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Markus Fuchs

Summary:

Markus Fuchs - a worthy winner of the inaugural Lyon InternationalShow ... Jumping / Dressage ... Event

Fuchs fights back from the injury to “Tinka´s Boy” winning the Trofeo Caixa Galicia with “Royal Charmer”

Markus Fuchs Triumphs in Paris - 2004

Markus Fuchs sums up his forthcoming goals - October 2004

MARKUS FUCHS « Number One «

Exclusive interview held in January 2004

The sponsor SONY ERICSSON takes care of the star rider of their team

 

 

JustWorld Ambassador Markus Fuchs Triumphs at Paris Horse Show

Paris, France – The newest JustWorld International Rider Representative, Markus Fuchs of Switzerland, enjoyed great success at the CSI**** Paris Porte des Versailles Horse Show held November 26-28 in Paris, France.

Fuchs started the week by placing second in two competitions riding Royal Charmer, the 20,000 Euros 1.40m Speed competition and the Prix du Ceneca 1.45m competition, as well as finishing third in the Accumulator riding Narcossa Z. In Saturday night’s 25,000 Euros Generall Assurances Prix, Fuchs topped the field to claim the win riding La Toya III following an exciting 11-horse jump-off. France’s own Michel Robert was holding the lead when Ireland’s Jessica Kurten went even faster to overtake the top position riding Quibell. Fuchs then did the seemingly impossible, shaving every corner as close as he dared to emerge victorious.

“It was a very quick jump-off, I had to take all the risks,” noted Fuchs, a five-time Olympian who was cheered on loudly by the French crowd. “My horse was in a very good mood and the result went the right way.”

Fuchs and La Toya III returned to the ring for Sunday’s 75,000 Euro Paris Marionnaud 1.55m Grand Prix where they again posted a clear round to advance to the jump-off. There, an unlucky rail down at the second last fence on course cost them the victory, despite the fact that they stopped the clock at 47.65 seconds, almost three seconds faster than the winner, Toni Hassmann of Germany, who was double clear in a time of 50.44 seconds riding Camirez B.

“On Sunday, I was a little afraid that La Toya would be too hot, she is quite sensitive and after a crazy jump-off on Saturday night, I was worried that she would not be concentrating,” noted Fuchs of the Belgian-bred mare by Fortuin that he has been riding for more than three years. “The first round was not so easy, it was quite a big grand prix. In the jump-off, we had the second fence down, but without the rail we would have won the class and could have won more money for JustWorld!”

Placing fifth overall, Fuchs generously donated 25% of his Grand Prix prize money to JustWorld International.

“I believe that people in a comfortable position have an obligation to those people who do not live on the sunny side of life,” noted Fuchs. “JustWorld International is just one of my personal causes; I try to do many things in an effort to make the world a little bit better.”

“Markus is very committed to humanitarian efforts, which I am not sure many people are aware of, and I am glad that we can give him some recognition through JustWorld International,” stated JustWorld International Executive Director, Jessica Newman, who gave up her own Grand Prix riding career in order to concentrate her efforts on founding and directing the humanitarian efforts of JustWorld International. “I am truly honoured that Markus has joined JustWorld International. He is a man of real integrity and values and, despite his ranking as one of the best riders in the world, he remains humble and down to earth. As fierce, serious and focused as he is as a competitor, he is as kind, generous and compassionate as a human being. I am grateful not only for his monetary contribution, but for his moral support in acting as a spokesperson and encouraging others to get involved and help support our cause.”

There were numerous other ‘Jump for a Just World’ connections at the 2004 Paris Porte des Versailles Horse Show. Acting as course designer was Serge Houtmann of France, who is a member of the ‘Jump for a Just World’ Advisory Board. A JustWorld International signature fence, designed and donated by Frank Rothenberger and unveiled two weeks earlier at CSI***** Brussels, was a fixture in the ring, including during the Grand Prix.

JustWorld International Executive Director, Jessica Newman, presented the ‘Jump for a Just World’ Leading Junior Rider Award to Charlotte Leoni, daughter of French Equestrian Team member Philippe Leoni, who was riding Olympia, the former grand prix horse of Michel Robert.

“We wanted to award a trophy to the leading junior riders of this horse show in an effort to sensitize and educate equestrian youth about JustWorld International’s humanitarian efforts,” noted Newman. “We hope to encourage them to get involved, joining other fellow junior riders, who donate all, or a percentage of, their prize money to JustWorld and volunteer to help us raise funds and promote our work. Our professional rider ambassadors set an example and act as role models for the youth, who we encourage to follow in their footsteps.”

