the Europeans this year, but he was also the rider with the most clear Nations Cup rounds in 2023 – thirteen in total, with three different horses. “Both Dynamix and Venard have been brilliant for the Swiss team this year,” Guerdat says. “Venard had a longer break after Geneva last year, and started up again in April. It took a little while to get him back in the rhythm, but he jumped double clear in every Nations Cup he did this year up until the final in Barcelona where he had one rail down in the last round. The Swiss team has been fantastic, and we won the Nations Cups you want to win: The home one in St. Gallen, obviously Aachen – which Switzerland last won in 2002, Falsterbo – which is one of my favourite shows, as well as Dublin – which is one of the most historic Nations Cups on the circuit. These are all traditional Nations Cups you want to win once in your career, and we had them all done in one year which was pretty amazing.”

To close off the year, Guerdat took his third title in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final – on home soil in Geneva – with the 14-year-old French gelding Venard de Cerisy (Open Up Semilly x Djalisco Du Guet, bred by Laurent and Gabrielle Vincent). “I was happy to be back in the Top 10 Final, because it’s one of the most exciting classes of the year. I was lucky to already be in it a few times, and also to win it twice,” Guerdat tells. “Venard had already jumped brilliantly in Verona, where he was 2nd in the World Cup so I was quite confident that he would be good although you can always have a rail down. By now, I know him well and the ring in Palexpo is good for him – I know he can be fast there and that was why I decided to jump him in the Top 10 Final and Dynamix in the Grand Prix. For everything Venard has done in his whole career, he really deserved a moment like this – and a title that stays in the history books. The whole team behind him was so proud that he got his moment of glory because he really, really deserves it. He is an unbelievable horse so I was grateful he could have this title.”

For everything Venard has done in his whole career, he really deserved a moment like this

Dynamix and Venard are both owned by Guerdat’s long-time supporters Sabina Cartossi and Gianluca Agustoni – who also owned Corbinian, with whom the Swiss rider won the World Cup Final back in 2016. “Without the support of owners like Sabina and Gianluca, I could not do the sport as I do,” Guerdat says. “Over the years we have become good friends, and we share the same vision of the sport in general. I have to say that not all owners would agree to the way I do things, because I sometimes make choices where I would rather jump a Nations Cup or a show I believe has more history to it than going for more lucrative classes – and for sure there are owners who would prefer their horses to jump for the money. So, I am also really grateful that they follow my philosophy of the sport. Over the years, we had a lot of success together and I think that proves our choices were right – I think our horses will be remembered for what they have done and won, rather than how much.”

When talking about his success, Guerdat is quick to highlight the importance of his entire team. “I’m the one who performs in the ring, but for the rest the credit goes to the team at home,” Guerdat says. “We have 30-35 horses at home and fourteen employees, plus my wife, and they all work in the same direction – the first is the wellbeing of the horses, and the second is success. Everybody works hard to achieve the same goals, which in the end puts me in the spotlight – but it’s a big group of people who is a part of it, also the blacksmith, the dentist, and the vet.”

I’m the one who performs in the ring, but for the rest the credit goes to the team at home

Looking towards 2024, Guerdat is in the process of assembling a very exciting string of horses – which he has a lot of belief in. “The last year, I have prioritized developing all my horses and this year in particular I have done many 3- and 4* shows in between to get the whole group growing. All of them have been going very well this year, but there is still a gap between Dynamix and Venard – my top two – towards the others behind them. I think in about six months I could have a fantastic stable with four-five top Grand Prix horses, but the last step is not done yet – they still need a bit longer. However, I enjoy the process with each of them; I really like all of them so I’m not in a rush. I know the quality they all have, and I know they can do it, so I simply enjoy working with them every day.”

As for any other world-class rider, the Olympic Games in Paris is Guerdat’s main goal for 2024. “I want to get my two best horses ready; in case something happens with one horse, then I have another one ready to perform as well – Dynamix and Venard both have a chance to be great at the Olympics,” Guerdat says. “They both have a break now. Dynamix will start again at the Sunshine Tour in February, and Venard will start at the end of March. Dynamix will probably do The Dutch Masters in March, but for the rest I will keep them both outside to get them ready for Paris. The World Cup Final is part of my plan, but probably with one of my other horses – maybe Is-Minka if she feels ready. If I qualify, I would like to go; however, that would be with a horse that probably is not ready to win it but who will get a good experience from competing there.”

For the year ahead, Guerdat keeps his wishes minimalistic. “Just for the horses and me to stay healthy. We can’t wish for anything better than we already have.”

31.12.2023 No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.