Portrait

His greatest success so far the Jurassic Rider achieved on 8 August 2012, when he competed in London with Nino de Buissonnets at his third Olympic Games. He was the only rider who jumped clear in the two final rounds of the competition and won the individual jumping gold medal. Steve Guerdat realized thus his greatest dream. A dream come true, thanks to his talent, his hard work and his patience.

A talent, which was discovered at an early age

Steve Guerdat was born on June 10, 1982. As the son of Philippe Guerdat, the famous former show jumper and current Chef d'Equipe of Brazil, he began riding at the age of 9 years in Glovelier in the Canton of Jura at the stables of Roger Bourquard. He maintains still a close relationship with his first coach, whose son, Anthony, for his part works nowadays as a rider at the stables of Steve Guerdat in Elgg ZH.

The exceptional talent of Steve Guerdat was discovered already at a very early stage. He soon joined the Swiss Juniors team, and worked at famous former show jumper and coach Beat Mändli, who teached him not only with regards to a tournament career, but introduced him also to the other facets of a life as a professional rider in the equestrian sport. At this time, his father Philippe Guerdat ended his own career in order to accompany and support henceforth his youngest son. The older of the two sons, Yannick, formerly also a rider and today Steve's manager, founded in 2001 his own web agency Artionet which has established as a reference in this segment in the market.

After he has won the bronce medal at the 1997 European Championships for Young Riders, Steve Guerdat becomes also Swiss Juniors Champion in show jumping the following year. Twelve months later he also climbs on the podium as third in the Swiss Championship of the Elite and already collects classifications and victories at various CSI. His international career was launched.

On 24 September 2002 Steve Guerdat receives a call from Jan Tops. The Dutchman and former show jumper, today well-known horse dealer and organizer of international tournaments, offers him to become the first rider in his stables in Valkenswaard (NED). The young Swiss show jumper stays there for a total of 41 months. This experience allows him to take part between 2003 and 2005 in some of the major championships, among others at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens (5th with the team), and to win two medals at the European Championships (2003 team bronze and 2005 team silver).

During his time in Valkenswaard Steve Guerdat became the youngest member of the Global Top 20 (August 12, 2005) and took part in the end of 2008 in his first final of the Top 10. In autumn 2012 he reached the top and was for the first time leading the world rankings.

Back in Switzerland, after a stopover in the stables of Jürg Notz in Kerzers, Steve Guerdat from now on could count on the support of Yves G. Piaget, who provides him with the horses Jalisca Solier, Tresor and Ferrari. A few months later the later Olympic champion wins in December 2006 the prestigious Grand Prix at CHI Geneva with Jalisca, who would become his most faithful companion in his career. A new chapter began.

In 2007 Steve Guerdat moved to the Rütihof in Herrliberg in the Canton of Zurich. This magnificent stables, owned by Urs Schwarzenbach, who from now on will become a trusty patron, the rider profits from a privileged and optimal infrastructure to exercise his sport under the best conditions. Everything here is designed for the welfare of the horses.

The Swiss show jumper can rely on a loyal team, including Heidi Mulari, for more than ten years his yard manager and groom, or Emma, his groom on the tournaments, and Armin Gigeli and Werner Oberholzer, who are responsible for the operation and management of this seven-hectare beautiful property where Steve's horses live.

In his nearer environment Steve Guerdat benefits from the valuable advice of his coach Thomas Fuchs, who shares his immense experience with him and accompanies him to the big tournaments.

Steve is also closely linked with his family, who form also a significant part of his career. His father Philippe is never far away, his brother Yannick looks after his entire management, in addition to his mother Christiane, who is also responsible for updating the website.

Steve is an important pillar of the Swiss team and already took part in the most prestigious competitions and championships. In 2007 he finished third in the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas with Tresor. A year later he won the bronce medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing with the Swiss Team (9th in the individual) with Jalisca Solier. He became European Team Champion in 2009, and won the following year with his precious mare in December 2010 the final of the Top 10 Rolex IJRC. Many other victories followed at several Grand Prix, including up to now three major victories at CHI Geneva (2006, 2013 and 2015) as well as in Zurich, Lyon, Rotterdam or Cannes.

