Text © World of Showjumping

Jérôme Guery’s 18-year-old stallion Quel Homme de Hus (Quidam de Revel x Candillo 3) returned to competition last week at the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain, jumping two rounds over 1.25m after being absent from the international showjumping scene for 15 months due to an injury. “I'm so, so happy,” Guery told World of Showjumping afterwards. 

In 2019, Quel Homme de Hus and Guery were part of the winning Belgian team at the FEI European Championship in Rotterdam. After claiming team bronze at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the two took individual silver at the FEI Jumping World Championship in Herning in 2022. At the end of 2022, the stallion’s career came to an abrupt halt. “We don't know exactly what happened,” Guery explains. “We travelled together with another Belgian rider from the Prague Playoffs in 2022 and when Quel Homme arrived home, he came out of the truck lame. Probably the stallions were not happy together and kicked. It turned out to be a tendon injury which required surgery. His operation was done at the Equitom-clinic in Belgium, and we have had a great co-operation with them throughout his rehabilitation – but it has taken a long time. However, I have a very positive feeling now, having him back under the saddle and jumping.” 

“Our plan was to restart him here in Oliva, but for sure I have been worried,” Guery continues. “It has been a long road to recovery with him and we wanted to be absolutely sure that he was completely healed before we started jumping. However, when you start again, you never know how the body is going to react. Luckily, Quel Homme seemed to take it all really well; he is fit and gave me a really good feeling.”

“He still needs to get his muscles and flexibility back, but I'm sure that if he stays sound, he will be back to his usual level,” Guery says. “Our aim is to have the best possible management and program for him, and naturally the Olympic Games in Paris this summer is our ultimate goal.”

“Quel Homme means everything for me,” Guery says. “He changed my life and I have been so lucky to meet a horse like him. He is an absolute dream horse and all my best results have been with him. My dream is to be able to bring him back and continue our journey together, take him to Paris and finish our story in the most beautiful way. However, his health comes first.”