No nosebands, no martingales: meet the five-star rider ‘keeping things simple’

French showjumper Grégory Cottard, 44, has been enjoying a winning streak recently, most notably winning the five-star grand prix at Bordeaux, France, with the striking mare Cocaine Du Val (Mylord Carthago HN x Si Tu Viens). But what really caught the eye during their winning performance was the tack Grégory was using – or rather lack of it.

Cocaine jumps 1.60m tracks without a martingale, or even a noseband, something that stems from her rider’s natural approach to the sport. Grégory holds “balance and well-being” high on his list of priorities when it comes to riding and managing his string of sport horses.

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Article written by: Jennifer Donald