Steve Guerdat and Gothenburg Horse Show– a love story

Tomas Torgersen talks about the jury's motives for selecting World Cup finalist and Olympic medallist Steve Guerdat. 

– We have a lot of legends in the Hall of Fame and there are even more that we will pay tribute to over time. Steve Guerdat is and has been fantastic as a rider here at the Gothenburg Horse Show for many, many years. He has won two World Cup finals in Gothenburg, and we think he is a role model for many other riders. His plan with the horses, his long-term approach, sustainability and care for his horses, his way of managing the competition calendar and his attitude towards our sport. We in the jury think it is outstanding. That is why Steve Guerdat is well deserving of a place in the Gothenburg Horse Show Hall of Fame. 

- Steve Guerdat has been an ambassador for the World Cup and a pioneer for active horse welfare over the years. His forward-looking plan for the horses gives the horses the chance to develop over time and he does not overdo things like letting the horses compete too much. It is becoming increasingly important in top sport to compete moderately, and more people should follow Steve Guerdat's good example. 

Steve Guerdat himself received the news of the honorary award with both pride and joy. 

– I am actually very proud. It is something that really makes me both emotional and happy, especially because it is here in Gothenburg. I always say that Gothenburg is the heart of the World Cup for me, and I mean it. I have always felt that way and it has only been strengthened over time, long before I had great success here. 

– I have had a lot of success in Gothenburg. It is special because I know that equestrian sport is big in Sweden, one of the main sports in the country. Sweden is one of the strongest nations with many fantastic riders, successful riders that I have looked up to. For many years I have been a big fan of Rolf Göran Bengtsson and Peder Fredericson for example, and Henrik von Eckermann who has won so much in recent years. 

– It means a lot to me to be part of the history of the sport in a place that I have a close connection to thanks to the sport of show jumping that I love. I am a person who is quite emotional and an honour like this means a lot to me. There are many things that I don't feel anything about at all but when an announcement like this comes from the right place and the right people then it means a lot to me. 

Gothenburg Horse Show and Steve Guerdat over the years 

He has been faithful to the World Cup throughout his career and took his first podium place in 2007 with a third place in Las Vegas. In Gothenburg he was first seen in 2008, still only 25 years old and already qualified for his second World Cup final with the stallion Tresor placed seventh. 

When he returned to Gothenburg in 2013 for the final with his Olympic gold medalist from London 2012, the fantastic Nino des Buisonnets, and only came second, it was not a cheerful Guerdat at first. He had also been second in the final the year before, so of course everyone can understand it in sporting terms, “only second”. But to become world number one and a winner requires fighting spirit, a winning mentality and Guerdat has shown to have both in abundance repeatedly over the years. 

There was more of the big smile we have seen from time to time when he, together with Albführens Paille, won the qualifying competition in Scandinavium in front of thousands of cheering spectators. That year the final was held in Las Vegas and here came the redeeming victory for Steve Guerdat. The genie was out of the bottle and in the following years there were to be more final victories centred around the Gothenburg Horse Show and Scandinavium's legendary audience atmosphere. In 2016 Steve Guerdat was back with a new fantastic horse in Corbinian and in front of a cheering audience and full stands they took another victory. 

During the 2017 European Championships, Steve Guerdat rode in the Swiss team at Ullevi and returned to the world cup qualifier competition in 2018 with Alamo. When the finals were last held in Gothenburg in 2019, Steve Guerdat and Alamo struck gold again with a victory in show style, flawless over three final rounds. Now there was a speech on the podium where he praised the audience and champagne blasting  and the widest smile. Together with Alamo he rode lap after lap for glory and the cheers never waned and Steve Guerdat hardly wanted to leave the magical Scandinavium arena. 

This year Steve Guerdat is back at the Gothenburg Horse Show with his best horses and competes to qualify for the final, which for the first time since 2010 will be held in his home country of Switzerland. In April there will be World Cup Final in Basel and Steve Guerdat wants to be on the start list. 

Facts Steve Guerdat and the world cup 

15 World Cup finals with six podium placings 

4 World Cup finals in Gothenburg with two victories and one runner-up placing 

3 World Cup Final victories in total 

2 runner-up placings and one third placing 

First horse in a world cup final 2008 in Las Vegas Tresor (BWP born 1996 stallion by Papillon Rouge x Laudanum xx, bred by Johan Lannoo)  

Gothenburg starts for Steve Guerdat 

2008 Final, 7th place with Tresor 

2013 Final runner-up with  Nino des Buisonnets 

2015 World cup qualifier victory with  Albführens Paille 

2016 Final victory with Corbinian 

2017 EC in Gothenburg 

2018 World cup qualifier with   Alamo 

2019 Final victory with Alamo