In 2011, the paths of Steve Guerdat and Nino des Buissonnets crossed. Urs Schwarzenbach decides to buy Nino and to entrust him to the Swiss show jumper. Already soon after the two form a winning pair and get recognized at the most prestigious international competitions and tournaments like Lyon, Helsinki or Stuttgart. On August 8, 2012, they together climb to Olympus and the top of the podium at the Olympic Games in London and thus write Swiss and international sports history.

A year later Steve Guerdat, again with Nino des Buissonnets, wins the Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva, a tournament where he has already won nine major competitions and which always has a special place in his heart.

Known for the successful development of the careers of his horses, Steve Guerdat is also entering the world famous championships of Aachen and Calgary, two tournaments, which form together with the CHI Geneva the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping.

In 2015 the Jurassic rider saved the victory in the finals of the World Cup in Las Vegas with Albführen's Paille de la Roque, a title he won again the following year in Gothenburg with Corbinian, standing on the top step of the podium for the second time after he finished already twice second in 2012 and 2013, then with Nino des Buissonnets.

2016 is the year of the Olympic Games in Rio. Steve is back with Nino des Buissonnets to defend his title, which he won four years earlier in London. And Steve Guerdat, together with his faithful buddy, is again among the best in the singles final. Together, they manage to qualify for the jump-off and finish fourth in the final classification, just a breath or one touch away from renewly the medals.

Shortly after his return from Brazil, Steve Guerdat decides that the Rolex Grand Prix of the CHI Geneva 2016 will be the last Concours of Nino. On 11 December, the Jurassier and his Selle Français take part for the last time in an international competition and qualify for the jump-off (12th place in the final classification).
Following this Grand Slam competition, 9500 spectators in Geneva wave goodbye to Nino in a moving farewell ceremony in honor of the champion. An unforgettable moment that will be remembered forever.
Paille de la Roque, the mare with whom Steve won the 2015 World Cup, will leave the sport as well a few weeks later at the CSI-W in Zurich.

The next major goal of Steve Guerdat are the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, where he will try to defend his title. A performance that has never been achieved before in show jumping.

After ten years in Herrliberg in the stables of Urs E. Schwarzenbach, Steve decides at the beginning of 2017 to acquire his own facilities. And he finds the well-known riding center of Elgg (Canton Zurich), which until then is owned by the legendary Swiss showjumper Paul Weier. The Swiss champion moves to Elgg in February 2017: "It was my dream to own my own stables, and it has come true here. This place is a paradise for horses."

2017

Like other years before, 2017 was a varied and colourful year too, with a lot of work to be done in Steve's new facility and stables in Elgg near Zurich.

Painting, carpentry, gardening, our champion spent countless hours refurbishing the Elgg Equestrian Centre, and it’s barely to be recognised since then.

Despite his countless "horse-less" engagements at home, Steve had a brilliant year in 2017, culminating in another bronze medal for his team at the European Championships in Goeteborg during the summer.

A few months earlier, Steve and Albführen's Bianca finished 8th in the World Cup Final in Omaha before achieving a number of top performances and results throughout the season.

Let's just mention the victories in the Grand Prix of San Giovanni in Italy (Hannah), Lummen in Belgium (Hannah), Villach in Austria (Corbinian), Roeser in Luxemburg (Catalina), Dettighofen in Germany (Albführen's Happiness), Helsinki in Finland (Alamo), Stuttgart in Germany (Hannah) or Falsterbo in Sweden (Hannah). 

In addition to this brilliant season, Corbinian received the award for the «Best Horse of the Year 2016» in Zurich and Steve was named «Mr. Nations Cup» by the Swiss weekly journal «Pferdewoche», honored as rider with the most clear rounds in the Nations Cup.

What an exceptional season – but the best is yet to come.

The year 2020 started with a bang for Steve who won the two Grand Prix of the CSI-W in Basel with Victorio des Frotards and for the first time at this tournament.

On January 1st, 2020, Steve had to leave his World No 1 seat to his buddy Martin Fuchs, but for only one month before taking it back in February, and for rest of the whole year. 

One month later, Victorio shines again by winning the Bordeaux World Cup, one of the beautiful trophies still missing on Steve's list of victories.

The rest of the season is marked by a series of cancellations as a result of the unspeakable Covid 19 pandemic.

No more competitions, no more trips, life can change very quickly and maybe bring us back to other priorities.

Some brave organisers nevertheless had the courage to take their fate into their own hands, notably those from Saint-Tropez-Grimaud who organised several weeks of jumping competitions, in fact the only ones that took place during the summer period.