Text © World of Showjumping

With clear rounds in the five-star Nations Cups in Aachen, Dublin and La Baule, as well as a 5th place in the CSIO5* Longines International Grand Prix of Ireland, Mégane Moissonnier and the 13-year-old stallion Cordial (Casall x Chicago Z) have impressed this season. The 25-year-old French talent is not a new kid on the block though, as she already has taken part at three youth Europeans; in 2012 in Fontainebleau, in 2013 in Arezzo and in 2016 in Millstreet. Since 2015, Moissonnier has recorded 129 international podium finishes – 59 of them victories – and earned over €560,000 in prize money*.

To World of Showjumping, Moissonnier tells about her parent’s unwavering support, the importance of finding good owners and how pressure only helps her perform better.

For Moissonnier, horses are a family affair. “My grandparents had horses, my parents were riding and competing and had a breeding stable – I was born into horses. My mum tells me that she was riding when she was pregnant with me; maybe it has helped me become a rider,” she smiles. “I got my first pony at the age of two, because one day, my parents had found me in the stable, brushing a stallion under its belly – and they were so afraid that they decided it was better to give me a pony. I started to compete with ponies when I was seven, and when I turned eleven, I moved on to also compete on horses.”  

Moissonnier is based in Lent, near Bourg-en-Bresse in France, one hour from Lyon. “It’s a big region for equestrian sports, with a lot of riders and many good shows,” she tells. “For the past three years, I have been working with Laurent Guillet. Most of the horses I ride are from his stables, but parallelly I like to have one or two horses at my parents' stables. It’s really convenient because both stables are in the same village.”

My parents' support has meant a lot because they have always done everything they can for me

Moissonnier ended up working with Guillet after he had an accident in April 2019. “Laurent fell and broke his shoulder,” she explains. “He was looking for a rider that could compete his horses, but he wanted to keep them at his stables – and as I was his neighbour, he asked me. And here we are, three years later! I am also working with Nicolas Delmotte and Bertrand De Bellabre, they both help me."

A normal day for Moissonnier starts at 8 AM with riding her first horse. “I ride about six horses in the morning and usually finish around 1 PM,” she tells. “Then, I go to ride the horses I have at my parents' stables. However, there I don’t have a groom, so it takes a bit more time. In addition to riding, I try to go to the gym once or twice a week – if I have time.”

“This year I have a lot of horses,” Moissonnier tells about her string for the 2022-season. “We have some really good seven-year-olds that we are developing for the future. With the current prices, it’s difficult to find horses that are ready to jump big classes. Therefore, we try to keep the good young horses and work on developing them further. I also have horses for trading, but only good ones who are jumping on at least 1.40m level. And finally, I have two fantastic horses that are not for sale: Bracadabra (Pacific Des Essarts x Couleur Rubin) and Cordial. With these two horses, I can jump at the biggest shows. I am so lucky to have owners like Rebecca Pohl and Laurent Guillet – it is thanks to them that I am able to ride horses like these two. Even the best riders in the world are nothing without good horses and their owners.”

Even the best riders in the world are nothing without good horses and their owners

“I think the horse that so far has meant the most to my career is Cordial,” Moissonnier continues to speak about the 13-year-old Holsteiner stallion. “He is the first horse to have brought me into a five-star Grand Prix. I jumped my first World Cup with him and did my Nations Cup debut on him – and all those fantastic shows I have been able to do this year. He is the horse that took me to this level.”

It is not only one person, but several different people, who in their own scale, have made an impact on Moissonnier's career as a professional rider at different moments in her life. “First of all, my parents' support has meant a lot because they have always done everything they can for me,” she explains. “They gave all they have so that I could progress as a rider and made sure I could participate at the youth European Championships and realize my dreams. I can’t thank them enough for being by my side from the very beginning. Secondly, Laurent Guillet has made a difference as well. I don’t think I would be at this level right now if our paths had not crossed." 

Even though competing at the very top of the sport can be intimidating, the pressure works as fuel for Moissonnier. “The adrenaline and the pressure have always pushed me to be better,” she says. “But what I enjoy the most about the sport is the horses. I like horses for the way they are: I like to take my time with them and really focus on the work in order to improve them. However, I do prefer jumping! At my parents' stables I don’t have a groom, but I am happy with that, because I like to take care of the horses myself. This way, you can build a different connection between yourself and your horse. Also with Laurent’s horses, I like to spend time at the stables with the groom. I think it’s so important to have an emotional connection with your horse; they give you as much as you give them.”  

I think it’s so important to have an emotional connection with your horse

“I think one of the biggest challenges for any rider is to find a good balance between working with the horses to improve them and their well-being,” Moissonnier continues. “As a horse-and-rider combination, as a couple, you need to work a lot to reach a certain level, but we can’t forget that horses are animals and their well-being is a priority. They have to be at their best both mentally and physically to give all they can – and we as riders need to respect them as our partners. Without the horses, riders don’t exist, and as riders, we always have to question ourselves and what we do with our horses.”

“Another challenge is to stay humble and keep your feet on the ground when everything is going well. Riding is one of the most ungrateful sports; you can be the best one day, and on the bottom the next,” Moissonnier says.

“Aachen was just an incredible experience,” Moissonnier tells about her week with the French team at historical German venue. “I don’t have words for it. It was my first time ever in Aachen and you just can’t imagine how this show is without seeing it with your own eyes. Jumping clear and being at the prize giving ceremony is amazing with all the people around.”

It has been amazing to be a part of the French team

After a stunning clear in round one of the €1.000.000 Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup, Moissonnier and the huge jumping Cordial looked well on their way to another clear in round two, until the stallion lost a shoe at the double and slipped at fence 10 to unfortunately unseat his rider. “Even if things didn’t go as planned for us in the second round of the Nations Cup, I keep a wonderful memory and I hope to be back there soon,” she says.

“France is a strong country when it comes to equestrian sports. We have so many top riders and also a lot of younger riders coming through towards the top level,” Moissonnier says about riding on the French team. “I think this makes it harder to break through into the small circle of riders who can jump on a Nations Cup-team. As a rider, you have to prove that you deserve to be part of this small circle. That happened to me this year and I still can’t believe it. It has been amazing to be a part of the French team and compete as a team with riders I grew up watching on TV.”

“I think I had many highlights in my short career so far, or at least moments that counted for me and that have marked some important milestones,” Moissonnier continues. “We easily remember the good times, but the bad ones are important too; that is how we grow. In 2017, I broke my collarbone the day before leaving for the Europeans and the same year, I lost my best horse at a show due to a ruptured aneurysm. Those were really hard moments, but I believe they made me stronger. When it comes to the good memories, I can’t forget the year 2018: That is when I got to compete in the Longines Global Champions Tour, took my first victory in a 1.50 class and jumped my first World Cup. More recently, my clear rounds in the Nations Cups of La Baule and Aachen were incredible emotionally. As every rider, my goals are to compete in major championships and Olympic Games, to win a medal… or hopefully many!”

“That is the worst question for me,” Moissonnier sighs when asked where she would want to see herself in ten years’ time. “So many things can happen in ten years. I would like to be an accomplished rider, who has won medals at the biggest championships. However, I can’t imagine how and where – but I hope it will happen. I also hope I will be happy with my own life; both professionally and private."

*Data from JUMPR 

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