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With Baloubet du Rouet (Galoubet A x Starter), he became Olympic Champion and triple World Cup Champion, while with Lianos (Landlord x Landego), he was crowned World Champion. So, it perhaps comes as a small surprise that neither of the two names come up when Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa is asked who of his many fantastic four-legged partners has the most special place in his heart. However, for Pessoa, it is that unique connection, more than medals and trophies, that is decisive when he looks back at which horse was the most special to him throughout his illustrious career.

In the next part of our popular series ‘That Special Bond’, we catch up with the living legend who over the last three decades has written showjumping history with his horses. Here, Pessoa shares which of his horses he shared the closest bond with, which one was the most difficult to get to know, which one was the biggest money maker and which one got away. 

“For me the special one was Special Envoy; he was the horse that put me on the map and also the one that was the most forgiving to my youth mistakes,” Pessoa smiles as he speaks of the Irish-bred gelding born in 1980, out of the mare Highland Lady 3 and by the legendary stallion King of Diamonds. 

“I got the ride on Special Envoy when I was 18, and he took me to my first World Championship in 1990 in Stockholm, to my first Olympics in 1992 in Barcelona – when I was only 19, and to my first World Cup Final in 1993 in Gothenburg. He won so many big Grand Prix classes, including the Grand Prix of Aachen, the Prize of North-Rhein Westphalia, the Prize of Europe on three occasions, as well as in Aarhus, Donaueschingen, Dortmund, Paderborn, Paris, Wiesbaden and Zuidlaren. I was lucky to have many good horses, but if there is one horse for my heart it is Special Envoy.”

I was lucky to have many good horses, but if there is one horse for my heart it is Special Envoy

“Before I got Special Envoy, my father had ridden him, and he jumped him at the World Cup Final in Tampa in 1989. As part of my progression, my father thought it was time for me to get a better horse – and it turned into a very good match with Special Envoy. He was 10 years old at the time, and obviously a very good horse, but he was still fairly unknown back then. It was a bit of pressure of course, because he was a special horse and a very good horse. And he would still be a good horse nowadays – he was very fast and for the speed that the jump-offs are going in today, he would be just right.”

“Special Envoy was also a very sweet horse; he had the best character and was so easy. He was like a teddy bear and the kind of horse that you could put a child on. He just couldn't be any sweeter or any nicer. He never spooked at anything, never looked at anything, never took a wrong step. He simply never did anything wrong,” Pessoa says fondly. 

Some might have expected Pessoa to have a very particular bond to the legendary stallion Baloubet du Rouet, with whom he became Olympic Champion in 2004 and won the World Cup Final with three consecutive times – in 1998, 1999 and 2000 – as well as narrowly missing out on a fourth title in 2001, when he finished second. Baloubet du Rouet also won Pessoa the title in the prestigious Top 10 Final on two occasions; in 2003 and 2005. However, the Brazilian rider is quick to point out that “it was a difficult story” with the fiery chestnut. 

“You know, we had a lot of ups, but also lots of downs,” Pessoa says. “While he could be brilliant, Baloubet also disappointed on many occasions – he had a difficult character. Special Envoy on the other hand did absolutely not have that side to him at all.”

While he could be brilliant, Baloubet also disappointed on many occasions – he had a difficult character

“Baloubet was difficult in the way that he always kept you on your toes; he was a very, very sharp horse and a witty horse – anything could happen at any moment,” Pessoa tells. “The more quality you have in a horse, the closer you get to the limit where they can become cowards – it’s a very fine line. And Baloubet was right at that limit because he had so much quality, which caused problems from time to time.”

“We had him from he was five, and my dad spent a lot of time with him before I took over the ride when he was nine. It wasn’t that he was difficult to ride in the ring, most of the places he went in the world he was good, but then there were venues he did not take to at all. In Aachen, he would jump well at the beginning of the week – for example, he won the Prize of Europe, but then on the Sunday when the double of liverpools were part of the Grand Prix course he just did not like it. The same at the Sydney Olympics, where he was brilliant all the way until the last round of the individual final and was eliminated.”