“I also want to publicly thank the Paris Horse Show President, Jean Morel, who is also a member of the ‘Jump for a Just World’ Advisory Board, for all of his support,” continued Newman. “Due to his commitment, JustWorld International was able to publicize its work and raise funds through this prestigious international event.

JustWorld International is a non-profit humanitarian organization that trains and empowers students to work for social justice. Current professional riders include Angela Covert of Canada, Kevin Babington of Ireland, Christophe Barbeau of Switzerland, Herve Godignon of France, Imke Hofschroer of Germany, Eric Lamaze of Canada, Rutherford Latham of Spain, Olivier Guillon of France, Candice King of the United States, Titi Mills of Honduras, Eric Navet of France, Ray Texel of the United States, Gregory Wathelet of Belgium, and the newest member of the ‘Jump for a JustWorld’ initiative, Marcus Fuchs of Switzerland. Through various initiatives, including donating a portion of their prize money or giving clinics to benefit JustWorld International, riders are able to support the organization’s projects and programs.

Founded in 2002, JustWorld International offers fellowship programs for students from around the globe to learn leadership skills, the tools that they can use to make a positive difference in the world. With three project sites located in Cambodia, Honduras and Senegal, students are working for change in a wide variety of environments on behalf of JustWorld International. For further information on JustWorld International, please visit www.justworldinternational.org

For additional information on the CSI**** Paris Horse Show, please visit www.salon-cheval.com/csi/index.htm

- 30 -

ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH

“JustWorld International Rider Representative Markus Fuchs and La Toya III enjoyed great success at the CSI**** Paris Horse Show.”
Photo credit – PSV Photo

Media Contacts:

Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Tel: (613) 569-2423
jward@startinggate.ca

Jessica Newman
JustWorld International
Cell: 011 33 609 49 63 69
JNewman@JustWorldInternational.org

Exclusively for visitors to our Horses of the World site:

Markus Fuchs sums up his forthcoming goals.

KUALA LUMPUR, the benevolent stage.

Is it really worth going so far to obtain a fourth place in an event other than a Grand Prix ? Seeing the glowing healthy tan and brand new morale of Markus Fuchs, the answer is clear:
Kuala Lumpur was an essential in order to face up to the end of the 2004 season and the start of the 2005 season in the best conditions. In his body and mind, the international ... Jumping / Dressage ... champion had been severely touched, as much at Geneva by that nasty injury as at the Athens Olympics where the results were not up to the expectations of the swiss supporters. The stay in Kuala Lumpur had been arranged for a long time so as to pay tribute to the invitation from the organisors of this "five stars" CSI but also to spend a family holiday together for ten days. This is how Markus Fuchs recharged his batteries in order to face an end of season from which he expects a lot.

 

A TOP-TEN PLACE

After being on top of the list of the ten best riders in the world, Markus Fuchs is still worthy of his place in the Top-Ten. Who would dare to challenge him especially as this rider of great talent is much too young to think about retirement ? However, in order to temper the enthusiasm of his fans, Markus Fuchs puts out this warning even so: "At my age, my body has already taken some knocks during the numerous hours of riding ! All these small injuries come back from time to time and each one in turn which forces me to take care of myself if I want to remain in the hunt at the highest level. This is why I regularly see an osteopath who already treats some of the top-riders".
In mid-october 2004, Markus Fuchs lost not only his place as world leader but also only found himself in the thirteenth position of a classification which saw Ludger Beerbaum dethrone Rodrigo Pessoa, then push back Markus Ehning to the fifth position just behind Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum. Four German riders in the first six positions: this is an exploit that even regrettable doping affairs cannot tarnish.
Markus Fuchs only hints at it but he is going to do all he can to be on the the starting list at Geneva in the Top-Ten event. To do this, he is aware that the tempo that he imposes will demand that he gives the best of himself as much in the organisation of his daily work with the horses as on the competition grounds. These stages are essential if he wants to obtain precious points between now and 9th December 2004, the date that the Geneva-Palexpo CSI starts.

