Some horses just stand out. Quirex is one of them. The 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Quirado x Concept caught our eye during the summer season, making impressive appearances on five-star level with Cameron Hanley in the saddle.

In our new series Future So Bright, we catch up with the world’s best riders on some of their most exciting talents – that might develop into becoming the next big thing in the international ring. 

“Quirex was bred in Holstein, but sold to Czech Republic as a young horse,” Cameron tells. “Mario Piasecki and Patrick Mielnik went over and found him there, just doing small classes.” It was at the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain, where Cameron first saw Quirex. “As a 7-year-old, he jumped in Oliva last year with Mario’s rider and I saw him there and really liked him. Mario and Patrick thought that he could be a good match for me, so I took him over in the middle of the season last year,” Cameron says. “Straight from the beginning the feeling has been incredible – he has a bit of his own style to jump, but the feeling on his back is exceptional.”

With Cameron in the saddle, Quirex has developed with an amazing speed. “Last year he did all the young horse classes really good, and then he did his first two-star Grand Prix in December where he was double clear and placed fourth,” Cameron tells. “At the beginning of this year he was clear again in a two-star Grand Prix in Peelbergen, jumped really good and got placed. I have taken him along nicely, he did his first Nations Cup in Drammen in May. He made a result of 0/4 and our team won.”

“I went to Calgary in the summer and did four weeks there with him. I think he got a lot of experience there, and went really consistently in the 1.50m classes as well as getting mileage jumping in big rings,” Cameron tells about the past summer. “Then we came home, and did some nice, smaller classes again. In the five-star Nations Cup in Gijon he was again 4/0 and our team came third,” Cameron continues about the fantastic results his young talent has recorded.

“For every show he goes, he seems to improve and get better. He is just a very, very special horse. He is an unusual combination; even though he has not so much experience, he’s got an incredible mentality. He is always positive and really brave – especially for a horse that is so careful,” Cameron tells. “Even though he is only eight, nothing seems to faze him. You can take him anywhere. He jumps indoors, outdoors, in big rings, in small rings – for him it doesn’t matter. I have never ridden a horse with that much talent as he has – he has an incredible way of using his body, he is careful and scopey.”

With exceptional talent under you, it can be hard to know how to reach for the heights without going too far, too soon. Cameron has simply trusted the feeling Quirex gives him. “I have kind of tried to put out of my mind that he is only eight – I just rode what I felt,” he says. “We do protect him, we do smaller classes after the bigger ones and I try not to do too many shows with him in general. I only do what is necessary and I totally go on the feeling I get from him; when he feels ready, I move him up and every time I have asked a bigger thing from him, up until now, he’s been great.”

Cameron’s team has their fingers crossed for a bright future. “His owner Patrick is a great friend and at the moment we are just going to continue doing what we are doing. Our big goal with Quirex is the World Equestrian Games in Tryon next year,” Cameron says. “It is still a long way to go, but I am lucky enough to have ridden a few championships in my career, so I know what it takes. Quirex feels like he is going well into that direction. We have less than a year to go, but if he continues to progress like he’s done – I believe we have a chance there.” 

Text © World of Showjumping by Nanna Nieminen // Picture © Hervé Bonnaud / www.1clicphoto.com

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