By BN special correspondent
Photography: © private collection
At a recent Haras de Malleret online dressage auction, the studfarm’s commitment to show horses naturally – not prepared or pushed in any way – “maybe didn’t correspond to way people and potential buyers want to see horses presented today”, said Gérald Martinez.
Martinez also continued to outline the fact that there now seem to be at least one auction every week and the market is therefore becoming saturated. “Too much hope has been given to breeders. Three or four years ago the prices for foals and two-year-old horsesd soared, but today there is too much supply for a smaller demand.
“I had several exceptional horses in this sale, but I have the impression that when they are presented normally, people cannot project the potential themselves, which is unfortunate,but that’s how it as. As a result, some horses were not sold, but I didn’t want to let them go for nothing.”
Q When will the third Malleret Stallion Show take place, and will you have new stallions, new discoveries?
The first stallion show went quite well, the second in 2024 was even better, although there were a few shortcomings, of course. However, there won’t be a 2025 edition because the organizatio is rather expensive. I will try to find sponsors for a 2026 edition and probably at that time will have one or two additional and new stallions to present.
u Will we see the same trainers present, and will you personall produce horses again?
I hesitated to ride for this 2024 show because I don't have time to sufficiently prepare, but it was ultimately a good time shared with the public and my horse. I will try to ride more and maybe why not make an appearance again... Unfortunately I can never promise.
Q Which rider and which partner will be present for future Stallion Shows?
I have the unfortunate tendency to want the best for my horses so I therefore find it really difficult to entrust the protégés of the Haras de Malleret. There must also be a good osmosis and symbiosis between each couple, and sometimes even great riders do not get along with just any horse. For me, it is the horse first and the rider second, it is up to the human to adapt to the animal and understand it, and not the other way around.
For the moment, the collaboration with Manuel Domínguez Bernal is going well; he gets along well with Danciano and Golden Romance. It’s difficult for me to no longer have Danciano by my side, but I am obliged to make significant sacrifices for the good of the company. Manuel has understood this dilemma that falls to me. I have had several conversations with him about daily well-being in the way of working or simply respecting the horses and letting them graze, letting them loose every day of the week. I bother him about all this and he respects my choices, so as long as it is a good understanding on these points we will continue our collaboration
And of course, you will undoubtedly see Alfonso (de la Chica Parras) who is my regular rider. We have mutual respect for each other; I trust him blindly. My philosophy has been completely ingrained in him for the six years he’s been at Malleret, and it’s a pleasure to have him by my side and to see him progress to the top level. He is like a brother.
Q Let’s return to breeding? Will Danciano (Dancier x Wolkenstein II), and Golden Romance Malleret PS (Governor x Sir Donnerhall), still be entrusted to Paul Schockemöhle next year?
Concerning Danciano, he just won his first Grand Prix yesterday at Le Mans, while he has only done six in his whole career. I preserved him a lot for several years to make him learn what it was like to pasture on a daily basis, to be ridden without any stress, with the neck at half height, the whole line of the back, no tension from the mouth to the tip of the tail, I taught him the basics of the piaffe and the passage under these conditions, with a lot of relaxation and ease, never in stress, never in a difficult attitude for him. All this was longer, work, but which today I think is starting to pay off... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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