World of Showjumping’s series 'That Special Bond' continues with another member of the French gold winning team from the Rio Olympics. Roger Yves Bost – or Bosty as we all know him – has been around longer than most of us can remember. Known for his unique way of riding, as well as his deep understanding and love for his horses – we were curious to hear what this true horseman had to say about the special connections he has found with his horses.

The Special One

“I have been riding and competing for a long time, so it is really difficult to name only a few horses. I feel like I have been very lucky, and I have had so many great horses during my career. I owe it much to my father, who also was a rider; I always followed him. In 1977, I did my first national show – I think all my life I have done the same shows as Ludger Beerbaum!” Bosty laughs when telling about the beginning of his long and successful career.

“Norton de Rhuys (Duc De Ferce x Roi de la Vesquerie) will always be special to me, because he was the first really good Grand Prix horse that I had. I rode him at the World Equestrian Games in Stockholm in 1990, and we won the team gold medal there. He was a very good horse – a winner – and we won many classes together.

Looking back over the most recent period of time, I have Sydney Une Prince (Baloubet Du Rouet x Alfa D’Elle) and Myrtille Paulois (Dollar du Murier x Grand Veneur) that stand out as special to me. They are both mares and a little bit similar, as they are both fighters. I like mares, they give you so much more in the ring. It is difficult to say who is the better of these two, you can’t really pick one over the other and you should not compare horses.

Sydney has a better character perhaps – with Myrtille you really had to find a way and compromise. Like in Herning at the European Championships in 2013, when she gave her best and we won – that is how good she could be when she wanted to. But with her, you had to be lucky – she needed to have one of her good days. She was very special in her head!

The beginning with Myrtille was difficult, with Sydney I could go forwards much easier – she is brave and simple like that. Sydney is the same every day, she is easier in her head than Myrtille was.

Sangria du Coty (Quaprice Bois Margot x Muguet Du Manoir), the mare I came fourth with in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Cannes last summer, is also a horse that I have a very special feeling with. Maybe the best feeling ever is anyhow with the grey stallion Pegase du Murier (Adelfos x Le Tot de Semilly), he is so good. I think he has the best quality of all the horses I have ridden.”

The Money Maker

“The money maker for me has been Ideal de la Loge (Dollar du Murier x Joyau d’Or). He won a lot, and with him I could win a big Grand Prix – even if he was not a horse for championship level.”

The One That Got Away

“One very good horses that I lost, was an 8-year-old called Vonden. The owner wanted to have two horses competing at the Olympics, so they gave this one to someone else. I think it was maybe one of the best horses I ever rode.”

Text © World of Showjumping by Nanna Nieminen // Picture © Jenny Abrahamsson (No reproduction without permission)