This sport often pushes us to do more: more classes, more preparation, more pressure. But with horses, more is not always better.
Yesterday confirmed that for me.
Both horses jumped beautifully.
Quico was clear and placed in the 1.40 m — confident, focused, and jumping with real quality.
Vancouver jumped with power and scope, just one rail down, but with an amazing feeling and clear progress.
Because of that, I chose to stop after two days.
Not because they couldn’t do more — but because they had already done enough.
I believe in keeping horses fresh, mentally positive, and confident. Especially when you are building horses for the long term, it’s important to listen to what they tell you in the ring. Yesterday, they told me they felt strong, willing, and happy — and that is the moment to protect, not to push.
In Europe, riders often have the opportunity to develop horses at national shows before stepping into the bigger classes. In the Middle East, international shows are often where that development happens. That means sometimes you are training while others are competing. It’s not always easy, but it is part of the reality when you choose to keep and build your horses instead of replacing them.
My plan going forward reflects this philosophy:
Vancouver will step down to 1.30–1.35 at the next show to continue improving rideability, waiting, and concentration.
Quico will continue at 1.40 to confirm confidence and consistency.
At the end of February, the goal is to step up again — Quico to 1.45 and Vancouver back to 1.40 — once the foundation feels solid and relaxed.
Both horses will have space between shows, with careful flatwork, minimal jumping at home, and a strong focus on long-term soundness and confidence.
Watch our show jumping highlights
Long-lasting sport horses are becoming rare. I want mine to stay confident, sound, and happy — not just for one result, but for many seasons.
Sometimes the best decision you can make is knowing when to stop, when to step back, and when to move forward again — and trusting that doing less, but doing it right, is enough.