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

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