Astier Nicolas and Piaf De B’Neville

Team Gold and Individual Silver Rio 2016

As the days tick away to the upcoming Olympics and everyone wages their bets on who will be the next team and individual Olympic medallists, HQ had the opportunity to chat with a previous medal winner from the Rio 2016 Olympics. Astier Nicolas, who rode Piaf De B’Neville (Ben) for France, left Rio with an individual silver medal and a team Gold for eventing! Their story might not start with “once upon a time” but it most certainly has its fairy-tale elements - an unlikely hero (Ben) on a great adventure in an enchanting setting with some little sparks of magic and of course a few surprising plot twists!

HQ: Tell us a little about yourself and how it all began?

Astier: I began because my mother at the time was hacking sometimes the horse of one of her friends and I was walking behind, so I quickly wanted to get on. I was a lazy boy. I hate walking! From there I got to try everything. There is a system in France, called Pony Club, but it is more of an equestrian centre, and at this equestrian centre, the lady in charge, who was a very good horsewoman made me try everything: eventing, dressage, jumping… I did the Pony French Championships in all three disciplines; I won in jumping, I came 3rd in eventing and I was 7th out of seven in dressage - so you understand - I was not made for dressage! I also tried pony racing, which I really loved, and I always wanted to be a jockey after that, but I was a bit tall. So, the closest was cross-country so I chose eventing, and afterwards what I loved about it was that the training of the horse is so comprehensive. There are very different things that you need to teach your horse from dressage to cross-country.

HQ: So, going back to 2016, you were selected for the French team, how long had you been working on that plan, or had you?

Astier: Well, I was working to ride at Badminton and Burley and to make it on the French team, yeah. But I was not like many, who were focused on the Olympics, until I did them. Now I can say I am focused on the Olympics because it is a huge experience, and it is very beneficial; it gives you a very good passport! So now I am working towards making it to the Olympics whereas before I was just focused on making it to the French Team. HQ: And tell us a little bit about Piaf De B’Neville Astier: Yeh, Ben was in my Pony Club. He was ridden by a kid, and I liked his canter. I found him very good. I liked him a lot. The kid sent him back to the breeder, because when he did his first event he got eliminated at number one and came back with a nose-bleed. Then, my first owner asked me what to buy, and he offered me one or two horses and I said, “I want this one” (Ben). We went to see him at the show where he was eliminated, but I said I was sure, and so we bought him. But you know, the horse always looked like a gentleman, and he never stopped after. He’s not a stopper, he is very brave with a big heart: a very good boy.

HQ: How did it feel when you were long listed for the Olympics? Were you confident of going to Rio then or not?

Astier: I was selected for the Europeans the year before, so I was actually already on the short-list then. I didn’t go to the Europeans because of the team vet’s decision, but I took my revenge - we went to Pau and won the 5*, and then in the spring we won Chatsworth, the inaugural leg of the Event Rider Masters. So, yes, I was confident. I was not hoping; I was expecting to go (to Rio).

HQ: So, given that you were expecting to go, how did you prepare for it?

Astier: Well, I had just won Pau and Chatsworth, so I was doing really well with a very competitive field, so I didn’t change much… The best way to do it, is to stay cool and to do what you can do. You express your talent on the day, but in your plan, I don’t think you should change much.

HQ: Coming off the back of two wins you must have been feeling pretty mentally prepared as well?

Astier: I really made the point of taking these Olympics like it was a normal competition. Yes, it was in Brazil, but my horse had travelled well, and the rules of eventing are the same everywhere in the world where we compete. I purposefully did not enjoy the Olympic experience. I didn’t take time to admire it. I just focused on my event as if it were a normal event, even though it was really exotic. It is a really impressive thing, so I didn’t want to put any more pressure on myself. I wanted to stay relaxed and focused on my horse. Only after the win did I enjoy Brazil and the Olympics, but we went home the same day, so it was very short-lived. HQ: Talk us through the actual event day by day… Astier: After day 1 I think I was just outside the top ten (out of 65) lying 3rd out of the French team.

