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“Dexter is extraordinary,” France’s Jeanne Sadran tells World of Showjumping about her 11-year-old stallion Dexter de Kerglenn (Mylord Carthago x Diamant de Semilly) – her LGCT Grand Prix of Paris-winner and partner at the 2024 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final. "I still cannot believe it; to win my first five-star Grand Prix at home was an incredible feeling." 

Arriving at my first senior championship and winning my first five-star Grand Prix with Dexter gave me a feeling of having completed something special

“For me, he is one of the best horses in the world," the 22-year-old continues to speak about Dexter. "He has it all; he is powerful, careful, a real fighter and he has the right mentality. I am very lucky to have a horse like him. We bought him when he was 6-years-old and I did everything with him from 1.25m classes to 1.60m. Arriving at my first senior championship and winning my first five-star Grand Prix with Dexter gave me a feeling of having completed something special. I really appreciate our journey together.” 

Sadran qualified for the 2024 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final after a great indoor season. “When I started the World Cup season, I was never thinking about the final,” she recalls. “We had a busy summer, so I gave my horses a well-deserved break in the field in October and we started indoors in Lyon. We ended up taking points at every stage and when we arrived in Bordeaux, some last points were needed. We finished second in the World Cup in Bordeaux, and qualified. The World Cup Final was my first senior championship, and my horse was just amazing all week, giving me a great feeling – it was a nice experience.” 

The 22-year-old – currently ranked 85th on the Longines Ranking and third in the FEI Jumping U25 Ranking – started riding at a local pony club at the age of four, and simply never stopped. “I have always enjoyed being with horses, and appreciate how patient you have to be with them. I don’t come from an equestrian family, but we really love sports and that is also the reason why I love competition and competing with the best horses and riders.”

I really love to learn and I am happy to share my life between school and horses

Today, Sadran combines riding with her business and economy studies and is based at her family’s Ecurie Chevel in Toulouse, France. “I would like to continue studying, because I really love to learn and I am happy to share my life between school and horses. We started Ecurie Chevel four years ago, because my parents wanted to build a company around our horses. We believe that if you have goals in sport – in any sport – you need to be organized. I have found a great team of people around me, which is essential: If you have good people around you, everything is possible.” 

“We started Ecurie Chevel with a group of young riders; myself, my sister Louise, Nina Mallevay, Maelle Martin, Mathis Burnouf and Antoine Ermann. We have grown and learned together. Now, Nina has moved on with the Rein-family, Mathis has started a new story with another stable and Maelle has also begun a new chapter in her life. However, we have maintained good relationships. Today, we are building Ecurie Chevel further with Antoine and my sister Louise. Because we have some good stallions, we have also started to focus on the breeding, as well as producing and selling horses. Our ultimate goal remains competing on the highest level.”

My dad gives me confidence

“My dad really loves sport,” Sadran says about her father Olivier, the former president of the French football team FC Toulouse. “That's why he really lives every round with me on the Kiss & Cry. He comes with me to every show, and it's really important for me to have him by my side – he gives me confidence.” 

In 2018, the Sadran-family met Julien Epaillard and gave the current world number four the ride on Queeletta (Quality 9 x Landor S) and Virtuose Champeix (Rubins Des Bruyeres x Avec Espoir), while Epaillard started to train Jeanne. “When we started working with Julien, it was a special situation for all of us, because he is an amazing rider, but he had never trained anyone. However, it ended up working out really well; he taught me so much. With him, I jumped my first five-star Grand Prix, the biggest classes I had ever done. I was only eighteen at the time and stepped up to 1.60m classes. Training with him gave me so much confidence; he gave me the feeling that I can do everything, that everything will be ok. For me, he is like a part of the family now. He truly has a special place in my heart, even if I no longer train with him.” 

 I'm very curious and I really enjoy to watch and ask questions

When Epaillard wanted to focus fully on his own riding again, he sent Sadran to another top rider; the former world number one Simon Delestre. “I understood when Julien did not have enough time for me anymore, and now I am really happy to train with Simon,” she explains. “He is very interested in my progress and involved in the planning for my horses and the development of new ones. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to learn by his side; it's really interesting to discover new systems. I'm very curious and I really enjoy to watch and ask questions, to talk with people. I appreciate having these opportunities to learn. Keeping your eyes open is so important; you can learn from everyone and there is so much to see when it comes to horses.” 

