Maksymilian Wechta: “For me, wearing the Polish colors is something really important”

At the opening stage of the Morocco Royal Tour 2025 in Tetuan, we caught up with Maksymilian Wechta, one of Poland’s most successful show jumpers. From family beginnings in breeding to competing on the world’s biggest stages, Wechta shared his journey, philosophy, and advice for the next generation of riders.

From motorbikes to horses

Wechta’s path to the saddle was not a straight one.
“Actually, it started by my father,” he recalls. “He was never a rider, but all his life his dream was to have a stable. When he was a young boy, he loved horses, he lived in the village, and he was always next to the stable. So his dream was to build a stable. At the beginning, I was not so enthusiastic about horses—I was more thinking about motorbikes. But later I started to ride, and I enjoyed it.”

Ponies came first, but only briefly. “With ponies, I was not riding too long, only one or two years. Then my trainer said I should start with bigger horses. Since I was fourteen, I was already riding big horses.”

The biggest moments on the international stage

Wechta has already ticked many of the sport’s boxes—European Championships, World Championships, and even the Olympic Games.
“I was on almost every big show reachable for me. I just need to collect the World Cup Final,” he says.

But when asked which competition stands out most, his answer is immediate:
“For sure, no doubt, the Olympic Games. It’s totally different. That’s the show when not only the equestrian world, but all sport and the whole world is watching. Often people ask if I would prefer to have an Olympic medal or a World Championship medal. I always answer: Olympic medal. If you do it, everybody in your country speaks about it. It’s another level.”

He adds: “Everything was super organized, and the venue next to the palace was something amazing. It’s a different level of sport.”

Riding for Poland

For Wechta, patriotism is a strong motivation.
“It’s always something special to wear your country’s colors,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a normal Nations Cup in Norway or Denmark, or the Olympics. But at the Olympics, you could really feel this was something different. You wear the clothes not only from the Polish Equestrian Federation, but from the Polish Olympic Committee. In the Olympic Village, you meet other sportsmen—like the Polish volleyball team, who are really strong. For me, as a patriot, to have the Polish symbols on my jacket is really important.”

A family system: breeding and producing horses

Breeding is part of the Wechta family DNA. His father started it, his brother now oversees it, and many of his top horses come from home.
“I’m not the rider who really buys ready horses,” Maksymilian explains. “Maybe up to eight years old, but normally, I prefer to buy foals or three-year-olds and build them up. Mystique, my main horse now, we bought him very cheap as a foal. We started all his career ourselves—from the first saddle to now winning the 3* Grand Prix in Poland and the Polish Championships. That’s important for me because then I know everything about the horse: how he behaves, what his problems are.”

The same path was followed with Chepettano, his most famous partner, and others in his current string. “All of them we bought as foals and built up to 1.50m. This system works out. It helps me, the grooms, the vets, everyone—because there’s no hidden history.”

Breeding philosophy and stallion station

Although his brother leads the breeding program, Wechta has clear views.
“What always was our highlight was Holsteiner breeding,” he says. “We bought a lot in Holstein or at the Körung in Elmshorn. But recently we opened a little bit for other bloodlines.”

Managing a stallion station while competing, however, proved complicated.
“The atmosphere in the stallion stable is totally different. Stallions who are breeding behave worse, and the others feel that. Also, not every horse is strong enough for breeding—it can be bad for their joints. So we agreed that we only breed with stallions once they retire from sport, and we usually send them to other stations. It’s healthier and safer.”

The horse of his life

Asked about his heart horse, Wechta doesn’t hesitate.
“I think Chepettano—no doubt about that. I was at the Europeans, the World Championships, and the Olympics with him. He’s the horse that kept me at the higher level. So far, he’s for sure the horse of my life.”

Chepettano is currently recovering from injury. “He’s on a good way. I hope at the beginning of next year he will be ready again, maybe even for the World Championships. If Mystique continues to develop, maybe I will even have two horses to choose from.”

Learning never stops

Even with his experience, Wechta continues to seek growth.
“I try to learn all the time. I work now with Bruce Goodin, the New Zealand legend. We started one year ago, at the beginning of the Olympic year. It’s unbelievable—every time I meet him, I get something new. He showed me a new quality of riding, dressage, and jumping.”

Advice for the next generation

For young riders dreaming of the big stage, Wechta emphasizes balance and joy.
“It’s very important to be happy doing what we do. Of course, there is pressure—from parents, the environment, sports, even boyfriends or girlfriends. That’s why I work with a mental trainer. Every month we have meetings to train concentration and new methods. The last time, we spoke about how important it is to just love what we do and be happy.

“You shouldn’t do things that don’t make you happy. Of course, not every moment is easy, but if you come to a show, you must know: I am here to enjoy it. That’s the first big step. Then comes patience. Everybody says training and patience—but it’s true. And the most important is to enjoy our equestrian life.”

A rider shaped by family, passion, and patriotism

From the family farm in Poland to the world stage, Maksymilian Wechta has built a career rooted in hard work, deep bonds with his horses, and a strong sense of national pride. With Chepettano on the road to recovery and Mystiquestepping up, the next chapter of his journey promises to be as exciting as ever.

Interview by Alessandra Ceserani – Written by Valentina Sozzi

Ph Stefano Secchi

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