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The Next Generation – with Eden Leprevost Blin-Lebreton: “Combining competing with the special bond we form with the horses makes our sport unique”

Tuesday, 30 March 2021
The Next Generation

With Une Étoile Landaise, Eden won her first international 1.45m Grand Prix at the beginning of the year. “I think if there is one thing you learn in this sport, is to never give up but to keep coming back even stronger. I think your mindset is extremely important as a rider,” Eden says. Photo © www.ahmed44photography.com.

 

Text © World of Showjumping

 


 

16-year-old Eden Leprevost Blin-Lebreton is surely one of the most talented juniors on the international showjumping circuit, impressing with her natural feel and mature riding. No surprise perhaps, as showjumping runs in Eden’s blood – both her parents are professional riders, and her mother is no other than Olympic team gold medallist Pénélope Leprevost who for years has been France’s leading lady rider. Having inherited her mother’s competitive edge, style and poise, Eden looks to have a great future ahead. 

“I have always been around horses, ever since I was born,” Eden tells. “As both my parents are riders, I have always been surrounded by horses and riding seemed totally natural to me. If I’m not mistaken, my first competition was in Deauville when I was six, with a Shetland pony.”

“My parents never pushed me to ride – it was rather the contrary,” Eden laughs. “When I was little, my mother almost didn’t want me to ride – I guess she was worried I would fall off or perhaps not even like it. Nowadays, however, it’s wonderful to be able to share my passion for the horses with both my parents. I don’t think they regret the fact that I ride. Being able to be together at the same shows, and even sometimes in the same competitions is great. Ever since I started riding, my parents have always been there for me, accompanying me and advising me.”

“My parents have taught me a huge amount – both my mother, who is with me every day, as well as my father – who is always present for the major occasions,” Eden adds. “They have always been my role models.” 

“I am located in Normandy – not far from Deauville – together with my mum,” Eden tells. “We have been in our present stables for the past ten years and have roughly thirty horses. Normandy is sort of the land of horses. There are stables everywhere and lots of high-level competitions all the time so it’s an ideal place for us.”

"I feel that adapting to each horse and developing a strong bond with them are among the keys to do well,” Eden says. Photo © Louise Allemand.

Until last year, Eden combined school with an international show plan. “Like everyone my age, I went to school,” Eden tells. “I had a normal timetable and then rode after school, so I often finished late. I rode five times a week and occasionally I would miss school to be able to compete. Now, however, I do online studies, which allows me to go away for longer when there are shows – as for the tours in Spain. It also enables me to ride more horses during the week than what I used to, and to ride every day. I usually ride my horses in the morning and study in the afternoon, and at weekends I go away to compete.”

“On a normal week when there are no competitions, my horses are lunged and do flatwork, and we are fortunate enough to have a gallop track which is fantastic for keeping them in good physical and mental shape. The horses also have a day off,” Eden tells about her weekly routines. “When there is a show, the horses jump once or twice before, but above all we adapt to the different needs of each horse.”

Currently, Eden has seven horses in her string and her top two mounts are Une Étoile Landaise and Quivoila. “They are quite different really,” Eden tells. “Une Étoile has a strong character and is not a very cuddly type, but once she is in the ring, she knows she is there to win and is very competitive. I won my first 1.45m world ranking Grand Prix with her in February at the Sunshine Tour. She is very, very fast and we are starting to know each other well at this point; I think we make a good duo. As for Quivoila, he is probably the gentlest horse to be with that I have ever come across and we have developed a strong bond over the past year. While Quivoila gets stressed easily, he’s always in a good mood and happy. In the ring, he is the type who always wants to do well.” 

“My parents have taught me a huge amount – both my mother, who is with me every day, as well as my father – who is always present for the major occasions,” Eden says. “They have always been my role models.” Photos © Louise Allemand.

“I did my first junior Nations Cup in Fontainebleau with Quivoila in 2020 which we won with the French team,” Eden tells. “For this year, I hope to do some CSIO junior shows with Une Étoile – with the aim of being selected for the European Championships for juniors. I also hope to compete regularly at 1.45m level and maybe even jump a little higher.”

Despite her young age, Eden has already had success with producing horses – and last year two of her best mares were sold to the US. “With Vendetta de Cossigny, I jumped my first CSI2* Grand Prix at Hubside Jumping in Grimaud last summer,” Eden tells. “It was also the first for her, so it was very special when we were clear! Shortly after, Vendetta was sold by my mum to the US as was Ronja – another good mare I competed last year. When you love the horses, it is never easy to say goodbye but unfortunately that is also part of the job.” 

“For this year, I have several good up-and-coming horses in my string, including the 9-year-olds Costa Diam and Golden Cygano Jap, the 8-year-old Don’t Stop Semilly as well as the 7-year-old Élégance de Lanlore,” Eden tells. “I don’t have a specific type I prefer, but I do tend to end up with the more energetic horses. More than anything, I feel that adapting to each horse and developing a strong bond with them are among the keys to do well.”

“What I mostly enjoy with this sport though is the relationship with my horses and the bond that is created when you spend time with them and work together,” Eden says. Photo © www.ahmed44photography.com.

Eden has already made her first team performances for France and representing her country on those occasions is something she values highly. “There is more pressure because the team’s result depends on each rider and each horse, but that makes a victory all the more wonderful,” she smiles. “One of my best memories is from the European Championships for children in 2018. I think that team competitions provide young riders with incredible experience. The team spirit makes it all the more amazing when there is a victory or a good result.”

“What I mostly enjoy with this sport though is the relationship with my horses and the bond that is created when you spend time with them and work together,” Eden smiles. “They are such amazing animals; in the ring they give everything back to us for what we do for them on a daily basis. I love showing, so for me, combining competing with the special bond we form with the horses is absolutely fantastic! A victory is always a team effort that involves the rider, the horse and all those who are present every day.”

If there is one lesson Eden has learned from the horses, it’s to stay positive. “I think if there is one thing you learn in this sport, is to never give up but to keep coming back even stronger. I think your mindset is extremely important as a rider,” she says. 

Not surprisingly, the young French rider has her eyes set on top level sport. “Taking part in Nations Cups, in Championships, in World Cups, is the stuff dreams are made of. So, I hope to get there one day, and I’ll keep working hard to reach my goals!” Eden closes off. 

 

No reproduction without permission, copyright © World of Showjumping



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