 

Intensive Timetable and End of 2004 season

At more than 900 points behind the "number one" Ludger Beerbaum, Markus Fuchs will have to pout out his very best to claim back the place he got in December 2003. But, in the short term, he only has to regain 100 points on riders such as Otto Becker or Michael Whitaker to get back into the Top-Ten. "Of course, as Markus Fuchs observes with a grin, the others are not going to sit around doing nothing !!"
Here is the programme that Markus Fuchs has fixed for himself and which he hopes to keep to till the end unless there are major problems:

PROGRAMME* CSI* MARKUS FUCHS- OCT.-DEC- 2004

Show	Place	Date	Leader-Horse
CHN	Wiesendangen	20+23-24/oct. 04
CSI***	Affalterbach (GER)	29-31/ oct. 04	LA TOYA
CSI****	Wien (AUT)	5-8/ nov. 04	LA TOYA
CSI****	Bruxelles (BEL)	11-14/nov. 04	TINKA'S BOY
CSI****	Stuttgart (GER)	18-21/ nov. 04
CSI****	Paris-Versailles (FRA)	26-28/ nov. 04	LA TOYA + Royal Charm
CSI*****	Belfast (IRL)	2-5/ dec. 04	LA TOYA + Royal Charm
CSI-W	Geneve	9-12/ dec. 04	TINKA'S BOY
CSI****	La Coruna (ESP)	17-19/ dec. 04	TINKA'S BOY

Tinka's Boy, which wasn't able to pick up the prizes this summer, has not however been tested by his voyage to the Athens Olympics. But as the infortunate "flying chestnut " has begun a new career as breeding stallion (hence a special preparation at the Avenches Stud-farm- Haras National), Markus Fuchs does not wish to submit his best horse to a too strenuous end of season programme. For this reason, Tinka's Boy should take part only in the Brussels CSI ( Nov 11-14)04), the Geneva CSI (Dec. 9-12/04), and the La Coruna CSI (Dec. 17-19/04).
As for La Toya, a very gifted mare that Markus Fuchs has always held in high estimation, she will be present at the Affalterbache CSI (Oct. 29-31/04), the Vienna CSI (Nov. 5-8/04), the Paris-Versailles CSI (Nov. 26-28/04) and the Belfast CSI (Dec. 2-5/04).
Granie and Royal Charmer will be alternately engaged with the abowe-mentioned horses.

 

Tinka's Boy, stallion from 2005

Friday 15th October 2004, around 4 o'clock, Markus Fuchs and Tinka's Boy left the National Stud-farm of Avenches to go back to their Saint-Josefen quarters, near Saint-Gall. Tinka's Boy had stayed a short time at La Broye to have fertility tests and sperm samples taken in the care of Dr. Dominik Burger. In fact, from spring 2005, frozen or refridgerated sperm doses will be available for breeders around the whole world. The dose price for artificial insemination (3 paillettes) from Tinka's Boy should soon be fixed at 1000 Euro.

 

Markus Fuchs inaugurates his Internet site

Markus Fuchs is proud to announce that his own Internet site will be "online" from the end of October 2004. "My sponsors have regularly suggested that I open an Internet site to satisfy requests from fans of our sport. This will be the case in a fortnight. You will notably be able to find a detailed programme with all my short-term and middle-term objectives".
Markus Fuchs fans will soon be able to benefit from a link between the site of their idol and Horses of the World.

One of the best show-... Jumping / Dressage ... riders in the world is a Swiss. Of course this charming mountaneous country with its chocolate and good cheese hast produced in the past great horsemen in numerous riding disciplines, but the one we are going to talk about now is a real... Number One !!
In fact, Markus Fuchs, who has been at the head of the FEI-GANDINI classification since 2003, is 47 years old and lives at St. Josephen in the Canton of St. Gall where he has kept the family stables so as to train there some of the best show-... Jumping / Dressage ... horses in the world and he welcomed us at his establishment situated in a bucolic setting, on the banks of the River Sitter.

On the photo opposite, there is a view of the whole establisment of the Ahorn stables and of the river which runs past.

We expected to meet our champion somewhat apart from his daily work with horses, following the injury he obtained during the last CSI at Geneva which still prevents him from riding a horse.
But this was not the case as he was there directing the training of his team of collaborators and horses, in the middle of his indoor-track, and he was himself handling a very lively horse "à la longe". For this reason we had to be patient before we could approach him: "just ten minutes !!" he told us . Markus Fuchs is a meticulous man, a real manager of his own career as well as that of his team of horse-professionals. It is not by chance that the prestigious TEAM SONY ERICSSON have just chosen him to be captain of a cosmopolitan team composed of big names in International show-... Jumping / Dressage .... We didn't have to wait any longer: the man was now in front of our microphone.

