Being at the top of the sport is not something that happens by accident. It is built over time, through good horses, good people, hard work, and the willingness to keep learning.
In Episode 4 of Inside the Mind, I sit down with Philipp Weishaupt to talk about what has shaped him as a rider. He speaks about the influence of Marco Kutscher, and how important it has been to train with, watch, and learn from the very best. That kind of environment raises your standards and shows you what is possible.
What I appreciate about Philipp is that even at the highest level, he still allows himself to be inspired by other riders. He mentions riders like Richard Vogel, Henrik von Eckermann and Christian Kukuk – a reminder that there is always more to learn.
And still, Philipp brings it back to the horse.
Winning one Grand Prix is one thing. Being consistently there is another. Talent matters, and experience matters, but in the end, we have to understand the horses. What do they need? How can we help them feel confident enough to do their job?
And as Philipp says in this conversation, if you are good at seeing what the horse needs, there will always be a place for you in the sport.