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“I know I have a special style of riding,” France’s Julien Anquetin tells World of Showjumping. “However, I like my style. It's mine, and I don't want to change. Winning is something I like, and we have to be fast to win. Hence, being in good balance with my horses is important to me. I don't do so much with the hands or legs; I just try to follow my horses’ movements. The way Julien Epaillard and Henrik von Eckermann ride is something I really admire, and I think we have the same type of mentality of following the horses and not doing too much.”

Currently 78th on the Longines Rankings, the 33-year-old has steadily built himself a name on the five-star circuit. Over the past few years, with horses such as Blood Diamond du Pont (Diamant de Semilly x Arpege Pierreville), Gravity of Greenhill (Nabab de Reve x Conterno Grande), Farah Tame (Quadrio Tame x Panama Tame) and Z Ice Cube Z (Zacharov TN x Casco), Anquetin has recorded several big wins – and established himself as a fierce competitor with a signature style.

Based in Normandy, France, Anquetin inherited the love for horses from his father Franck – a rider, coach and horse trader. “I think I was riding before I knew how to walk,” Anquetin tells about his childhood. “Since my father is a rider, it was a natural path for me as well. I started to ride ponies at home, but in fact I think I never competed with them. It was easier for my father to have me riding horses so I could do the same competitions as him.”

The main focus for me is to be with the horses, to understand them and to learn to read them better

“Today, my father has his stable and I have mine but we are in the same place. We have two companies, but we work together,” Anquetin says about his current set-up. “I have between 25 and 30 horses for myself, depending on the situation. My cousins work with me as well; it's a family operation.”

While Anquetin’s father has had a huge impact on him, he has also made sure to take in aspects from other systems. “When I was 16, I went to stay at Eric Navet’s stable for around six months,” he explains. “And then I went for a few months to the Netherlands, to Peter Bulthuis’s stable. I also trained a bit with Patrice Delaveau, and lately I have been training more with Trevor Coyle. It is good to experience different systems and to learn from everyone. I am curious about other riders’ methods. However, the main focus for me is to be with the horses, to understand them and to learn to read them better. I think riding is all about being one with the horse, not about controlling them.”

Currently, Anquetin’s top horses for five-star level are Blood Diamond du Pont and Fulldollar de Raygade (El Torreo de Muze x Dollar du Murier).

In 2024, Blood Diamond du Pont – a horse Anquetin has developed himself from a youngster – won the CSI5* 1.60m Hermès Grand Prix in Paris, which was Anquetin’s biggest achievement yet. For Anquetin, who did his five-star debut in Cannes in 2019, winning this prestigious Paris Grand Prix was the most memorable moment of his career so far. “It was so special because it was in France and Paris is not far from my home,” he says.

What I enjoy the most are the feelings we get with the horses

While Blood Diamond du Pont is already established at top level, Fulldollar de Raygade is still earning her miles. “I believe a lot in Fulldollar,” he says about the talented 10-year-old that he has been riding since October last year. “I think she will be a superstar. I never felt something like this with another horse. She's very, very smart and scopey. At the moment, she is a work in progress, and it will be very interesting to see how she develops.”

Anquetin discovered Fulldollar through his compatriot Matthieu Billou. “Matthieu is a friend and a very good rider. One day he told me to come and try a horse that had been with him since she was very young, but that was not his type – this was Fulldollar. Matthieu told me that he was sure she is a superstar. So, I went to try her – and the feeling she gave me was incredible.”

With his competitive attitude and light, forward riding, Anquetin is making a name for himself as one of the fastest on the five-star circuit. “There are many good riders, with very different styles,” he reflects. “What I believe is the most important is that you as a rider have a good, balanced position where you feel comfortable. I believe you should never do something just because someone else is doing it – whatever you do has to work for you and for your horses. First and foremost, I think about the movement of the horse – and then do what I feel is the right thing to do. It is all about feeling for me.”

“I am very competitive,” he continues. “However, what I enjoy the most are the feelings we get with the horses. Just a good jump in the warm-up, where I feel the horse is perfect, is something that brings me great joy.”

I believe you should never do something just because someone else is doing it – whatever you do has to work for you and for your horses

Anquetin’s effortless style makes winning at five-star level look easy – which is far from the truth. “It is difficult,” Anquetin says. “It's not easy to win. I think the key is to compete at the same level consistently. I believe horses feel the confidence you give them through your riding. That’s why it's very important to stay at the highest level, because you have to be used to it. It is not like riding at home and training; there is nothing that can prepare you for the pressure than actually being there and doing it. You have to be comfortable with it and stay focused, and when you compete at the highest level constantly, that becomes the norm.”

“I remember one of my first five-star shows, where I had a few rounds with big penalty scores,” he continues. ”I was having lunch at the riders’ restaurant, sitting alone because I did not know anyone. Yuri Mansur – who also speaks French – came to me and said ‘Julien, there are three stages in the life of a rider: 1) you compete, 2) you learn, 3) you win – and you are still learning’. He explained how it was normal to step up to this level and not winning immediately. I'm really competitive and it was a tough moment for me, but his words helped me understand that it was all part of a bigger process.”

For the 2025-season, Anquetin has big goals – both in terms of sport and business. “I think I have a complete team around me, but I want to improve,” he explains. “I would like to find a rider who could do the three- and four-star shows with me. I have been building my stable for the last three-four years, but I have really done the top sport for the past two years only. I have taken it step by step, and now the next step is maybe to have one more rider.”

For me, it is not possible to say no to a good offer – I’m not wealthy so I have to produce horses and sell some in order to keep one or two

“It is not that I want to, but I have to,” Anquetin says about the big number of horses he is producing. “To make a living, I have to sell horses. I need a relatively big number of horses to stay relevant in the top sport as well so it is necessary to keep producing new horses all the time. I have a few very nice 7- and 8-year-old horses and I think they are great prospects for the future. It would be nice to keep them, but there most likely will come a moment when I have to let them go. For me, it is not possible to say no to a good offer – I’m not wealthy so I have to produce horses and sell some in order to keep one or two for the top sport. To stay at the top, we need more than one Grand Prix horse. That is why I need to keep the numbers quite big.”

Like last year, Anquetin has signed up with the Global Champions-team Doha Falcons for the 2025-season. “It is very important for me to do my best for the team,” Anquetin says.

“Last year was my first season in the GCL and it was an amazing experience for me,” Anquetin continues. “I got to travel everywhere from Miami, to Mexico to Shanghai, which I never did before, and I got to compete consistently at the highest level. It was a good season and the team has trusted me again this year. I'm really happy about that and I want to do my best to stay in the team. Riding with a team is something different. I have been lucky to be teamed up with friends, and it's something else than just going for yourself to the show. I enjoy the team spirit.”

I hope I can prove that I deserve a chance on the team

While it is difficult to get into the higher-level shows, being part of the GCL-team opened an important door for Anquetin. “When we finished the GCL-season last year, I was ranked within the top 30 in the world, which gave me more opportunities at other shows,” he points out.

“I would want to be a part of the French national team as well,” Anquetin concludes. “I didn't do so much with the French team yet, but now I actually think I have the horse for it. We have a new chef d’equipe, Edouard Couperie, and I think he's very friendly and professional. He's close with his riders and we have a good connection with him. I'm really curious to see what happens during the summer. I hope I can prove that I deserve a chance on the team.”

17.6.2025 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.