By Marc Verrier
Photography: FEI/RichardJuilliart

Recognized for the quality of his production, Nervoso has taken on an additional dimension with the emergence of Urvoso du Roch from his first generation. In 2021, Urvoso emerged as one of the best horses in the world with two victories in five-star Grand Prix classes, at La Baule and Chantilly, before flying off to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

But Urvoso du Roch is not the tree that hides the forest, since Vauban du Trio also shines at five-star level, while each subsequent generation includes some very good horses and several champions from Fontainebleau. And the best is surely yet to come, with the horses from Nervoso’s biggest production years just arriving on the showgrounds.
For three seasons, Urvoso du Roch has continued to progress. Ridden by Nicolas Delmotte, he participated in his first Nations Cup in Saint-Gallen in May 2019 with a double clear round, before finishing fifth in the five-star Grand Prix of Dinard. He was then selected for the European Championships in Rotterdam, where he finished in an honorable 16th place individually, and at the foot of the team podium.
Urvoso reaffirmed himself in 2020 – in particular, twice finishing fourth in the four- and five-star Grand Prix of Saint-Tropez Grimaud – ahead of an exceptional start to 2021 with a victory in the three-star Grand Prix of Oliva. Two Grand Prix victories in quick succession, in La Baule and Chantilly, preceded his participation at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – notably as the pillar of the French team.
Ranked six in the world, and best Selle Français (‘original’ moreover) in the Hippomundo ranking at the end of July, Urvoso du Roch is one of only three horses in the world (along with Hello Jefferson/Scott Brash and Explosion W/Ben Maher) who twice won five-star Grand Prix classes in 2021.
In Tokyo the chestnut responded well and achieved 12th place individually – the frontrunner of the French team. Unfortunately, his Olympic dream came to an early end when a mild case of colic prevented him from continuing in the competition, and unable to defend France’s chances in the team event. At the end of September 2021, Urvoso du Roch was sold to young Irishman Tom Wachman (17).

Horses with the desire to do well

According to Nicolas Delmotte, “Urvoso is a horse who is very courageous, very respectful, has a lot of strength, and is very sensitive. He has a somewhat atypical jumping technique with a forward movement that is a bit particular; he can jump a little below himself. But he is so respectful and so intelligent that he more than makes up for his shortcomings. In the beginning he had a little trouble fitting into the combinations, and as soon as there were wide oxers he had to jump much higher than the others, so he quickly put in the effort. Today, he really takes the measure of what he has to do, became more flexible and, above all, became a winner through his training. He is a horse who works well in his body, who really listens to me and trusts me completely, and that is why I managed to repeat good runs.”.. To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber

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