On day two we did nothing just a bit of cross-country practice. However, the team trainer made me jump angled verticals, but he (trainer) moved into the middle as I was jumping it, Ben got a fright, chipped in a stride and overreached, cracking the glue on his front hoof which we did not realise until 6pm! We tried to call France to find out which type of glue to use, but it was too late, so we put one type of glue on. In the morning I wanted to ride him because he is so sensitive, and I wanted to give him confidence after his scare the day before. The Olympic farriers (who were incredible), came to check on him and realised we had used the wrong glue! This was now an hour before my cross-country warm-up… I had planned to walk some more of the course, especially the tricky combination at number 6 which was very nerve-racking, and I was second to go, so I had no one to watch or hear about. I was going in blind. So, when I came back to my stable, everyone in the French team, even the jumpers were in there with the farriers trying to put tape on the foot, stick the shoe and the showjumpers even lent me an overreach band too: everyone was trying to get the shoe to stay on!

Normally, I like my horse before cross-country to be calm and relaxed, have a drink and pee.. but you can be sure my horse did neither with everyone in his stable! When I got on Ben, he was so slow and so tired, and so unrested! And Ben isn’t a very blood horse, he is very cool, and I started cross-country, and he wasn’t pulling, and I thought to myself, “Oh no, this is going to be long”… but he was actually very good!

HQ: Well, he must have been good because I think you were only one of three riders to go clear for jumping and time round the XC! So how did you feel going into the Showjumping?

Astier: Confident. I don’t remember this but apparently, one of our teammates had had a rail, and our Team Manager was counting the scores and stressing me and putting pressure on me, and I told him, “I’m going to get you your gold medal”. So, I was obviously pretty confident, not that I am like this at every show… I get stressed like everyone else, but on this day I felt pretty good. I remember when I did a clear round I sort of expected to be in Gold individually. I expected the others to mess up, but yeah…

HQ: But you ended with Team Gold and an Individual Silver! What was that feeling like?

Astier: Yeah, I was a bit upset because I had ridden badly in my second showjumping round, so that spoiled the moment! I was really happy with my team but frustrated with my riding for the individual.

HQ: So unfortunately, you were just out of the Olympic team this year, but what is next for you?

Astier: Finding a Paris Olympic winner! I was a kid when I chose Ben, and it was a fairy-tale but it’s not how you should proceed, so now I am more purposeful and professional in my choice. I need to find partners because I need a 7–9-year-old horse that will already be physically and technically mature to be ready for 2024. I have a 5 year old that I like for my 2028 Olympic horse, but he is quirky… He doesn’t really like to be ridden, but I think we might become friends.

HQ: Finally, what are your predictions for this year’s Olympic winners? And what kind of role do you think the new format with only 3 riders per team will have?

Astier: One of France’s top horses, a gold medallist at Rio, Qing Du Briot has just retired so that leaves us in a not as comfortable position as we would have wished. I believe in Tokyo the fast horses will be rewarded, because it is going to be very hot and humid, so you need a fit horse. I think the Brits are going to be difficult to beat, but they bring a young team with Tom McEwen and Laura Collett who are two excellent riders. The Germans are always on good form, even if they lost Ingrid Klimke. And you should never forget the New Zealanders with the Price team: Tim and Jonelle. For individual, I think Laura Collett could do something. She’s not a regular favourite, but maybe a first outsider? Michael Jung is always good, but his horse is not a great showjumper, so will he make it again after two rounds of showjumping?

And yes, with the new format, the Brits can be on super form, but a slip round a corner in the XC or a lame horse will mean team elimination. I think this year we could see some second zone countries on the podium due to the misfortunes of the leading countries! I’m quite happy to watch without competing - at least I’m not going to have to wear a mask in 37 degrees and 75% humidity!