“Of course, Baloubet and I shared some of the greatest wins and greatest moments of my career, fantastic results, maybe he won more and on very important occasions – but the special bond I shared with Special Envoy. There were only ups with him, never any downs and as characters you can't even compare the two horses – it is Special Envoy that holds my heart,” Pessoa says.

“In terms of riding, I would say Tomboy – because his jump was very particular. He had a very, very special technique when jumping and was very hard and uncomfortable to sit on. Tomboy was very powerful, but bizarre... So, it took a minute before I got acquainted with his jump and the feeling he was going to give,” Pessoa tells when talking about the Irish-bred gelding born in 1983 by Coevers XX x Jab XX. 

Tomboy was very powerful, but bizarre

“In the end, once we figured it out and knew him better it was ok, but he was a little bit more special to get used to,” Pessoa says of the gelding who was his partner at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 where the Brazilian team took bronze, and at the Pan Am Games in Buenos Aires in 1995 where they won team gold.

“I had a speed mare called Bianca d’Amaury. She was a Quidam du Revel-mare born in 1989. In her category – 1.45 and 1.50m classes – she was really a killer,” Pessoa smiles.

She was a guarantee for a good check

“She was almost always first, second or third – 90% of the time she was clear. Bianca was always fast, very competitive, uncomplicated – overall just a very, very, nice horse. Bianca won the 1999 La Baule Derby and a lot of those good-money speed classes at the time. You would always bank on her for at least one win at a show; she was a guarantee for a good check!” 

“I once tried Shutterfly. At the time, there was a possibility to buy him – it was before he became the superstar that we know him as today with Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum. Shutterfly was very, very sharp, but so intelligent and he would really challenge you to use your head. I had a great feeling on him, but in the end the vet of the owner who was interested in buying did not let him pass and that was it.”

The vet of the owner who was interested in buying did not let him pass

“I think Shutterfly was a real challenge in the beginning, both for Meredith and her husband Markus. He took them a lot of time, but they persuaded – they could feel that if they could just channel his energy and his concentration in the right way, he would have all the ability. Meredith and Markus were very persistent with him, and in the end, he became a legendary horse in our sport. I never carried any regrets about missing out on him though; my mindset is that everything happens for a reason."

“I think what is so special with our sport is that every day we get to learn from the horses, because they are all so different,” Pessoa says as he speaks about the many fantastic four-legged partners he has had the pleasure to work with during his career. “It’s a unique characteristic for our sport; the horses are live beings that challenge and surprise you – and that’s what makes the sport so difficult, but so special at the same time.”

“Over the years, having ridden so many horses, I think that I figure the horses out quicker than I did earlier on in my career. I have a better feeling quicker, but again not two are the same. It’s just that I can find similarities and solve problems faster now because I've come through these problems before with some other horses. With that experience, I know what I’m looking at and I know where I want to get to,” the 51-year-old tells. 

I think what is so special with our sport is that every day we get to learn from the horses

With seven Olympic Games under his belt, the last in Tokyo in 2021, Pessoa is now heading to Paris to make it his 8th Olympiad – this time with the impressive Major Tom (Vagabond de La Pomme x Heartbreaker). 

“I mean, talk about very sharp and keeping you on your toes. Major Tom is that kind of horse. He's very, very sharp, and intelligent. In general, he is easy to ride and to compete, but his management requires a little bit more because he's very particular with his stuff. So, I cannot say that he's a complicated horse, but his sharpness is where you have to really be paying attention because things happen quick. But like I said, he is very intelligent, he understands everything so quick that it makes life easy for me as his rider.”

“Obviously, in the hundreds of horses I rode during my career, there were some that did not reach the level I hoped for. So, when you have a horse that is as talented as Major Tom it’s incredible and you just have to enjoy it. At this stage of my career, I feel very fortunate to get a horse of his calibre and with this kind of quality so I really try to enjoy every moment with him!”

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