Olympic champion Christian Kukuk on find out how to prepare a horse

Olympic showjumping champion Christian Kukuk was just lately honoured with the Peden Bloodstock FEI Greatest Athlete Award at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi, saying: “To be referred to as the very best athlete of 2024 is unbelievable”.

The German rider is understood for his meticulous care and sensitivity towards his horses and, though he didn’t even begin driving till he was a youngster, he has gone on to change into one of many world’s most profitable showjumpers. The head got here this summer time when he gained particular person gold on the Paris 2024 Olympics together with his nice associate Checker 47, who’s co-owned by German soccer legend Thomas Müller.

So what are Christian Kukuk’s high suggestions for achievement and what does he assume makes an excellent rider? Here’s what he has to say on every thing from find out how to prepare a horse to constructing the foundations of belief.

Christian Kukuk on constructing a connection together with his horses: “Our bond is constructed on belief”

“I’ve identified Checker 47 for 4 years and, throughout that point, we’ve got constructed a robust connection. It takes numerous work, simply because it does in human relationships,” he says.

“Now we have shared each success and disappointment. Our bond is constructed on belief – he must belief me, and I must belief him – and that belief led to a gold medal in Paris. It meant every thing to have my household and pals there with me. Our sport is about feelings, and it’s unhappy in case you can’t share these moments with these closest to you.”

Christian says his partnership with the “very particular” Checker “felt prefer it was made for the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games last”.

“The course wasn’t constructed only for an skilled rider or an skilled horse – it required an skilled mixture,” he explains. “You needed to know your horse inside and outside, they usually needed to know you simply as nicely. That’s what made the course excellent for partnerships like Checker 47 and myself, Beauville Z and Maikel van der Vleuten, and Dynamix De Belheme and Steve Guerdat – we’re all skilled pairs.”

Christian says he and Checker 47 have “grown collectively” over the previous 4 years, culminating in some glittering successes within the run-up to Paris 2024.

“In each grand prix we entered, it felt like he knew precisely what he might do, and he knew and trusted what I might do,” says Christian. “That belief is the inspiration of an excellent relationship between horse and rider – when you’ve belief, you’ve every thing you want.”

You’re nothing and not using a robust, supportive crew

“Having an excellent crew supporting you is essential to be a profitable rider,” says Christian. “In showjumping, there’s a lot work – managing the horses, travelling, and coaching – so having dependable folks round you is crucial. With out a robust, supportive crew, it will be extremely tough to carry out and get the very best outcomes.”

Find out how to prepare a horse to the highest stage: bodily versus psychological growth

Christian Kukuk says he focuses on numerous points of a horse’s coaching at totally different levels of its growth.

“For instance, generally it’s extra necessary to focus in your horse’s bodily skills, or you might work on the psychological aspect, or just attending to know the horse higher,” he says.

“Nonetheless, in the long run, crucial factor is ensuring the horse is following you. You’ll be able to prepare the bodily parts as a lot as you want – leaping huge fences or practising programs – however in the long run what actually issues is that the horse trusts you and follows your system and elegance of driving. If the horse isn’t in your aspect, success in showjumping is unattainable.

“Whereas bodily coaching is essential, it’s simply as necessary to know how your horse thinks and what it wants,” continues Christian. “You want to know when to supply additional help or when to ease off the stress and provides them time doing one thing easy like hacking or lungeing. This steadiness of understanding each the psychological and bodily points of your horse is what makes an excellent rider.”

An necessary lesson

The German showjumper completed third in final 12 months’s Rolex grand prix at CHI Geneva and his followers will see him in motion when he returns there in December hoping to start out the ball rolling on the celebrated Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping, in addition to lining up for the Rolex IJRC Prime 10 Ultimate on the present.

“I’ve learnt that the Majors that make up the Rolex Grand Slam set the very best customary in our sport,” says Christian. “Each you and your horse have to be ready for any scenario that comes from the programs.

