You won the GP of the first CSI4* in St Lô of which you were also a sponsor. What are your impressions of this first 4* edition ?
There was a great line-up with a lot of good riders this weekend. As a sponsor, I talked about the CSI of St Lô to try to bring the good riders. I spoke with Steve afterwards, he thought the competition was great which absolutely deserved the 4* label. We now have good surface in the arena, a good warm-up arena, a great outdoor arena to work the horses outside of competitions and permanent boxes. It's a great working tool. I think a town like St Lô deserves to have a 4* and a platform like the one we had this weekend. I'm very happy to have taken part in this at my level and to have tried to encourage my friends to come.
This is your first time winning the GP of St Lô. How did Queeletta feel at this first indoor show of the season?
I had already won in St Lô outdoors, but never the indoor CSI. The mare is in great shape! I am happy. Not that long ago she was also 3rd in the 5* GP in St Tropez. She's a mare who's starting to get serious about her job. Whether it's indoor or outdoor, it doesn't change much with her.
The rest of the indoor season seems to be in jeopardy except for a few rare competitions that are still being held. How do you predict the following months to go?
For the moment everything is a bit up in the air. I don't know what we'll be able to do, we'll see. We hope that Geneva will be held, we know that Verona has been cancelled, we hope that Mechelen will be held... We hope, but apart from hoping, there is not much else we can do. Currently, I am in Oliva. I went down to Spain with some horses that I have to get back into shape. I left Alibi and Queeletta, my top horses, at home. If there is a competition that can take place, I can go back there.
You are riding more and more horses who are "barefoot". What made you consider this approach?
All of them. Now they are all barefoot. It all started with Michel Hécart, who started sending me horses who were barefoot. It's a completely different approach. We find that the horses are better and that they need less veterinary care.
Usual Suspect d'Auge
Do you really experience fewer problems?
Definitely. The horses need way less veterinary treatments.
Is it suitable for all horses?
Yes, it is suitable for all horses. It's just a matter of time. Some horses take two days to get used to it and others take two years. Some took longer than others, but currently all my horses are barefoot and they are all doing very well. Obviously, it is paired with a very specific trimming. The follow-up is much more important than a shod horse. You always have to be careful. It is a completely different approach.
Quincy Lady
You also do breeding. Is it something you've always liked?
Not especially, but as I get older, it is starting to interest me more and more. We've already produced a lot of good horses, which is encouraging. There is Usual Suspect d'Auge, who we have bred and who has already won two 5* GP's. There is also Safari d'Auge who has also already won quite a lot.
How many foals do you breed every year?
It depends. We breed between 5 and 8 foals a year.
Safari d'Auge
