Solely a handful of individuals within the trendy period have ridden at championship degree in two equestrian disciplines. Step ahead Duarte Seabra, the Portuguese who has simply added Olympic showjumping honours to his eventing World Championship cap.
As an occasion rider, Duarte additionally accomplished Badminton twice, and was a prolific competitor on the worldwide circuit. It’s a powerful change, following within the steps of the nice Mark Todd and Peder Fredricson.
“They’re two completely different sports activities – I by no means thought at some point I’d turn into a showjumper,” he says. “In case you requested me once I was eventing, I’d have mentioned, ‘not even in my desires’.”
However in 2015, Duarte’s older brother Francisco – additionally a championship occasion rider – died in an eventing accident. Duarte had been primarily based in England and Eire for a number of years, however that spring moved again house to Portugal and stopped eventing. A few years later, he converted to showjumping.
Olympic showjumping cap for Duarte Seabra
“I really feel fortunate to be within the high of the game in each disciplines,” mentioned Duarte, after knocking two down on Dourados 2 within the particular person qualifier for the ultimate at Paris 2024. “In eventing your strongest level must be the cross-country however I had at all times showjumped. I jumped as much as grand prix earlier than I began eventing, so I had some expertise and that most likely helped me in eventing. Then I devoted myself to eventing for greater than 10 years.
“I’m again in showjumping now and it feels pure as a result of we leap in two disciplines in eventing. Nonetheless it’s a completely completely different sport and life-style. Eventing is extra about ardour, showjumping is extra of a enterprise. There’s an enormous enterprise trade round showjumping, to which the eventing isn’t even shut.”
Duarte nonetheless attracts on his eventing expertise now.
“For certain there’s lots I’ve realized in eventing that I profit from now being a showjumper,” says the 38-year-old. “By way of strain, I used to be fortunate sufficient to leap round Badminton twice, I did the World Video games and [learnt how to deal] with the strain whenever you go cross-country at that degree – it’s massive. However right here, worst case, the fences fall. And I believe in eventing, the health and figuring out the horse has helped me lots now.”
And a last bonus?
“I don’t need to journey in a dressage saddle – which is an effective factor!” he says.
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Martin Fuchs negotiates the eighth fence within the Olympic showjumping last with out his left stirrup.
Credit score: Peter Nixon
The newly topped Olympic particular person showjumping medallists. (Left: Steve Guerdat; center: Christian Kukuk; proper: Maikel van der Vleuten)
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Rodrigo Pessoa and Main Tom qualify for the person last at Paris 2024.
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Future
H&H options editor
Martha is an skilled journalist who’s mad-keen on horses and canine. Her reporting CV contains the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Competition and World Cup finals. After rising up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she loved 14 years with two rescue canine. Now, her fixed companion is Fidget, an especially energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on matters as numerous as a high horse’s clone to the very best GPS trackers for canine, in addition to equestrian and rural issues for Nation Life, The Area, The Occasions, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
