Abdel Saïd is one of the most successful riders of his generation. But what distinguishes him isn’t the number of victories he’s had. It’s the way he defines success in the first place.
In Episode 15 of Inside the Mind, Abdel speaks about building horses for the long term. He believes success should never be measured by one great season, but by partnerships that continue to thrive at the highest level for years. Like building a house, he explains, everything starts with the foundations. There are no shortcuts. The result matters, of course, but never more than the confidence and happiness of the horse.
He also speaks very honestly about the moments that didn’t go according to plan. Not finding the owner he had hoped for after a successful junior career. His first Olympic Games not being the experience he had imagined. Even the decision to change nationality. Rather than seeing these as setbacks, Abdel explains how each one shaped the person he is today. That ability to find opportunity in disappointment is something I think every rider can learn from.
What stays with me most is the way Abdel speaks about connection. Not as something built simply by spending more time with a horse, but by spending better time. Truly understanding what each horse needs, protecting their confidence, and never asking for more because of our own ambition. That, to me, is what creates partnerships that last and performances that do too.
