Legends of 77 years of CHIO: Nelson Pessoa
You have top athletes, and then you have LEGENDS, in capital letters—those riders who become a living myth. So, when Brazil made its long-awaited return to the Longines League of Nations, we decided to take a leap of faith and request an interview. We were even invited into his home. We traveled to a small town south of Brussels to meet him. He is now 90 years young, and this year marks exactly 60 years since he won the Grand Prix of Rotterdam. We sat down with none other than Nelson Pessoa, widely known in the showjumping world as "Neco."
Nelson Pessoa is a Brazilian rider who has lived and worked in Europe since 1961. He has a son, Rodrigo, who successfully followed in his footsteps at a young age, and three granddaughters. For over 30 years, he competed at the absolute highest level, serving as the backbone of the Brazilian team. Nelson competed in no fewer than five Olympic Games, including one alongside his son (Barcelona 1992). He won the Hamburg Derby an impressive seven times, participated in two European Championships, won the Grand Prix of Aachen twice, and claimed the Grand Prix of Rotterdam in 1966.
Alongside "Neco," Nelson was also nicknamed "The Wizard of Technique" because of his incredibly light style of riding. He always sought a balance between maintaining optimal control and allowing the natural movement of the horse. He was not only a magnificent rider but also made a significant impact as a coach, guiding his son as well as the Saudi Arabian team. He was the perfect embodiment of becoming one with your horse and knew exactly how to pass this gift on to others. Exactly 30 years after his own triumph in the Kralingse Bos, his son Rodrigo won the Grand Prix of Rotterdam as well. The circle was complete, but today it became even more meaningful. Exactly sixty years after Nelson’s victory, and thirty years after Rodrigo’s first Grand Prix win in Rotterdam, we visited Nelson Pessoa.
Good Health
1962: First Time in Rotterdam
Beautiful Memories
“I have many wonderful memories of your event. Naturally, my victory in the Grand Prix, but I also thought the European Championships and the Puissance classes were beautiful. I don’t remember every single detail, but I always loved your trophies; I actually still have some of those silver pieces standing right here in the room. When I look back at my entire career, Rotterdam definitely stands out among the most beautiful highlights, alongside winning Aachen twice and my seven victories in the Hamburg Derby. Regarding that Grand Prix win in Rotterdam, I achieved it with Caribe, a gorgeous Argentine horse. Caribe was a grey mare—a grey gelding, actually—not very big, but highly elastic, easy to ride, and incredibly sweet. I rode her for three or four years, but unfortunately, her career wasn't long because she fell ill. Yet, in that short time, she brought me a lot of success, and competing with her was always an absolute pleasure. In fact, I have fond memories of all the horses that gave me the chance to succeed; they all hold a special place in my heart. I always treated my horses as well as possible; I loved them and had endless patience with them. I also bred horses myself. A funny anecdote is that for a few years, I was sponsored by the champagne brand Moët & Chandon, so all my horses had champagne-inspired names back then.”
Royal Visitors
“I must have ridden in Rotterdam more than 20 times, and I always thoroughly enjoyed coming to your show. When making my schedule for a new season, the CHIO was one of the very first competitions I wrote down. Your hospitality is special, but I also always loved the royal visits, we as riders truly appreciate that. After I retired from riding, I kept coming to the Kralingse Bos as a coach; I was actually there just last year to support some British students.”
“My own coach was my father. He didn't ride at a high level, but when I was about ten years old, he taught me the basics of good horsemanship. Beyond that, I taught myself everything, mostly by watching others. At that time, there were no international riders in Brazil, only a few riders from the military. I was the first rider to go international, and it gave me a beautiful life.”eger. Ik was de eerste ruiter die internationaal ging rijden en ik kreeg er een mooi leven door.”
Back in the Longines League of Nations™
“This year, Brazil is back in the Longines League of Nations, and of course, I am coming to watch. My son Rodrigo will be in the Netherlands, and I hope he is on the team, together with Yuri Mansur and Luciana Diniz. Luciana currently has a very good horse. I love watching the Longines League of Nations; I really enjoy team competitions in general. To me, the Nations Cup represents tradition and ceremony. I hope these initiatives continue to exist for a long time. Everyone is always changing everything, but I believe the FEI must honor and preserve the traditions of our sport. The pressure and competition within a team are different, and I love that. It’s not a battle between individual athletes, but between countries. This is great for the sport and for team spirit. Yes, in my eyes, this is more beautiful and meaningful than an individual contest.”
Puissance
We ask Nelson if he ever ventured into the city of Rotterdam outside of the showgrounds. A smile appears on the grandmaster's face, followed by a convincing answer. Nelson: “Yeees! I took a boat tour once, and you have a lot of great restaurants. You can eat very well in Rotterdam.”
In Nelson's era, the Puissance class was a staple on the program. No one could approach the famous wall as beautifully as he did. He could approach the obstacle with extreme smoothness, without accelerating or holding back even a single stride. When we ask for his reaction, his response is humble. Nelson: “That is an innate talent. I simply saw the distance naturally; it wasn’t something I had to learn.”
The Pessoa Rein
Nelson was also an innovator. He was the first to launch his own line of tack; who doesn't know the Pessoa training rein or Pessoa saddles?! Nelson: “When I was young, the prize money wasn't enough to make a living. So, I looked for opportunities. I became the first rider in the world to have a commercial sponsor; I introduced commercial business into the sport. I wanted to ride horses, not sell them. However, by doing so, I became a professional, which back then meant I was no longer allowed to compete in the Olympic Games, but I had already ridden in five by that point anyway. I also wanted to have a good life after my sports career, still without being forced to sell horses. That’s why I developed equipment for the equestrian market; I created my own business. You can’t ride and earn your money elsewhere, but with a sponsor and your own tack line, it was possible.”
It was time to bring our conversation to a close. Nelson: “I have competed all over the world, but I can tell you that Rotterdam is one of the most prominent events. The organization clearly aims for quality, and the level of the sport at your show has risen tremendously in a short period of time. In my day, you mostly had Toon Ebben; there were only a few professionals. Today, there are so many excellent riders and outstanding horses. Which of today’s top horses would I have loved to ride? Ermitage Kalone by Gilles Thomas and Vertigo du Desert by Luciana Diniz, especially the latter would have suited me very well. I look forward to seeing you in Rotterdam in June; I hope to see you all there.”
We are deeply impressed. A visit with Nelson Pessoa: Neco, The Wizard, The Brazilian Sorcerer, the Master of Chantilly, the Flying Brazilian. He has been our guest in Rotterdam many times before, and we sincerely hope many more years will be added to that list!