On the photo above, Markus Fuchs directs his team by example and taking part in all training tasks. In this photograph, he is bringing back one of his horses from economic-training which he frequently uses after the daily work.

-Horses of the World: How do you recruit your horses in general ?

-Markus Fuchs: Basically on friends'advice or that of courtiers who give me precise informations about interesting horses. In fact, I depend on people I can trust before making long journeys to see a horse in Holland or Northern Germany, for example.

-Do you buy young horses that you raise yourself or do you prefer confirmed competition horses ?

-For numerous years I bought from both the categories you mention. But today I am lucky enough to have a more agreable situation, with excellent owners like Madame Liebherr and Mr. Juri who have been with me several years and who willingly put forward large sums of money in order to buy top-class horses. This makes it a lot easier ! It is easier to stay at the top in this way while if the horse recruiting of my stable only concerned young horses of 4 or 5 years age, it would be necessary to have a dozen permanently at work in order to find one at "S" level and Grand Prix horses are still rarer. This is why my owners prefer that I choose an already confirmed horse at a high level, which allows a relatively quick ascencion up to Grand Prix level.

-Do you sometimes sell your horses ?

-Yes, sometimes. I have even sold very good horses ! But of course, my sponsors and myself don't like selling our best horses because we want to remain competitive in the sport. That being said, I sometimes have a horse in association with a friend, and we decide to do business by selling him.

-From what age and from what result can you say that a horse will be "Grand Prix" class ?

-You have to feel it when the horse is 6 or 7 years old. It is then necessary to train it well without however discouraging it with tasks which are too difficult. LA TOYA, for example, is a mare which had shown a lot of quality in her sixth year, which allowed his owner to get an offer four times higher than he had paid for her. Afterwards, at 7 or 8 years of age, we didn't force her too much, in spite of excellent results obtained in Canada and good performances in some Derbies.

-Does it sometimes happen that 5-years-olds indicate that they would always be "inferior" and then later they turn out to be very good ?

-I don't think it is possible for very good horses, but it sometimes happens that a 4 to 6-years-old is not very affirmed in his character, a little "shy" about expressing his means and that is where the horseman's work is important. He must believe in his horse, persevere with it and suddenly the horse improves. However, I don't think an "everage" horse at 5 or 6 years old can become a "crack" one day.

-So, in fact, you recognise it at the start of its training ?

-Yes, I think so.

-What does a horse like TINKA'S BOY, a crack have more than the others ?

-He has enormous means in spite of his small size: he only measures 162-163 cm ... He has such a big heart !! However the thing that astonsishes me most, is his suppleness; at 15 years old this year, he has the allure and suppleness of a five or six-year-old (Touch wood...!!!) It's a horse as hard as a rock ! On the show-track, he always finds motivation to surpass himself. He has so many qualities !!

-Wouldn't TINKA'S BOY definitely have been improved by being size a few centimetres higher ?

-Size has nothing to do with quality. Look at ADLANTUS, Lars Nieberg's horse: he measures 158 cm. In his time, JAPPELOUP was not big either.

-What about pedigree now ?

-TINKA'S BOY is Dutch with completely ordinary origins. I don't believe much in having show-... Jumping / Dressage ... origins. The physical or mental aptitudes of a horse to become a champion are not the flower of race or a blood line. In my opinion, there is just as much chance of giving birth to a "crack" in Dutch, Belgian, Irish or German breeding studs.

-Can you say that one stud-book dominates show-... Jumping / Dressage ... today as was the case of the Irish thirty years ago ?

-No. The Irish have lost a lot of their supremacy. The Dutch, however, do very well if you think that they have a very small amount of breeding compared to the Germans who have 40'000 sporting mares available.

-How did the Ahorn stable begin ?

- It was bought by my family 25 years ago. Then we chose a director to take over the riding-school which is on the site. The manager to whom we confided this activity looks after about 60 horses (some for the school, some being private horses).

-Who are your main collaborators ?

-The daughter of the great cyclist Beat Frei, Denise, has been an apprentice for three years. She will finish her apprenticeship in August 2004. Then my travelling boy Marian goes with my horses to the sports arenas. Markus Heim also works for me when I call him. That is about all of my closest collaborators, for I have reorganised my stable during recent years. I prefer to concentrate my efforts on a small number of horses of high class. All the same, I am looking for a collaborator to replace a training-rider who finished at the end of 2003.

