Edouard Schmitz: The Determination of a Rider Born to Dream Big

An interview with the young and talented Swiss show jumper making his debut at the Morocco Royal Tour

As we approach the grand finale in El Jadida — the last stop of the 2025 Morocco Royal Tour — it’s the perfect time to look back a few weeks, to Tetouan, where it all began. For Edouard Schmitz, it was his very first time competing in the Morocco Royal Tour, and the enthusiasm he showed at the opening leg says a lot about the spirit with which he approaches every new challenge.

It was there, far from the spotlight of a final he couldn’t yet imagine, that Edouard spoke candidly, with the honesty and hunger for the future of someone still chasing his dreams.

He didn’t yet know that a week later in Rabat he would take a prestigious third place in the Grand Prix, but his words already hinted at everything that now makes him one of the most exciting young talents in international show jumping.

Where It All Began: “As a child, I just wanted to be around animals”

Every true passion starts with something simple. For Edouard Schmitz, born in 1999 and now among the brightest names on the world stage, that spark was animals.
“I’ve always been fascinated by animals,” he recalls. “I loved them deeply as a child, and I think I owe that in part to my grandmother. We used to go and watch them together — it became our thing.”

That curiosity soon turned into a discovery:
“I realised quite early that there was only one sport where you could truly work together with an animal. At first, my parents didn’t want me to start riding, but I insisted for years, tried other sports… and eventually they let me get on a horse. I’ve never looked back since.”

And like many children with a dream, Edouard had his defining moment:
“We’re lucky to have the Geneva Horse Show. I used to go watch it every year, and I remember seeing riders who are still my idols today — people like Steve Guerdat — and thinking: ‘This is what I want to do.’”

Cortino 46: The Horse That Said “I’ve Got This”

Every rider has a horse that leaves a mark on their career. For Schmitz, that horse was Cortino 46.
“It’s hard to pick just one horse, but the one that probably played the most important role for me was Cortino. I was fifteen when I started riding him, and together we competed in five youth championships.”

With Cortino came the first major milestones:
“Thanks to him, I achieved my first results in a four-star Grand Prix and fulfilled my dream of competing at a five-star show. With Cortino, it felt like when we entered the ring, he was telling me, ‘Don’t worry, I’ve got this.’ It was a special bond, and I’d give a lot to have a horse like him in my stable again.”

Trust and Chemistry: “It’s Like Building a Human Relationship”

The bond between horse and rider is the heart of this sport. For Edouard, building it takes time, consistency, and sensitivity:
“It’s like creating a connection with another person. To build trust, you need to be predictable. The horse must know what to expect from you: if you react a certain way in one situation, you must do it every time. You can’t be calm one day and angry the next. They need to know you’ll take care of them and spend time with them.”

And just like in human relationships, chemistry plays a key role:
“There are horses you ride and instantly fall in love with, and others — even if they’re great horses — where you never quite reach that extra one percent.”

A Day in the Life of Edouard Schmitz

Behind the lightness and elegance we see in the ring lies a precise daily routine.
“At home, I start riding at 7:30 in the morning. I usually ride five horses in the morning, trying to work each of them for at least 45 minutes. I think it’s important to take the right amount of time without sticking to a rigid schedule — sometimes they need more time, sometimes less. You have to feel what’s needed in the moment.”

Afternoons are dedicated to the horses’ well-being — “they go out to pasture, I walk them” — and to the less glamorous but essential side of the job:
“There’s always office work to do: planning competition schedules, making sure entries are correct, dealing with accounting and invoices. It’s not the most exciting part, but it has to be done,” he says with a smile.

“Pressure Is a Privilege”

Being among the best inevitably comes with expectations, but Edouard has learned to handle them with balance.
“I once heard a tennis player say that pressure is a privilege, and I really liked that. It’s an honour to be in a position where you need to prove yourself. I just try to enjoy what I do. If it goes well, great. If it doesn’t, so be it.”

For him, a mistake or a result doesn’t change anything essential:
“Whether I ride a good or a bad round, I’m still the same person. And if my horse knocks down a rail, I still believe he’s a good horse. One result doesn’t change your life.”

Back to His Roots

In recent months, Edouard made the decision to move his base closer to Geneva — an important choice both personally and professionally.
“It was hard to leave the Fuchs family, with whom I spent a long time and who were like a second family to me. But I missed my roots, and this was an opportunity to be closer to home.”

The change has taught him a lot:
“It’s been interesting for me, as an athlete, to be a bit more independent, to make my own mistakes when it comes to horse management and organisation. The results haven’t always been what we hoped for, but I think I’ve learned a lot over the past year.”

Thomas Fuchs: A Mentor for Life

The relationship with Thomas Fuchs remains a cornerstone of Schmitz’s career:
“I was seventeen when I moved to train with him, and he’s played a huge role in my journey. He put so much effort and passion into my development and made tough decisions for my own good — like telling me not to go to a show I wanted to compete in or not to ride a particular horse in a certain class. Even though we work a bit less together now, he will always be an incredibly important person to me.”

Paris 2024: “A Lifelong Dream”

The year 2024 marked a major milestone for Edouard: competing at the Paris Olympic Games as a reserve rider.
“It had been my dream since I was a kid. Just being there was an achievement. It was a special week: the Swiss team didn’t get the results we hoped for in the team event, and that situation opened the door for me to ride. On one hand, I was disappointed for my teammates, but on the other, I was thrilled to be able to compete.”

The greatest joy was sharing that moment with his loved ones:
“My family and friends were all there. Achieving one of my dreams gave me a lot of motivation and confidence for the future. Even though the last two years haven’t been the best of my career, this shows that if you keep working hard and surround yourself with the right people, anything is possible.”

Training Like a True Athlete

In a sport where the horse is also the athlete, Schmitz stresses how essential the rider’s physical preparation is:
“I train every day. I do 20 minutes of stretching in the morning and 20 in the evening, I run whenever I can, and I focus on exercises for the key areas riders need — like the back and adductors. I do it to prevent injuries and improve mobility in the saddle.”

He adds an interesting thought:
“Being too strong can actually be a disadvantage. In show jumping, you need to give signals to the horse in the most sensitive way possible. It’s better to be light and agile.”

Looking Ahead: “Los Angeles Is the Goal”

The dream remains the same as it was when he was a child:
“My long-term goal hasn’t changed — I want to achieve a great result at the Olympics. To do that, I need to find top horses and build a stable that will allow me to reach that goal.”

And the path is clear:
“Right now, my focus is on Los Angeles. If along the way I have horses ready for other goals, I’ll pursue them, but I don’t want to sabotage my chances for the big dream by chasing something else in the meantime.”

Photo © MRT / Morgan Froment

By Alessandra Ceserani

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