Olympic showjumping champion Christian Kukuk was lately honoured with the Peden Bloodstock FEI Greatest Athlete Award at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi, saying: “To be known as one of the best athlete of 2024 is unbelievable”.
The German rider is understood for his meticulous care and sensitivity towards his horses and, though he didn’t even begin driving till he was a youngster, he has gone on to develop into one of many world’s most profitable showjumpers. The head got here this summer time when he received particular person gold on the Paris 2024 Olympics together with his nice companion Checker 47, who’s co-owned by German soccer legend Thomas Müller.
So what are Christian Kukuk’s prime ideas for fulfillment and what does he assume makes an amazing rider? Here’s what he has to say on all the pieces from how one can practice a horse to constructing the foundations of belief.
Christian Kukuk on constructing a connection together with his horses: “Our bond is constructed on belief”
“I’ve identified Checker 47 for 4 years and, throughout that point, we now have constructed a powerful connection. It takes plenty of work, simply because it does in human relationships,” he says.
“Now we have shared each success and disappointment. Our bond is constructed on belief – he must belief me, and I must belief him – and that belief led to a gold medal in Paris. It meant all the pieces to have my household and buddies there with me. Our sport is about feelings, and it’s unhappy if you happen to can’t share these moments with these closest to you.”
Christian says his partnership with the “very particular” Checker “felt prefer it was made for the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games ultimate”.
“The course wasn’t constructed only for an skilled rider or an skilled horse – it required an skilled mixture,” he explains. “You needed to know your horse inside and outside, they usually needed to know you simply as properly. That’s what made the course perfect for partnerships like Checker 47 and myself, Beauville Z and Maikel van der Vleuten, and Dynamix De Belheme and Steve Guerdat – we’re all skilled pairs.”
Christian says he and Checker 47 have “grown collectively” over the previous 4 years, culminating in some glittering successes within the run-up to Paris 2024.
“In each grand prix we entered, it felt like he knew precisely what he may do, and he knew and trusted what I may do,” says Christian. “That belief is the inspiration of an amazing relationship between horse and rider – when you’ve gotten belief, you’ve gotten all the pieces you want.”
You’re nothing with no robust, supportive group
“Having an amazing group supporting you is essential to be a profitable rider,” says Christian. “In showjumping, there’s a lot work – managing the horses, travelling, and coaching – so having dependable individuals round you is important. And not using a robust, supportive group, it might be extremely troublesome to carry out and get one of the best outcomes.”
How one can practice a horse to the highest stage: bodily versus psychological growth
Christian Kukuk says he focuses on numerous features of a horse’s coaching at totally different phases of its growth.
“For instance, typically it’s extra necessary to focus in your horse’s bodily skills, or it’s possible you’ll work on the psychological aspect, or just attending to know the horse higher,” he says.
“Nonetheless, in the long run, an important factor is ensuring the horse is following you. You’ll be able to practice the bodily parts as a lot as you want – leaping large fences or practising programs – however in the long run what actually issues is that the horse trusts you and follows your system and magnificence of driving. If the horse isn’t in your aspect, success in showjumping is unimaginable.
“Whereas bodily coaching is essential, it’s simply as necessary to know how your horse thinks and what it wants,” continues Christian. “It’s good to know when to offer additional help or when to ease off the strain and provides them time doing one thing easy like hacking or lungeing. This stability of understanding each the psychological and bodily features of your horse is what makes an amazing rider.”
An necessary lesson
The German showjumper completed third in final yr’s Rolex grand prix at CHI Geneva and his followers will see him in motion when he returns there in December hoping to begin the ball rolling on the celebrated Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping, in addition to lining up for the Rolex IJRC High 10 Closing on the present.
“I’ve learnt that the Majors that make up the Rolex Grand Slam set the very best commonplace in our sport,” says Christian. “Each you and your horse should be ready for any state of affairs that comes from the programs.
“The CHI Geneva is among the greatest indoor and particular exhibits on the earth. Every of the Rolex Majors that make up the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping is exclusive, and Geneva has its personal distinct flare. The big enviornment, that includes the hill within the center and the double of ditches within the Rolex grand prix, provides it the texture of an outside present, which is exclusive.
“Nonetheless, one of the best factor concerning the CHI Geneva is the environment – the gang there’s unbelievable. You’ll be able to at all times really feel their help. If you bounce a transparent spherical and the gang goes wild; it’s the most wonderful feeling. It’s the type of emotional second that us riders love.
“Ending third within the Rolex grand prix final yr made me each proud and joyful – it was the second I knew Checker 47 was prepared for main championships. With the Olympics developing, that Rolex grand prix consequence solidified in my thoughts that he was really ready, and it was then that I made a decision we should always plan his yr across the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games.”
All-round horsemanship
Christian says the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping is the final word check of horse and rider as “it isn’t sufficient to only excel in an enormous grass enviornment with large fences, you additionally must carry out properly in smaller arenas”.
“Solely the perfect horses can adapt to any ring and any state of affairs,” states Christian. “For example, Checker 47 positioned third within the Rolex grands prix at each the Dutch Masters and Geneva, and he additionally jumped exceptionally properly in Aachen. There aren’t many horses that may deal with all of it.
“Some riders are lucky to have a number of horses – some are suited to massive grass arenas, whereas others carry out higher in smaller sand arenas – however few can do properly in each setting,” he says. “To date, solely one pair has received the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping – Scott Brash and Howdy Sanctos. The truth that just one mixture has achieved this in all of those years exhibits how extremely difficult it’s.
“Nonetheless, that is what makes it so thrilling for us riders – all of us dream of successful the Rolex Grand Slam as soon as in our careers.”
Learnings from the soccer pitch
Christian Kukuk is a soccer fan and follows the German group Bayern Munich, the place Checker 47’s part-owner Thomas Müller performs.
“Thomas and I’ve a really particular relationship. He follows my equestrian profession and I’m following him in soccer,” explains Christian. “I don’t assume he learns from me or that I study from him, however what makes our relationship robust is that he’s an athlete who understands the challenges of top-level sport.
“Thomas is aware of that, in showjumping, success doesn’t come each weekend, simply as I do know it’s the identical in soccer – it isn’t doable to win each sport,” he continues. “This shared understanding helps us deal with the disappointing moments. Our relationship is stuffed with emotion, however it is usually very rational. We really feel pleasure after we succeed, however we settle for that we will’t achieve success on a regular basis – that’s simply the character of each our sports activities.”
Don’t dwell on disappointment – or success
Like in soccer, it’s necessary to not dwell on both disappointment or success, Christian believes.
“You at all times want to arrange for the subsequent sport or the subsequent present,” he says. “Rising up enjoying soccer made me conversant in competitors, strain, and the necessity to focus whereas staying current.
“In showjumping, it is advisable be centered for a shorter time period – spending simply 60 to 80 seconds within the ring, plus 30 to 45 minutes in warm-up – however it’s essential to be totally current along with your horse. I consider that having realized this from soccer has actually helped me, as a result of on the highest stage, having the ability to focus makes all of the distinction.”
“Making a relationship along with your horse doesn’t come in a single day”
Christian’s recommendation to aspiring younger riders is to “take your time”.
“Making a relationship between you and your horse doesn’t come in a single day,” he stresses. “You probably have a disappointing second – and there will probably be these moments – attempt to not get caught in it.
“Attempt to see the constructive and study from the disappointing experiences and simply keep in mind to take your time.”
With due to Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping.
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