Thursday, January 25, 2024
In the Swiss equestrian world, the youth development system plays a crucial role in training and supporting young talent. Léon Pieyre, a Swiss show jumper, was fortunate enough to benefit from this program. In this article, he shares the valuable lessons he learned from it, as well as the values and opportunities it provided him. Here is the inspiring story of this young rider of international caliber.
The youth development program aims to provide structured training and support for young Swiss equestrian talents. Established and supported by the national federation and the Straumann Family Foundation, this program was previously known as SYJA (Swiss Youth Jumping Academy) and was renamed this year SET (Swiss Equestrian Talents).
The main goal of this program is to provide opportunities for riders in the Children, Pony, Junior, and Young Rider categories to support their development and performance in the sport. The benefits of this youth development program are numerous. Students have access to regular training sessions led by national coaches, as well as professionals from abroad, such as Peter Markne, a Swedish dressage coach. In addition, riders receive guidance at national and international competitions from these same coaches, providing professional support during crucial events. The SET also provides financial support for travel abroad, making it easier for young talents to participate in international competitions and thereby broadening their experience.
In addition to the competitive aspects, the program includes team-building activities and training sessions designed to strengthen team spirit, cohesion, and the participants’ general skills.
Overall, Switzerland’s youth development system is committed to shaping the next generation of talented riders by providing an environment conducive to learning, personal development, and success in the world of equestrian sports.
Léon highlights the importance of this system in the training of professional riders, emphasizing that it is not just about developing equestrian skills, but about shaping men and women who are true horse people. The values of respect and attentiveness toward horses are at the heart of this training, while also offering young talents the opportunity to work alongside renowned professionals. These experiences shape a structured approach to working with horses and managing one’s career—skills that are crucial for reaching the top. The SET stands out for its commitment to training multidisciplinary athletes who are ready to tackle the various challenges of elite-level competition. In addition to equestrian activities, the program opens doors to meetings and training sessions with professionals from diverse fields such as finance and business, and also provides access to cutting-edge athletic and medical testing at a sports clinic.
I was taught the values of respect and listening to the horse, which are very important to me. On top of that, we're allowed to rub shoulders with real professionals, which gives us a chance to develop a structure and organization that can help us reach the top level.
Léon Pieyre
According to him, this entire experience also helps foster a strong team spirit, which is particularly evident during national championships, where unity and mutual support are the keys to success. These competitive moments strengthen the bonds between the riders, creating strong relationships and intense shared emotions.
The Nations' Cups are clearly my favorite events because we're really a team, we fight for each other and we support each other to get a good result, it's always very exciting!
Léon Pieyre
Although the European Junior Championships are no longer an option for Léon, new horizons are opening up with the CSIO 3* events. These competitions offer a tremendous opportunity for young riders. His goal, therefore, is to compete in these CSIO events and earn a spot on the national team. At the same time, Léon is also aiming to qualify for the Swiss Elite Championship, with the goal of putting in a strong performance. If everything goes as planned, he hopes this will earn him a spot in the prestigious 5* event in Geneva at the end of the year. It’s a dream he cherishes deeply.
I'm no longer a young rider, so I can't take part in the European championships for up-and-coming riders, but I'm planning to take part in CSIO 3*, which are great competitions that give young riders (you need at least one -25-year-old in the team) the opportunity to take part in CSIO and earn a place on the national team.
Léon Pieyre
The young Swiss talent takes a realistic view of the challenge of earning a spot on the Swiss elite team, aware that Switzerland counts two of the world’s best riders among its ranks. Opportunities to join the first team are therefore limited. Rather than comparing himself to others his age who are already competing at the highest levels, he prefers to focus his energy on his own progress, making the most of the resources at his disposal. With this in mind, he plans to establish a strategic competition schedule that prioritizes the health and fitness of his horses. Certain competitions, such as the CSIO events, are of particular importance and require him to perform at his very best. He views these events as opportunities not to be missed, while keeping in mind that Switzerland offers chances to those who deserve them.
Switzerland is a country that offers opportunities to riders who deserve them, and I'm sure that if that's the case for me, then I'll get my chance too!
Leon Pieyre
After his time at the Swiss Equestrian Talents, Léon Pieyre reflects on his experience. He is fortunate to have his horses at the family stables,the Écuries de La Renfile in Geneva, where he shares this passion with his two sisters and his mother. The atmosphere there is particularly pleasant. The stables, located on the edge of the woods, offer an idyllic setting where Léon visits almost every day.
For the past seven years, Leon has been working closely withJean-Maurice Bonneau, a collaboration he describes as an incredible opportunity. Drawing on his wealth of experience, Bonneau shares his valuable knowledge with Leon. He also works regularly with coaches from the Swiss junior national team, such as Thomas Balsiger and Christian Sottas.
While acknowledging that he has exceptional horses, Léon remains aware of the challenges of elite-level competition. He plans to expand his stable and hopes to find people willing to join him on this journey—an adventure in which passion, commitment, and support are the cornerstones of his pursuit of excellence.
