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With the 14-year-old Quintin (Quaprice Bois Margot x Emilion), Václav Stanek won the CSI5* 1.60m Duncan Ross Grand Prix at the Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ presented by Rolex at the beginning of June. For the 29-year-old – currently no. 609 on the Longines Ranking – this was his five-star Grand Prix debut, and the win his first international victory. “I was also the first rider from the Czech Republic to win a five-star Grand Prix anywhere in the world,” Stanek tells World of Showjumping. “Therefore, the win meant a lot to me and I got a lot of positive reactions from my native riding community as well.”

Stanek rides for Ariel Grange and is based at her Lothlorien Farm in Toronto, Canada. Grange also supports Ireland’s Daniel Coyle, who trains Stanek whenever he is at home. It was through a grooming job for Daniel’s brother Jordan, that Stanek ended up at Lothlorien Farm. “I started working at Lothlorien a year and a half ago, during the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington,” Stanek tells. “When Daniel is away in Europe or at other shows, I'm riding the horses at home and I also ride the young horses.”

“I was always fascinated by horses,” Stanek explains. “We lived in the countryside, and I loved seeing horses in the fields so much that one day I asked my mother if I could start to ride. She took me to a riding school and after a few weeks, she also started to take lessons there. A year or two went by and my mum bought a horse, which we sort of shared; I rode a few times a week and she rode few times a week. With this horse, I did my first shows. We didn’t have a trailer, so I would ride to the shows, jump, and then ride back home.”

We didn’t have a trailer, so I would ride to the shows, jump, and then ride back home

At 16, Stanek wanted to experience a professional stable and approached the Czech champion Jiří Hruška. “Originally, the plan was to stay for only two months in the summer – because I was still studying – but I ended up staying there for two years,” he tells. “With Hruška, I got a chance to ride many different horses and at that point I really realized that riding is what I want to work with my whole life."

During this time, Stanek also spent a summer in Germany riding for Johannes Holzeder, and after graduating from high school in 2014 he worked for Johannes Ehning and Dirk Ahlmann for a year. As Stanek wanted to have a back-up plan, he also finished his education in health care; if riding would not work out, he could always work as a nurse.

When he was done with his studies, Stanek saw that the Young Riders Academy opened up for applications for a new team in 2019, and he applied – since he was the right age. “I didn't really think much about it,” he explains. “I didn't think that I had a chance because I wasn't going to many international shows, I was riding more at national shows with young horses and getting three-year-olds used to the saddle. However, I thought it would be a nice experience if they would pick me even just for the selection – and they did. The trial was at a three-star show, and I competed with a horse that I got the ride on a year prior. When this horse came to me, she was jumping one-meter classes and at the selection we jumped 1.45m. I didn't win the class, but the selection was judged on more aspects, including an interview about personal motivation.”

There has definitely been more downs than ups on the way

“When I got selected for the Young Riders Academy, I was really, really happy,” Stanek continues. “I got six months of training with Ben, Wim and Gerco Schröder in the Netherlands, which was a really great experience. They were friendly and to this day we are still in touch. While I was there, the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, so we were locked in the yard, which meant they were training me every day. On one hand, I missed an opportunity to go to any bigger shows due to the pandemic, but on the other hand, I think I got way more out of the experience because we were together at home, training, all day, every day. That helped me a lot.”

"After my time with the Schröder-brothers, I then worked for Paul Schockemöhle for a year before moving on to Jordan Coyle in the US," Stanek tells.

From moving to Germany to applying to the Young Riders Academy, Stanek has not been afraid of taking chances and when an opportunity to experience North America opened up, he didn’t hesitate – even though the job available only included grooming and flat riding at home. “I always wanted to be a rider,” he says. “However, I have always taken care of the horses I ride, mostly on my own. When I found a job with Jordan Coyle, even if it was more of a grooming job, I took it – because I really wanted to see this part of the world. Originally the idea was just to come over for three months.”

Being too picky is not going to bring you anywhere

As a groom, Stanek first arrived at Spruce Meadows two years ago, not knowing this would be the venue where he would ride his first five-star Grand Prix and take his first international win. “I have been watching Spruce Meadows on YouTube since I was a child. The biggest memory I have is definitely watching Scott Brash win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping with Hello Sanctos. To actually get to be at this venue, I was really impressed with the place and with the whole show – and it was great to see it sort of as a tourist first. Last year, getting a chance to jump my first five-star show there with Quintin was an amazing experience. Now, one year later, I have gotten to know him better, we have jumped more shows and so we qualified for the Grand Prix. Winning the Grand Prix with Quintin was an unbelievable moment.”

“Prior to working for Lothlorien, I had ridden hundreds of horses and jumped many classes. However, a year and a half ago, I had not ever jumped at this level," he explains. "It is definitely thanks to the support of Ariel Grange and Lothlorien Farm that I have a chance to ride these great horses like Quintin. I feel like it's sometimes easier to ride a great horse over a very difficult course than it is to ride a horse with less quality over an easier track.”

From a little kid in the Czech fields that was infatuated with horses to winning on five-star level, Stanek has gotten far from where he began – and his career is still in the starting blocks. “There were many challenges on the way,” he says. “It was always hard to see the next step. When horses got sold or the young ones were not really coming through as expected, those were some of the challenging moments. There has definitely been more downs than ups on the way. However, I think that thanks to the struggles, I am now more than happy and I have a huge appreciation for what I have.”

I have always tried to do my best and ride any horses, including the young ones that nobody else wanted to ride

“I always wanted to do the big sport, but I approached it in tiny steps rather than as huge goals,” he continues to explain about his journey. “I have looked ahead thinking; what is the next step, what should I do better? I have tried to set reachable goals and take small steps so that I could really see improvement and not get discouraged by the setbacks. I have always tried to do my best and ride any horses, including the young ones that nobody else wanted to ride. I rode anything to get a chance to get into the ring. This way I got a lot of experience in smaller classes; I never said ‘no’. For me, this was the key; taking every opportunity I could and making the most out of it. Being too picky is not going to bring you anywhere. Now, I am extremely fortunate to have the support from Ariel Grange and to be able to ride her horses at the highest level. Without her, I wouldn't be here.”

While surely enjoying his first ever international win, it is the daily grind that brings Stanek the most joy. “I enjoy the journey with the horses,” he concludes. “I like developing young horses and it's always nice to see them coming through. I enjoy seeing how the horses are going from week to week, not only the winning, but also the good rounds – and developing the relationships with the horses. I have gotten many three-year-olds used to the saddle, and I still do that. I enjoy it, and I believe that a complete rider and a horseman must be able to do it all, from the young horses to the bigger sport.”

27.8.2023 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.