Behind the Camera – “Becoming an Insider” with Edouard Schmitz

In Rising Above: Episode 6 “Becoming an Insider” presented by Longines, we learn the compelling story of top Swiss show jumper Edouard Schmitz. Schmitz details the obstacles he has worked to overcome in order to rise to the top of the sport. We sat down with the Swiss rider to learn more about his journey and how he found his place in the world of show jumping.

The equestrian world can be tough, even for those born into it who grew up with a community of equestrians around them. Succeeding at the top of the sport is difficult and is even more so when one does not have the privilege of knowledge passed down by generations. “Riding is a sport where you need a lot of knowledge and a lot of expertise around you,” explains Schmitz. But there can be something special about knowing your passion in life before you have even started. Edouard Schmitz knew this from an early age.

Schmitz fell in love with the sport before he had ever even sat on a horse. “I did not come from a horse family. I begged for years to my parents to let me get on a horse, and at first, they were not really on board,” said Schmitz. “When they eventually let me, I never stopped.” He goes on to tell us that it was the love of horses that drew him to the equestrian world, “when I started, there weren’t really any clear goals, it was just to enjoy the sport as much as I could.” Schmitz’s family even went on to fall in love with horses themselves, “eventually, for anybody that gets in touch with horses and riding sport, it’s difficult not to fall in love with it. And that’s what happened with my family as well.” 

“When you come in as an outsider, you need to build up the knowledge from the base on,” explained Schmitz, “but I choose to look at it from a positive perspective and I also see advantages from being an outsider.” He went on to tell us that dealing with setbacks and disappointment can be difficult, “wherever there are highs there are also lows.” Schmitz explained that when he is dealing with the lows, “having a family outside of riding helps to bring that perspective back in.” Just as they help him through the lows, Schmitz’s family also celebrates every success. Despite not coming from a horse background, his family has been there every step of the way as he has risen through the ranks to the pinnacle of the sport. “They have seen me for many years work hard to get here,” said Schmitz, “and they also have worked hard to get here.” Adding that when the wins started to come, it felt like “it was a way of giving them something back when the achievements came.” 

When asked if he had any advice for others who may be trying to break into a sport where they might be an outsider, Schmitz said, “you need to like it so much. Because it’s not easy to make it to the top level so you really need a deep passion for it.” Adding, “surround yourself with the people who have the expertise.” Having found that community of people in the show jumping world, coupled with the support of his family enabled Schmitz to overcome his outsider status and rise to the top of the sport, as we learned in “Becoming an Insider”, now available to stream on all of LGCT’s social channels.

Next week, we sit down with German talent Katrin Eckermann to learn about her connection with the horses and her journey with the animals that she competes alongside in Rising Above: Episode 7 “Growing Together.” This eight-episode series has quickly become a must-watch for equestrian enthusiasts and sports fans alike, offering an intimate look at the lives and careers of the top show jumpers in the world.

Rising Above: Episode 7 “Growing Together” presented by Longines premieres September 17^th at 8pm CET.