Fouad Zafat Making Miles for Morocco in the International Grand Prix Arena

Focus

Eurodressage F.O.C.U.S.

With only four Moroccan dressage riders competing on the international dressage scene, 32-year old Fouad Zafat is counted amongst his country's trailblazers in the sport of dressage. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Fouad commutes to Belgium on a regular basis where he boards and trains with Serge Pais.

In 2012 Dutch born Yessin Rahmouni was the first ever dressage rider representing Morocco at the Olympic Games. Since then, country mates Naoufal Hassani, Ismail Jilaoui and Fouad Zafat are making it work in the FEI ring with mixed success. The road is long and hard, but for Fouad it is his dedication, hard work and love for the horses that makes it work.

Fouad is born and raised in Corsica, France, but spent time much of his childhood time in Cassablanca Morocco. He now lives and works in Geneva, Switzerland, and commutes on a weekly basis to Belgium to train and ride his three horses.

"I'm not the mainstream dressage rider," he admitted. "I'm not a professional rider. I live in Geneva, where I work to pay the bills. One week I'm in Switzerland, the next I'll spend in Belgium training. I have a great team there. I get coached by Serge and Anneke and I live at their yard. We've been working together for a year and it goes really well."

Fouad and Nintendo Serge and Anneke Pais are equally thrilled to work with Fouad and support him in his dressage endeavours.

"We got to know each other when Fouad found a horse through us," said Pais. "We immediately connected and there is a super click between us. In the beginning he trained on his own in Switzerland, but that was quite hard, so he had his other two horses shipped to us and now lives in his own appartment at our yard when he's here for training."

Fouad rides three horses at the moment with Serge Pais' Grand Prix schoolmaster Nintendo (by Newcastle x Werbefunk) as his leading competition mount. The 19-year old professor is teaching Fouad the ropes and giving him mileage at Grand Prix level as well as exposure in the competition arena. With the 14-year old Oldenburg KMTM Sonnenstern FZ (by Sandro Hit x Sion), who was previously competed by Canadian Olympian Ashley Holzer, he soon hopes to have a second iron in the fire at Grand Prix, whereas young rising star Balanda H, a 7-year old mare (by Christ x Argentinus), is the diamond in the rough being prepared for her FEI level debut.

Fouad and Sonnenstern "I love all my horses. They are precious and are my friends," Fouad stated. "Each has their own personality."

Fouad made his international Grand Prix show debut in August 2015 at the CDI Verden and has competed at the CDI's in Perl, Le Mans, Lier and Nieuw en St. Joosland so far. With Nintendo he was third in the CDI Lier Grand Prix consolation class, while with Sonnenstern he made his small tour debut there.

Fouad is very appreciative of the help he's getting from his sponsor Kep Technologies, an international corporation designing and manufacturing electronic and metallical technical parts for big industries.

"I'm only able to ride at this level today and have such super horses thanks to my sponsor Kep Technologies, who has believed in me and supported me from the start," he added.

Although he is from a developing dressage nation, Fouad feels there is no disadvantage when he presents himself for assessment to a panel of judges on the highly competitive European show circuit.

Fouad making Grand Prix miles for Morocco "Dressage is a difficult discipline which requires enormous amounts of work. Competing against the best riders in the world is certainly impressive, but I don't think the judges are conservative in their points, or I'm not aware of it. I do my tests and several judges truly encourage me with their comments on the protocols," he explained.

For 2016 Fouad wants to get more ring exposure and mileage on the clock.

"I want to link the trainings with the international competitions more. I'm supported by the Royal Moroccan Equestrian Federation and they allow me to compete and get entered at the shows of my choice. It's really a unique opportunity," he said. "For my short-term goal I aim to represent my country at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Bromont, Canada."