Stepping up from the young rider division to five-star level is a big transition, and doing it alongside some of the best riders in the world has been a huge advantage, Sadran admits. “The transition is not easy, but if you have good horses and you are motivated to learn, everything is possible,” she says. “In the beginning, it is difficult, and you will make many mistakes, but you learn a lot. When you just keep at it, one day you will find the key to success and your own place in the sport. All beginnings are complicated, but you need to continue to reach for your goals and stay motivated.” 

When you are young, you need to learn, and to learn you need repetition

While Sadran has proved herself on the World Cup circuit, she first stepped on to five-star level through a team in the Longines Global Champions League. “I understand the arguments against the Globals,” she says. “However, when you are young, you need to learn, and to learn you need repetition. I was lucky to get the opportunity to ride in the Globals, and I took it. I would always prefer to ride for my country, but if you want to be on the French team, you need to have good results – and if you want good results, you have to compete at the five-star shows. I learned a lot during my time as part of the Global team, because you ride with four other riders. I had the chance to ride next to the likes of Laura Kraut, Jerome Guery and Marlon Zanotelli. Everyone has their own vision of the sport and just being close to these riders has been and still is a huge learning experience.” 

In La Baule, Sadran joined the French team as the reserve rider and saw the reality of a senior Nations Cup first-hand. “I really appreciate the opportunity to discover the mentality of the team, and seeing the preparation for the Nations Cup,” she tells. “I'm very shy, but just being with them in the warm-up and seeing the competition close up was a great learning experience. I have a talented group of horses coming up and my goal is to produce them further, and get more consistent on the five-star level. For me, it's too early to think about the Olympics in Paris, but Los Angeles in 2028 is one of my goals, as well as the European Championships in 2025.” 

Coming from a family deeply rooted in sports, Sadran believes equestrians have a lot to learn from other sports. “Our sport is truly unique, because it is about a partnership, it is a sport for two; the horse and the rider. I think there are some points we need to pick up from other sports, such as the use of data when it comes to training the athletes – both human and equine – as well as communication. However, I believe we still have such a unique sport that we do need to find our own way.”

“The competition is what I personally enjoy the most,” she continues. “You win and you lose; with horses, it's difficult to only have good days. It's really hard, but when it goes well, you really appreciate the special moments with these incredible animals.” 

You win and you lose; with horses, it's difficult to only have good days

As much as she loves competing, the current number of shows in the international calendar is something Sadran worries about. “We have so much on the schedule, but we need to pay attention to the horses,” she points out. “With the amount of shows today, it can easily get too much for them. However, there is something positive to be found in the huge number of shows as well; all these shows push each other to be better, and we have a place for everyone. We need to find a balance for the horses, and make sure riders have equal opportunities. I believe it would be better to work together on this; it is better to have a few good events that work together instead of plenty of events that go against each other. Putting together a show is really expensive for the organizers and I think we should work together to build a better future for the sport. Equestrian sport is growing very quickly and I believe we are on a good way. However, we need to pay attention. I love to compete but I am very aware of the limits of my horses and never want to push them too far.” 

“There are different ways to deal with pressure, but I think the most important thing is to know yourself,” Sadran says when asked how she deals with the stress that comes with competing on the highest level. “I'm not a stressed person, and I actually love to have some pressure on me. When I go into the ring, I really enjoy the moment, and the more pressure I have, the more focus I ride with.” 

I really enjoy the moment, and the more pressure I have, the more focus I ride with

Having the right people around you also helps, Sadran points out. “I have a super nice groom. Cecile is like my second mom; she knows everything about me. She takes such good care of my horses and she lives for the sport. It's a really hard job and I try to go to the show with her only two weeks per month because she has a daughter, and I don’t want her to get tired of the job. Traveling every week is really hard for the grooms. Sometimes it's too much for them, and we need to take care of our support teams. Cecile knows me and my horses perfectly and she's one of the keys to the success.” 

As she continues to learn and find her place within the five-star circuit, Sadran is keen to produce another horse for the top sport, like she has done with Dexter. “When I started to ride on the higher level, I had older horses that were ready for the biggest classes, but it's a little bit different now. I enjoy working with younger horses and developing them. I have some really talented horses in my string right now, but I need to take the time to create a nice combination with all of them. I have to be patient and wait for them. I will be a little bit in the middle of the sport over the next months; at the highest level with Dexter, and on lower levels, getting ready to compete in the bigger classes with the younger ones. Meanwhile, I have given my sister Louise two of my best horses that have jumped on five-star level. For me, it is time to write a new chapter with a young horse, hopefully a successful one as with Dexter – he is the reason I believe I can do it.” 

25.6.2024 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.