“The CHI Geneva is without doubt one of the greatest indoor and particular reveals on the earth. Every of the Rolex Majors that make up the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping is exclusive, and Geneva has its personal distinct flare. The massive enviornment, that includes the hill within the center and the double of ditches within the Rolex grand prix, provides it the texture of an outside present, which is exclusive.

“Nonetheless, the very best factor concerning the CHI Geneva is the ambiance – the group there’s unbelievable. You’ll be able to at all times really feel their help. Once you bounce a transparent spherical and the group goes wild; it’s the most superb feeling. It’s the form of emotional second that us riders love.

“Ending third within the Rolex grand prix final 12 months made me each proud and glad – it was the second I knew Checker 47 was prepared for main championships. With the Olympics developing, that Rolex grand prix consequence solidified in my thoughts that he was really ready, and it was then that I made a decision we must always plan his 12 months across the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games.”

All-round horsemanship

Christian says the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping is the last word check of horse and rider as “it’s not sufficient to only excel in an enormous grass enviornment with huge fences, you additionally need to carry out nicely in smaller arenas”.

“Solely the perfect horses can adapt to any ring and any scenario,” states Christian. “As an example, Checker 47 positioned third within the Rolex grands prix at each the Dutch Masters and Geneva, and he additionally jumped exceptionally nicely in Aachen. There aren’t many horses that may deal with all of it.

“Some riders are lucky to have a number of horses – some are suited to massive grass arenas, whereas others carry out higher in smaller sand arenas – however few can do nicely in each setting,” he says. “To date, solely one pair has gained the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping – Scott Brash and Whats up Sanctos. The truth that just one mixture has achieved this in all of those years reveals how extremely difficult it’s.

“Nonetheless, that is what makes it so thrilling for us riders – all of us dream of profitable the Rolex Grand Slam as soon as in our careers.”

Learnings from the soccer pitch

Christian Kukuk is a soccer fan and follows the German crew Bayern Munich, the place Checker 47’s part-owner Thomas Müller performs.

“Thomas and I’ve a really particular relationship. He follows my equestrian profession and I’m following him in soccer,” explains Christian. “I don’t assume he learns from me or that I be taught from him, however what makes our relationship robust is that he’s an athlete who understands the challenges of top-level sport.

“Thomas is aware of that, in showjumping, success doesn’t come each weekend, simply as I do know it’s the identical in soccer – it’s not potential to win each sport,” he continues. “This shared understanding helps us deal with the disappointing moments. Our relationship is stuffed with emotion, however it’s also very rational. We really feel pleasure after we succeed, however we settle for that we are able to’t achieve success on a regular basis – that’s simply the character of each our sports activities.”

Don’t dwell on disappointment – or success

Like in soccer, it’s necessary to not dwell on both disappointment or success, Christian believes.

“You at all times want to arrange for the subsequent sport or the subsequent present,” he says. “Rising up taking part in soccer made me acquainted with competitors, stress, and the necessity to focus whereas staying current.

“In showjumping, you have to be targeted for a shorter time frame – spending simply 60 to 80 seconds within the ring, plus 30 to 45 minutes in warm-up – however it’s essential to be absolutely current along with your horse. I consider that having discovered this from soccer has actually helped me, as a result of on the highest stage, having the ability to focus makes all of the distinction.”

“Making a relationship along with your horse doesn’t come in a single day”

Christian’s recommendation to aspiring younger riders is to “take your time”.

“Making a relationship between you and your horse doesn’t come in a single day,” he stresses. “When you have a disappointing second – and there can be these moments – attempt to not get caught in it.

“Attempt to see the constructive and be taught from the disappointing experiences and simply bear in mind to take your time.”

With due to Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping.

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H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her position as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her all over the world reporting from reveals and interviewing riders, connections and people concerned behind the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on each topic throughout the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to steady administration — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand expertise of working within the equestrian trade as a driving teacher and yard supervisor.