World of Showjumping
World of ShowjumpingWorld of Showjumping
Menu

Inside the Rolex Grand Slam: Special live contender edition

Tuesday, 19 November 2019
Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping 2019

Exclusive interview with Rolex Grand Slam live contender Beezie Madden

Photo © Rolex Grand Slam / Ashley Neuhof Beezie Madden. Photo © Rolex Grand Slam / Ashley Neuhof.

The CP ‘International’, presented by Rolex at the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ is notoriously difficult to win – were you confident ahead of the class? 

I have to say I was having a really good week with Darry Lou. He won the big class on Friday, so he felt like he was on good form which gave me confidence that he would be good on Sunday too. He is such a consistent horse, so although it’s always hard to win at The Masters, I thought I might have a good chance.

How do you stay at the top of your game?

I think I’m very lucky that I have a great team behind me. From my husband, to the owners and the sponsors – they make my life so much easier. I’m able to work with some very good horses so it’s always exciting and inspiring for me. Obviously, a little financial backing helps as well. Some members of our staff have been with us for over 20 years, so we have an amazing team and that’s a constant support for me.

How will you be preparing for CHI Geneva? 

I have done three indoor shows in North America with my horses Coach and Garant to prepare for Geneva. Now they have a short break before they travel to Europe where they will do a 2* in Sentower Park as a warmup for Geneva. The plan is to bring both Garant and Coach to Geneva for the Rolex Top Ten Final and of course the Rolex Grand Prix.

Behind the stable door with Amy Devisser, Beezie Madden's groom

Photo © John Madden Amy Devisser. Photo © John Madden.

How did you get into grooming as a profession? 

I went to Cazenovia college which is a college right up the road from the farm here. I did an internship year and never left! I’ve now been here for 26 years and it’s the only job I’ve ever had grooming and I still love it.

What is your proudest moment of your career so far?

Probably the most recent one would be when Beezie won the Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows, that was really exciting. I couldn’t really watch too much of the class as I was with the horse and when it came to watching Beezie, I was very nervous! It was pretty amazing when she won, we were doing a boot check and suddenly someone came around the corner jumping up and down and told us the news. We didn’t really do too much celebrating because we had to get back to work, however, the horse got lots of carrots and treats and we gave him a couple of days off in the field to have a break.

What are Beezie’s top horses like personality wise? 

They all have their little personalities and the good thing is that none of them mind the crowd when performing. Back in the barn they are all pretty even-keeled I suppose. Coach is like a big dog that craves attention and wants to be on your lap all the time, Darry Lou is actually very good for a stallion but he is very vocal and again, Garant would sit on your lap if he could. They are all puppy dogs really and thank goodness for me they’re all amazing horses, I feel very lucky.

About the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping

The Rolex Grand Slam is considered by the sport to be the ultimate equestrian challenge, primarily due to the sporting prowess required to achieve this feat. It is a quest taken on by the world’s top riders, vying to secure the legendary status associated with winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

The format of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is simple: anyone who wins three Majors in a row receives the Rolex Grand Slam trophy and a €1 million bonus on top of the class’s prize-money. If that same rider then continues their success by winning a fourth Major in succession, they will be rewarded with an additional €1million bonus. If two shows are won in succession, the bonus is €500,000 or if an athlete wins only 2 majors in a period of four successive shows, the bonus is € 250,000.

 


 



This photo has been added to your cart !

Your shopping cart »
This website is using cookies for statistics, site optimization and retargeting purposes. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website. Read more here.