In conversation with Martin Fuchs

I was able to celebrate many wonderful successes and I am very grateful for this time. I try not to see defeats as such, but to improve and create an even closer bond with my horses.

It is difficult to compare equestrian sport with other top sport disciplines because we are working with a living being. Trust is central to this. Like humans, horses also have their own character and sometimes have good days, sometimes bad. The optimum situation is when the rider can compensate for a weakness in the horse and vice versa. Perfect teamwork is only possible with a lot of trust - that's what fascinates me.

Horses are very sensitive animals and this teaches us as humans to be more balanced and to control our emotions. Frustration is absolutely taboo with a horse, for example when I'm frustrated because things aren't going so well. The animal senses this immediately and then it becomes difficult. I grew up in a show jumping family, and even as a child my parents taught me to consistently put aside negative feelings when interacting with the horse. If things don't go according to plan, I focus instead on what is the best thing I can learn from it.

During the tournament season, I'm usually on the road from Thursday to Sunday. If the events are in Switzerland, I spend two or three days at home in between. That really helps me to recover. In the sauna too, of course.

Firstly, the sauna area should be beautifully integrated into the living area and have a spacious relaxation lounge. The wellness area is located in the bedroom next to the adjoining bathroom. And: the sauna absolutely had to have a window! Because from the apartment on the top floor, we have a great view of the village and the surrounding beautiful landscape.

Very different. When I come home in the evening between tournaments, I switch on the sauna and just want to wind down, arrive, relax and then sleep in my own bed. If I come home early, I take a lot of time for the ritual, preferably together with my partner. We light candles, make a big jug of tea with ginger, mint and herbs. Then we have several sauna sessions, showering in between and relaxing on the lovely couch. Two hours can pass.

We offer our horses as much exercise and movement as possible. They spend time on the horse walker, are ridden or are put out to pasture. A horse should be outside as much as possible and have plenty of exercise. And yes, there is a wellness program, individually tailored to each horse: Grooming, creaming, massaging or applying ice bandages is very time-consuming and important, especially at competitions.