-Do you give ... Jumping / Dressage ... lessons ?

-Very rarely because I don't have enough time. I do it especially for customers I've had a long time, through friendship and so that the work with the horses I've sold them goes as well as possible. As for training sessions... I am waiting a bit (smile) until I'm half-retired..!

-You have two sons...!?

-Yes, one is 21 and the other will soon be 17. They are not at all keen on riding so I haven't forced them to follow in my footsteps. I have always left them free to choose for themselves and I would only have helped them if they had shown a strong liking for horse-riding. They have doubtlessly weighed the pros and the cons: seeing that their father wasn't often at home.

 

On the photo opposite, Markus Fuchs shows where he
got hurt in CSI-GENEVA 2003 (right hand)

 

During his last stay in London, just before Christmas, the director's of TEAM SONY ERICSSON didn't hesitate to engage a famous English physiotherapist, who already treats stars of english football. All means were used to restablish the world Number One from his painful torn muscles, a souvenir of the last CSI in Geneva 2003. And Markus Fuchs takes things very seriously by following an intensive reeducation programme and forbidding himself to ride until the end of February 2004.

 

-A damned injury in Geneva...!!

-Yes, it's a tear in the thigh adductor muscles going up to the abdomen. In spite of a hard reeducation programme, we still don't know when I'll be able to mount again. We were hoping for the end of January, but it probably won't be possible: a more realistic date would be the end of February or beginning of March. My injury still gives problems when I swim; it disturbs me in so many movements that I am not even trying to mount a horse at the moment.

-In Geneva, in this infortunate "Top Ten" event where you got this painful injury, we had the impression that TINKA'S BOY understood immediately what had happened and that he stopped by himself...

-The horse certainly felt it, for my pain was such that I could'nt remount in the second round, even if I managed to stay in the saddle for the last three jumps. Believe me, I would have done anything in my power to win this event and its 40'000 swiss francs to the winner ! But already in the triple the pain became so strong and then it increased at the gate and the oxer finished me completely.

-Had you already had physical problems before this event ?

-Yes, already the week before, in Belfast, I wasn't very well. I have always had some problems with my adductor muscles, but the problem became serious with a tear going up to the abdominal region. This was not due to any bad movements during the competition.

-Faye Schoch came to help you for a few weeks. Wasn't it considerable help in the adversity...?!

-Yes, and she is also a very good assistant ! She has talent and on top of that she puts her heart into all tasks as much in the stable as out in training. I even trust her with my horses in competitions which she well deserves.

PHOTO: On the Photo opposite, Faye Schoch, very happy to
ride Markus Fuchs' horses, enjoys herself at St. Josefen.

-What are your short term goals ?

-I think the CSI at Vigo in Spain seems too near to be considered for me. I rather think that my to competition will be for the CSI at Paris-Bercy in March 2004.
I am impatient to take out GRANIE and LA TOYA in a Grand Prix. Both mares are exceptional, but I have a slight preference for LA TOYA, who , if she wasn't so difficult to train and ride in competition, would be the equal of any of the greats.

-What about the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 ? Has Switzerland good chance of medals ?

-Of course it will be the highlight of the season in August this year. The main worry, for me, is about the quality of the horses compared to the last Olympics. This time, we will unfortunately not have the same team composed of CALVARO V, TINKA'S BOY, POZITANO, and DULF, which were four very seasoned horses at this level, and they were ridden by four riders capable of mounting this kind of challenge. We now have good horses and riders but... apart from TINKA'S BOY and POZITANO, it is still a bit of a surprise...!!

-Could this surprise come from Steve Guerdat ?

-Yes, certainly, as Jan Tops enrolled 5 or 6 horses in the Swiss Federation before 31st December 2003 so that these horses may represent Switzerland in the Athens Olympics. But we will see which horse Steve Guerdat will mount later in the season.

-Is "Team Spirit" very important to win a championship of this kind ?

-Yes, it is important. And, besides, it would be well worth having the possibility to participate together in a few competitions before the big one, for example ine the one at Aix-la-Chapelle.

-Thank you Markus !! All friends of Horses of the World wish you a good convalescence and a 2004 season rich in satisfactions on and off the competitions grounds.

Jamil Boukarabila