Top sport horses are used to the very best care – and that’s exactly what they get
He was born and raised in Tilburg, studied in Belgium and the USA, and then moved to Germany – where he stayed. Since 2009, he has attended CHIO Rotterdam every single year. For him, CHIO feels like coming home. He believes the horses enjoy themselves in Rotterdam, and even says that top horses might recover faster from certain injuries if they were allowed to join the show anyway. During last year’s CHIO we spoke with the team veterinarian of the German showjumping riders: Jan-Hein Swagemakers. And every minute was fascinating.
Jan-Hein Swagemakers was born in 1961. After his studies in Belgium and the USA, he started working as a veterinarian in a small clinic in Germany. He then spent nine years as an independent vet at the clinic on Paul Schockemöhle’s grounds, working alongside Mark Koene. In 2001, the two of them founded a clinic in Luesche specialized in orthopedics and surgery for (top sport) horses. After the Olympic Games in Hong Kong, Jan-Hein also became the team vet for the German showjumping team in 2009. Since then, he has hardly ever missed a CHIO Rotterdam.
Rotterdam feels like coming home
Jan-Hein: “I think CHIO Rotterdam is a lovely show at a fantastic location. In the woods, by the water, right in the middle of nature. Everything is built up perfectly for both horses and people, for just a few days of competition. The stables and facilities are fantastic, but the stadium too. For me, every year it feels a bit like coming home. I enjoy living in Germany, but it’s always nice to return to my home country for a while.”
Three types of vets at a five-star show
“I mainly attend five-star competitions, where everything is arranged to perfection for both horse and rider. The FEI sets high standards – not only for the sport program, but for everything surrounding it. In my field of work: each country brings their own vet, usually one for jumping and one for dressage. In addition, the FEI provides three official veterinarians at every show. And finally, there is a group of so-called treating vets. They are present at every class, ringside, for emergencies – and they have all equipment and medication ready to be used immediately.”
Optimal care“The horses are the athletes everything revolves around, and they need to feel good at a show. Everything is done to ensure that. They are stabled with their barn-mates and horses from their own country, looked after by their trusted grooms, with healthy food brought from home. They don’t just come out of the stable to work – they go out several times a day for exercise and relaxation. At a five-star event, a groom has at most three horses, so they have all the time they need. Lunging, grazing, in Rotterdam even walking through the Kralingse forest – they spend the whole day caring for their horses. Stables have minimum dimensions, and some riders even order double boxes for certain horses. There are several training arenas, indoors and outdoors, and to get to the main arena, horses walk through the woods – which is really relaxing for them.”
Checks before and after competion
“But the care doesn’t stop there. Immediately after jumping a course, just outside the arena, horses are checked by a steward and a vet for misuse or effects of equipment. Boots are inspected beforehand as well. Riders then cool their horses down in the warm-up, gradually returning their bodies to normal. Grooms take over afterwards: hosing down if it’s hot, brushing, feeding, watering – nothing is left to chance. Full aftercare takes about an hour once a horse leaves the ring. For dressage horses, routines are similar, but they are usually lunged and walked less, since they need to conserve their energy. They are bred differently and require a different approach.”
Every horse deserves individual care“Caring for a top sport horse takes a lot of time – and they are used to that. Horses are intelligent animals. They recognize people around them and know very well when they are at a competition, and even when they have won. They are highly sensitive and pick up on the feelings of those around them. Many people think horses don’t notice much, but I can assure you they do. A horse trained to the highest level needs very different care compared to, say, a riding school horse that carries various riders and does the same type of work every day. Don’t get me wrong – they also deserve the best care, and usually get it, but it’s a different kind of care than for a top athlete. For sport horses, this optimal care is also part of their motivation. Grooms play a crucial role in this – they are there 24/7 for their horses, and they are deeply devoted to them.
Horse welfare
“When it comes to welfare … many opponents of our sport shout loudly, but know little about the reality I just described. Some think in a very one-sided way, without looking deeper. Others are genuinely concerned about horses, and some use the topic for their own ego, for example in politics. But then there’s us – veterinarians, the rider associations, stewards, people like you – we talk and think a lot about horse welfare. We want the very best for our horses and constantly work on improving that."Preparation starts at home
“So far we’ve talked about care at competitions, but preparation already starts at home. Horses are trained and conditioned to perform. Many are checked weekly or monthly, with physiotherapists and other specialists visiting to support training – just like football players. Some riders also work on their own fitness and get massages themselves.”Constant improvement in every area
“Like in every field, equestrian sport doesn’t stand still. There is continuous innovation. Riders are very open to trying new things. Nutrition is much more optimized nowadays than in the past. Transport has improved too: trucks are more comfortable and horses travel in peace. Equipment has also evolved – jumps are lighter and more technical, course builders are extremely skilled. The sport reaches higher levels, but accidents are rare. Riders also take responsibility earlier. If they have faults on several jumps, they often retire early to spare their horses. And again – the grooms deserve recognition. They share advice and experiences constantly, even via WhatsApp groups.”Mental health matters
“I always look forward to CHIO Rotterdam – and I believe the horses do too. Horses want to go to shows. Those left behind make it very clear they want to come along. That’s why I think it can even help to bring injured horses to competitions if possible. I believe it speeds up their recovery – just being there, feeling the atmosphere, going for a walk between the warm-up and competition rounds. Like humans, mental well-being is essential for recovery. That’s why I recommend this approach to others as well. Every year, I look forward to your show – we arrive with healthy horses and return home with horses that are even healthier and happier.”Thus speaks Jan-Hein Swagemakers – an experienced veterinarian and expert by practice. We enjoyed his story and hope you did too. Everything for our horses, wherever we are and whatever we do. Thank you for your time Jan-Hein – see you again soon in the Kralingse forest!