Breeding Dreams and Riding High: El Maset

For over 25 years, El Maset has been a name associated with both family tradition and international success in the world of showjumping. What began as a passion project has evolved into a breeding program that produces horses capable of competing at the highest level. We sat down to talk about their philosophy, their challenges, and their vision for the future.

The Secret Ingredient to International Success

When asked Inma Roquet what makes El Maset horses stand out, the answer comes without hesitation: patience and passion.“It has been a very long process of selecting the good mares and the best stallions that worked with our mares, a bit of a trial/error process, really. What moved us was the passion for horses—my dad can spend two hours on the fields just looking at the 1-year-old foals, caressing them, analyzing their gallop, and their character.”But passion alone wasn’t enough. For her, the dream of competing at the highest level fueled every decision:“I always dreamed about being at the Spanish senior team and jumping Nation Cups.”

Riding Homebreds vs. Bought Horses

Few experiences compare to competing with a horse you’ve bred yourself. For El Maset, the difference lies in knowledge—and emotion.“We know the full story of the horses we bred ourselves, and I believe that’s a huge advantage when you are competing. Besides that, there is the romantic side of it; it feels like a double success when you get to jump at a high level with a homebred, as a breeder and as a rider.”She admits that victories with homebreds carry a special weight:”You love them in a special way, I guess, so it’s like sharing a victory with your family.”

Spotting a Top Showjumper Early

In a sport that requires both courage and precision, identifying future champions is as much instinct as it is science.“You can have an idea just at the beginning, as we start freejumping the horses or when they start competing. At that moment you see similarities to their siblings or relatives… but honestly, it’s hard to see if they can jump Ranking classes successfully until they are actually doing it.”

Tradition Meets Technology

El Maset embraces advanced breeding technologies, but always with a purpose.“The main reason we use modern science is to be able to breed with mares that are actively competing. Many years ago, we started with embryo transfers, which worked very well for us. In recent years, we have also been using ICSI, mainly to access top stallions such as Diamant de Semilly, Chacco Blue, and Kashmir Van Shuttershof.”This openness to innovation ensures El Maset remains competitive with Europe’s leading breeders.

Resilience After Injury and Motherhood

Setbacks are part of any sporting career, but for her, recovery has brought new perspective.“In December, I broke my leg and had to stay off riding for almost two months. It felt very long at the time, but in the end, it wasn’t so bad—I had more time with my family, and the horses got to rest during the winter.”Still, nothing compared to the challenge of balancing motherhood and competition:

“I have two kids, aged 3 and 5, and I was away from riding for almost two years. Back then, I thought it would be difficult to achieve a high-level competition after motherhood. It did take effort, but it was all worth it.”Looking back, she sees those breaks not as setbacks, but as motivation:”All that time away from riding taught me many things and only gave me more motivation to keep going.”

Balancing Rider and Breeder

Running a breeding program while competing internationally is no easy feat, but she believes the two roles feed each other.“Being involved in the sport myself helps us stay truly connected with what a horse needs to compete at a high level. It also allows me to scout the best horses currently competing, as well as the top stallions and mares.”

Decisions are made as a family effort:

“The first thing I do when I see a horse I really like at a show is check its breeding. Then I call my dad to get his opinion and see if we can use that stallion as well. My dad is in charge of communicating with the veterinarian and organizing all the mares and stallions, so once we’ve discussed it, he makes it happen.”

The Ideal El Maset Horse

When asked about the “dream horse” for the future, the answer is clear:“It would be a mare with a lot of blood, brave, careful, and scopey.”

Conclusion

El Maset’s story is one of family tradition, resilience, and an unwavering love for horses. With 25 years of breeding behind them, and a clear vision for the future, their horses continue to embody the perfect balance between passion and performance.

Valentina Sozzi- PH Curtsey of El Maset

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