Victoria Sprogis: Malta’s Emerging Showjumper Building Her Career in Spain
From Malta to Spain, Victoria Sprogis is quickly becoming a name to watch in European showjumping. With a growing string of talented horses, ambitions to compete at five-star level, and an upcoming debut at the Global Champions Tour, the young rider is steadily carving out her place in the sport.
Her journey has not been straightforward. Injury, setbacks, and the challenge of building a career without coming from a traditional horse family have shaped her path. Through it all, her focus has remained clear: build trust with her horses and keep progressing one step at a time.
A lifelong connection with horses
For Victoria, horses were part of her life long before she entered a competition ring.
“Since I was a baby, all my toys were horses. I was always asking my parents to let me ride, but they never did. Then I went to a summer camp in Switzerland and sat on a horse for the first time. Since then, it became an obsession.”
Although the dream of becoming a professional rider had always been there, it took a major life event to push her to fully commit.
“I always wanted to do it professionally, but I wasn’t brave enough to take the risk. Breaking my leg last year changed that. I had time to reflect on what makes me happy, and I realized showjumping is what I want to dedicate myself to.”
Managing a team of 12 showjumping horses
Now based in Spain, Victoria trains and competes with 12 horses, ranging from experienced Grand Prix mounts to young horses she is producing herself.
Unlike many riders, she has never sold a horse. Her connection to each one is personal.
“I still have my first ponies. I’ve never sold a horse. They’ve always felt like family, and I’ve been lucky to build a different relationship with each one.”
Her training goes beyond the arena. She prioritizes trust through daily routines outside riding.
“I teach them tricks, take them walking in hand, and spend a lot of time with them outside the saddle. I think it changes everything in the ring because they trust you more.”
Kaiser De Roulard: The horse that changed everything
One horse stands out as a defining part of her career so far: Kaiser De Roulard.
The horse arrived in December 2024 after being purchased by her trainer. He came with emotional scars and a difficult past. Soon after, Victoria’s injury forced her away from competition, giving her unexpected time to work with him from the ground.
“He came to us very scared and with a lot of trauma. Two months later I broke my leg, so I had nearly half a year just with him every day. We built trust during that time.”
When she returned to the sport, both rider and horse were rebuilding confidence.
“We were both struggling in our own ways. We really built each other back up. Without him, I don’t think I would have had my first Grand Prix clear or my first 1.40m Grand Prix.”
Current top horses and future stars
Victoria’s main horse for bigger classes is Notis, a Polish Sport Horse with experience in the and the for Poland and Spain.
She is also developing Liandro H, a 10-year-old by, as a future top-level horse.
“He’s like a lion. He fights for his rider. That’s something you can’t teach, and it makes him special.”
Another promising addition is Jetlag Maciais, a seven-year-old with significant potential.
“He’s still green for his age, but we think he has a very big future. I’m enjoying seeing him develop.”
Coming back stronger after injury
Last year, a training accident nearly changed everything.
“One of my horses fell on top of me. I crushed the bone in both sides of my knee and damaged ligaments and tendons.”
The physical recovery was difficult, but the mental challenge was even greater.
“It was hard watching everyone else progress while I was at home. I had to change my mindset and focus on the positives. I used the time to connect more with my horses and come back stronger.”
She believes the experience made her mentally stronger for the demands of elite sport.
“Showjumping is mentally demanding. Going through something like that teaches you how to handle setbacks in competition and with horses later on.”
Preparing for the Global Champions Tour in St Tropez and Paris
June marks a major step in Victoria’s career as she prepares to compete at the in and.
It will be her first event at this level.
“It’s my first event of this level, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
The original plan was to take Notis for the 1.45m Grand Prix, but an injury changed that plan.
“He injured his tendon, so that fell through. I’m still deciding which horses will go, but I’d like to jump the 1.40m Grand Prix in the one-star and give the two-star a good go. It’s an important event for me to continue making my name in the sport.”
Long-term goals in international showjumping
Victoria’s ambitions extend well beyond this season.
In the short term, she aims to compete in ranking classes and Young Rider Grand Prix events. In the long term, her goal is clear.
“I want to work my way up to five-star Grand Prixs and compete at shows around the world while producing horses to the highest level.”
Young horse development is also a key focus. One of her mares is expecting a foal this summer, and Victoria already sees it as part of her future.
“I’ve got a foal due this summer, and I’m already making plans for its future. Producing young horses is something I really want to do.”
Building a family stable in Spain
Beyond competition, Victoria and her family have a shared dream of building a stable and training program of their own.
“My family and I have always wanted our own stable. I’d like to have students too. I love teaching because it teaches me a lot as well. We want to build something that’s completely focused on horses.”
As she steps into bigger international classes, Victoria Sprogis is combining ambition with patience, two qualities that define top riders. With strong horses, a growing reputation, and a clear long-term vision, the Maltese rider based in Spain is a name set to rise in the years ahead.
Ph Gus Duprat
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