ENGLISH TEXTS
trotting , even though sulky driving is incredibly exciting . At first , it ’ s like riding a moped — your eyes tear up . Then , as you improve , you ’ re better equipped , well-seated , and you know how to handle it . On a horse , the stress is different . It ’ s exhilarating , but there are days when you feel great and others when you don ’ t . Competition often comes in waves , both positive and negative . You have to ride the good ones . But training also brings incredible emotions .
G : Emotionally , how do flat , jump , and trotting races differ ? YF : They ’ re different and the same at the same time . As a trainer , it ’ s like life — you have favorites that stand out , and you can ’ t deny it . I ’ ve been lucky to have my share of great horses . It took me a while to realize it , though . The key is managing stress . People say a little stress is good ; I disagree . Stress paralyzes and causes ulcers , just like in horses . What matters is adrenaline .
G : Do you have any fears ? YF : In NH races , it ’ s hard not to . You always worry something might happen . That ’ s why I have very few high-level horses — I fear what might come next . I have some stress , yes . But again , I ’ d rather feed off adrenaline .
G : Can success ever become routine ? YF : Never ! The great thing about horses is there ’ s always a story — a horse you spotted , a co-owner joining the team , or a beloved owner . Above all , it ’ s a human experience . I love sharing what I have .
G : Is the emotion of winning a Group race much greater than a small provincial race ? YF : Yes , definitely … Especially if you ’ ve worked your way up from the bottom to take a horse to the top — it ’ s even more satisfying . Racing is all about setting goals . Still , anywhere you win , crossing the finish line first makes you feel strong . It ’ s an amazing feeling . I ’ m closing in on sixty wins this year ( 57 at the time of the interview , mid-December ), and I ’ m thrilled . My main goal is to maintain consistency .
G : Which victory stands out most in your career ? YF : There are several , of course . But the one that comes to mind is the Prix Finot this year with Kurasso Blue . I co-owned him with a friend ( Philippe-Georges Dumas ) who usually buys handicap or claiming horses . This was a long-time goal . We started him off in flat racing , and everything went as planned — a true joy . We sold him ( to Gordon Elliott ) because the offer was too good to refuse , but it was a truly rewarding victory . “ Jump racing is the most exhilarating “
G : Do you imagine yourself winning the Prix d ’ Amérique with Jushua Tree one day ? YF : No , I ’ m staying grounded . First , we need to win the Ténor de Baune ( on December 22 ) to qualify ( 1 ). But even now , it ’ s already a fantastic story . Jean-Michel ( Bazire ) and I know each other well . Hugues Rousseau knew I wanted a horse in his stable . We landed on Jushua Tree — not bad , right ? ( laughs ). Still , I can ’ t bring myself to believe I have a Prix d ’ Amérique horse . Jean-Michel does all the work . I think I ’ ll be more nervous than him . Watching from the sidelines , you have no control . But the adrenaline is definitely there .
Interview conducted on December 14
PAGE 79 Yannick Fouin and the entire team of Kurasso Blue , Prix Finot . © APRH
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By Serge Okey
BARBARA GUÉNET “ JUMP RACING , A DISCIPLINE APART “
The only rider to have triumphed in all racing disciplines in the same year , Barbara Guénet deserves a spot in the Guinness Book of Records . Who better than her to analyze the unique sensations of flat racing , jump racing , and trotting ?
“ Go , I do not ‘ hurdle ’ you .” Barbara Guénet could make this twist on a line from Corneille ’ s Le Cid her own . Her Rodrigue , her stage for supreme sensations , is the big leaps on the jumping courses . “ Jump racing is indescribable . The adrenaline is unmatched . The level of sensation makes it a discipline apart “. The first and still only rider to win in all specialties in a single year ( 2017 )— flat racing , hurdles , steeplechase , cross-country , harness trotting , and mounted trotting — this amateur jockey is uniquely qualified to weigh and compare the emotional weight of these different disciplines . As a jockey , her record is impressive : 98 wins in flat racing , 70 in jumps , 61 in harness trotting , 20 in mounted trotting , eight Cravache d ’ Or awards for female riders , the Fegentri Gold Spur ( amateur world championship ) in jumps ( 2013 , mixed ) and flat racing
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