SOPHIE ST.CLAIR
&
WHO’s NEXT
SHOWJUMPING Manifattura VALOR talks to Sophie St.Clair. Already a successful rider, horse lover & a young woman with class and elegancy, Sophie St.Clair’s newest accomplishment is joining the Manifattura VALOR family as a US show jumping ambassador.
Here, she talks to Manifattura VALOR about horses, passion, dreams and how she manages to become a professional rider. Manifattura VALOR is proud to cooperate with such an ambitious and amazing young showjumper and her talented horse Ottavia des Hayettes.
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We know that you want to be a professional rider one day. What is the special feeling about this plan and how did it come about? First, I love horses and always have since the day I rode my grandmother’s mare on a lead line in her pasture. I have found so much enjoyment in learning to train my own horses as well as training other horses when they need some assistance. The process of learning what each horse needs to be successful is interesting to me. I hope this is something that I will have the fortune to continue learning for a lifetime. As I grow, I’d like to be a rider that people feel they can trust with the care of their horses. I know I can help provide the mileage necessary for them to become a successful equine competitor at what ever level the horse is capable of achieving. I’m also a very competitive person. I love the challenge and the pressure of competition. The more people in the class the better. I know in those classes if I rode well and placed that I have accomplished something good that day. That’s a great feeling. Living in Southern California provides endless days of perfect weather where I can enjoy riding outside year round. Nothing makes me more happy than spending time with the horses. It’s where I love to be.
Did you have a key moment, when you noticed that you want to ride and nothing else? In 2009, when I was 10 years old, I went to a big “away” show for the first time. I was with my trainer David Sterckx and we went to the Del Mar
International in Del Mar, CA. The grand prix was on Saturday night and it attracted all the big professional riders in the Western United States. I was so excited to see these riders and thrilled by seeing them jump so big. The open air covered arena is about a 1/2 mile from the beach. As the night progressed, fog from the ocean began to roll in pretty heavily. It gave the arena a dreamy quality and my favorite riders took on a bigger than life hero status. I rode every jump with them and imagined what it would feel like to do that myself. I really remember thinking “Wow, this is the life. That’s what I want to be.” How was the first ride on Ottavia and how was the beginning of your partnership? When we first started together I didn’t own Ottavia. She belonged to one of my trainers. I began riding her and found she was very strong, had a powerful jump and a huge buck. Our beginning was challenging. In fact, early on in our partnership she spooked and bucked me off. I shattered my elbow in three places! This made me more determined to figure her out though. We began to trust each other more every day. We developed a partnership and with every show began to find more success. Ottavia has a heart of gold and really wants to try her best every time. She’s very special. Now we are so in tune with each other. She can still be spooky and crazy but now I just laugh at her when she does that. I love her so much. Why did you want to collaborate with Manifattura VALOR and how did you hear about the company? I am always looking for unique and interesting products that will allow me to express my individuality and my sensibility. Manifattura Valor is one of the most beautiful luxury equestrian products I have ever seen. There is nothing like it in the marketplace. The beautiful designs are striking. It draws attention from everyone who sees them. The handmade process brings a uniqueness to every piece. Equally as interesting is the sustainable approach MV uses when planning its product line for each year. I appreciate that MV participates in the purchase of wool from an ancient migration of sheep in the Alps which
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has been named a UNESCO World Heritage event. Beauty, Design, Quality, Heritage. What is not to love? Which products do you like most and why? I love the saddle pads. They are a luxury product with a distinctive look unseen here in the United States. So many people have already said to me, “Finally a wool pad for English riders!” How does it feel riding pure wool products and did you notice the advantages? The functionality of wool pads is unmatched. It regulates heat and helps to naturally cool my horse. It conforms to my horse and reduces the risk of any dry spaces under saddle. How do you imagine the collaboration with the brand in future? Manifattura Valor has created a line of products that allow equestrians and their equine partners to express an exquisite lifestyle. I would love to see the MV brand continue to build and gain more recognition for it’s beauty and functionality. I believe I can help bring recognition to this brand through photography and video of a riders life using their products at home in training as well as in the competition ring. I would like to attract other equestrians to their stunning products. This will make me very happy. It’s exciting to be a part of a
brand that is growing and developing! Which European show jumping event would you love the most to take part at in future? To narrow it down is very hard but if I must I would say: Paris Masters, Global Champions Tour Monaco and CHIO Aachen. Do you have a European show jumping idol and why? There are so many! In fact, I follow the Europeans almost more than my favorite American riders! Scott Brash, Marcus Ehning, Marco Kutscher, Penelope Leprevost, Jane Richard Philips, Daniel Deusser, Bertram Allen, Gregory Wathelet, Ludger Beerbaum,
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Meredith Michaels Beerbaum, Edwina Tops Alexander, Eric Navet. How much more space do I have? They all have amazing qualities that I admire but they are all so different one from another. Do you ride also sometimes other disciplines? I take Dressage classes with Ottavia to work on all the things that will help give us an edge in the show ring. Classes are won and lost between the fences. And, I am taking my first polo lesson. I won’t be riding Ottavia for that but I’m really looking forward to it! Getting outside my comfort zone always gives me an opportunity to learn something new.
Sophie will show at HITS Desert Circuit Feb.10-14 2016. GOOD LUCK! Keep your fingers crossed!
Photo credits: Bret St.Clair Photography