Swiss showjumper Martin Fuchs refers back to the sensible gray gelding Leone Jei as “this sort of particular horse [who] makes all desires come true”.
Having accomplished a glittering array of accolades of their four-year partnership, together with International locations Cup wins in Dublin and St Gallen, particular person silver and staff gold on the 2021 Eu championships, and victories within the Rolex grands prix of Dinard and Geneva, culminating maximum not too long ago in THAT epic ultimate fence birthday celebration when profitable the Spruce Meadows $3million CPKC World grand prix introduced via Rolex, it’s no marvel the sector quantity 4 rider charges the 11-year-old son of Baltic VDL so extremely.
In a fortnight Martin will go back to his house display, CHI Geneva, the place he’ll be bidding to renew his Rolex Grand Slam-winning techniques in a category he’s completed top-two in for the previous 3 runnings, profitable in 2019 and 2021 and completing 2d to McLain Ward (HH Azur) ultimate 12 months.
“I’m in order that glad to have a horse like Leone Jei,” says Martin.
So how did this implausible partnership start?
Leone Jei: proceeding the road of a “particular mare”
To inform the tale of Leone Jei’s early days, we cross over to Adriana van Tilburg, who spoke to the granddaughter of the KWPN gelding’s breeder Gijs van Mersbergen, who unfortunately passed on to the great beyond prior to he may witness the Baltic VDL x Corland’s good fortune.
“My grandfather bought the Peter Pan daughter, Pardous, as a tender mare, and she or he turned into the root mare of the road,” says Maartje van der Velden, who used to be closely enthusiastic about her grandfather’s breeding industry. “She used to be at all times a different mare – she used to be a gradual, quiet mare, however that you must see her blood coming thru when one thing used to be about to occur. She used to be additionally very mild with us once we had been little. Lets attach along with her foals.”
Maartje’s first reminiscence of Pardous used to be when she used to be six and the mare passed on to the great beyond when she used to be 16.
“So I principally grew up along with her,” says Maartje. “I believe she handed her persona directly to her offspring – maximum of them had been simple going and confirmed numerous willingness to accomplish.
“The mum of Leone Jei, Dara, used to be slightly of a distinct tale,” she explains. “She had numerous persona, now not in a foul approach, however my grandfather didn’t allow us to as babies cross in along with her by myself. I for my part by no means noticed Pardous leaping, as she used to be handiest used as a broodmare with us, so it’s exhausting for me to mention what she has handed directly to her offspring. My grandfather used to be an actual fan of the Holsteiner-bred stallion Cardento [who competed at the 2004 Olympics] and he used him seven instances for Pardous.”
4 of the ones offspring jumped at 1.40m and better, nevertheless it used to be now not simply skill that Gijs used to be having a look to reproduce, for he sought after his horses to have “excellent persona” and so to believe his horses utterly. One exception, then again, used to be Leone Jei’s dam Dara, one such results of Pardous and Corland.
“She is reasonably a scorching persona,” continues Maartje. “We weren’t allowed to simply be with Dara, my grandfather needed to be with us. She has additionally handed that ‘hotness’ directly to her offspring.
“We will proudly say that what she produced with Leone Jei is a actually outstanding horse – she is certainly essentially the most particular mare on this line. Dara and her mom Pardous had been in combination for a couple of years with their offspring.”
Martin Fuchs using Leone Jei all the way through the Rolex grand prix introduced via Audi at Knokke Hippique 2022, Belgium.
All within the genes
The unique plan used to be for Dara to compete within the game, nevertheless it used to be too dear and she or he used to be as an alternative offered to circle of relatives pal Advert van Hal after she had produced Idara, a complete sister of Leone Jei. She endured as a broodmare, generating a full-brother to Leone Jei. She is now with the Mares Of Macha breeding endeavor.
Advert recalls the loose leaping on the mare approvals in Esbeek when Dara’s dam Pardous used to be younger.
“I mentioned to van Mersbergen, ‘Watch this, she goes to leap out’ and he concept I used to be loopy,” he remembers. “Wager what? She jumped the road after which jumped over the 2m prime fence that used to be meant to stay the horses in. She didn’t even contact it.”
Whilst Gijs bred some dressage horses, his center used to be in showjumping.
“He concept it used to be very particular that the horses had been in a position to leap the prime fences,” continues Maartje. “We additionally watched each large pageant. He actually favored the game. Sadly, I by no means went to CHIO Aachen with my grandfather, however the plan is that I can cross to subsequent 12 months’s Paris Olympic Video games with my grandmother.
“We’d additionally like to look at Leone Jei at some other Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping Primary, that will be very particular – this 12 months we went to The Dutch Masters,” she says. “I stay the entire circle of relatives knowledgeable about the place Leone Jei goes to leap or his effects. I attempt to stay observe of all of the horses from this line that my grandfather bred.
“We actually favored how Leone Jei used to be as a foal and we used Baltic VDL once more and that turned into the mare, Idara. She is now in america, owned via Darkish Horse, humorous sufficient Martin Fuchs competed along with her in america at 1.45m. She used to be bought first via Group Fuchs who offered her directly to Darkish Horse. Idara used to be now not as scorching as her mom and Leone Jei.”
Leone Jei: “His first rides below saddle had been an journey”
Leone Jei used to be at first named Hay El Desta Ali – which means “It’s what it’s” – and he used to be described as a “hot-headed” foal.
“He had an excellent persona, however he additionally confirmed numerous blood particularly when he were given began below saddle,” explains Maartje. “The primary rides below saddle had been an journey. Koen Leemans had difficulties with Leone Jei to start with, however they constructed up a partnership and he actually knew the right way to use the blood Leone Jei has.
“The way in which he carries his tail is precisely the similar as he did as a tender horse – it’s conventional for him,” she finds.
“Leone Jei’s good fortune is at all times one thing that our grandfather dreamed of. He at all times mentioned that it handiest takes one horse to make desires come true. Our grandfather used to sit down at the back of his laptop and in finding all of the details about his horses and have a look at the entire knowledge on stallions. He went to many various stallion displays and stallion competitions.
“We by no means dared to dream that Leone Jei would develop into the pony that he recently is. We owe all of the good fortune to the Peter Pan daughter Pardous. My grandfather passed on to the great beyond in a while after Leone Jei used to be offered to Martin.”
Martin Fuchs of Switzerland is the Rolex Grand Slam contender after profitable the Spruce Meadows Masters grand prix on Leone Jei.
Maartje watched Martin and Leone Jei’s Spruce Meadows victory by way of the livestream along with her grandmother.
“It used to be so thrilling, particularly after they had a marginally at the first fence!” she remembers. “It used to be unreal to look at how Martin put his arm up when leaping the ultimate fence. I used to be crushed with a proud feeling. It is rather particular {that a} horse like Leone Jei used to be born in my grandfather’s stables.
“We’re all a part of this tale.”
Martin describes the bright Leone Jei as having an “superb mentality and may be very bold – he at all times desires to take a look at his best possible. Occasionally that does make it somewhat tougher as a result of he has such a lot blood and is so prepared, so I’ve to take a look at to stay him as calm and comfy as conceivable.”
When requested in regards to the similarities between Leone Jei and his former nice gray spouse Clooney 51, Martin says he can not evaluate the 2.
“Clooney used to be essentially the most a success horse within the historical past of Swiss showjumping, so I actually can not be expecting to have the following Clooney right away,” he says. “Then again, I do suppose that Leone Jei has proven that he has all of the qualities and I believe that he is without doubt one of the best possible horses at the circuit.”
With due to Adriana van Tilburg and Rolex.
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