Nina Mallevaey, between WEF and WEC, a French horsewoman in the United States.

At just 25 years of age, Nina Mallevaey is the embodiment of a new generation of French riders who don’t hesitate to cross the Atlantic to compete against the world’s show jumping elite: a high-level rider who divides her time between France and Florida to take part in the WEF (Winter Equestrian Festival) and the WEC (World Equestrian Center), the most prestigious American circuits.

Portrait of an international rider

Horse Pilot : What in your equestrian career led you to the US?

Nina Mallevaey : I had the opportunity to go to the US thanks to the Rein family. Mark and Tara own my horses and have been supporting me for three years now. They have stables in Wellington and usually go there in winter to train and compete throughout the WEF circuit, which runs from January to late March/early April. This allows them to see their horses in Florida, but also to bring the whole team together in one place, as they are not in Europe all the time.

Horse Pilot : How do you organize the France-US alternation?

Nina Mallevaey : The organization is well honed, as the WEF circuits in Wellington always follow the same schedule. We’re on site for three months, which really allows all the horses to progress on a daily basis. The Rein family’s stables are a 10-minute ride from the WEF, and we only travel to the WEC in Ocala, which is about a three-and-a-half-hour drive away. This organization is very different from Europe, where we travel a lot, sometimes with only two or even three horses.

Horse Pilot : What makes the WEC different from the WEF?

Nina Mallevaey : Although the WEF is older than the WEC, the two events are quite similar in that they both offer a large track and top-level competition, with Saturday night events under the lights for the Grand Prix. The facilities are more recent at the WEC. At the WEF, some weeks are held on grass and others on sand. There are also a few more circuits at the WEF. These are the only major differences between the two events.

Portrait d’une cavalière internationale

Competition organization in the United States

Horse Pilot : How do you prepare for a departure like this for the US?

Nina Mallevaey : After three years’ experience, we’ve got the hang of it. We pack all the equipment in trunks and fly them out. The horses also travel by plane, and everything goes smoothly because they’re used to it by now. They take off either from Liège or Amsterdam, and land in Miami. There are always a few grooms traveling with them. During the flight, they have a hay net and the grooms give them water. The horses must arrive in Florida as early as December to undergo their statutory quarantine. It’s worth noting that mares have two weeks’ quarantine on arrival, and stallions four. So it’s a trip that has to be planned in advance. But there are quarantines close to the stables, which is very convenient for us.

À noter : For riders wishing to take part in the WEF for a short period, it is possible to complete the quarantine directly on the competition site, in the FEI zone.

Horse Pilot : How did you organize your visit to the US?

Nina Mallevaey : We arrive in Florida about a month before the start of the competitions. This allows us to manage the quarantines and give the horses time to adapt to the climate. The quarantine we go to is a five-minute drive from our stables, so it’s very convenient. We can go there to take the horses out, walk them and ride them. However, it’s the quarantine staff who take care of the stalls, hay and feed (which we provide). Competitions then begin in early January.

Horse Pilot : The WEF and WEC are among the biggest events of the season. How do you prepare yourself mentally and physically for such events? And how do you prepare your horses?

Nina Mallevaey : I’m preparing in the same way as I would for a major event in Europe. Like the horses, I follow a regular training program. The horses have regular veterinary and osteopathic check-ups to ensure they’re always in top form. We work on them regularly so that they have a good cardio system. The end of the season in Europe and the month of December constitute a break. We then adapt the preparation of each horse according to the deadlines. For example, for my mare Dynastie de Beaufour, who will be taking part in the 4-star Wellington in two weeks’ time, I started to work on her over jumps slowly last week, after almost two months’ break. We’re starting with gymnastics and cavalettis sessions before going national to gradually get her back into show jumping. My other mare, My Clementine, has had several shorter breaks, including a 1-month break since the WEC in December. I’m doing the CSI U25 with her this week in Wellington, and she doesn’t need to do any nationals before then, as she’s a mare that’s easy to get back into competition. We’re just making sure she’s in good physical condition, we’re starting to jump a few courses again at home and that’s enough.

Horse Pilot : How do you work with your coach?

Nina Mallevaey : We work with Nick Skelton and Laura Kraut, who follow the same program as us between Europe and Florida. I’m mainly trained by Nick Skelton, with whom I draw up the competition schedule. The advantage of Wellington and Ocala is that we can easily adapt the program week by week to suit the horses, since we’re on site with competitions all the time.

Horse Pilot : How is horse management organized?

Nina Mallevaey : We have a great team who help us manage the horses on a daily basis, and who are the same in Europe and the US. We always travel together.

Horse Pilot : How do you choose the horses you’re going to compete with at events like the WEF and WEC?

Nina Mallevaey : This is decided with my coach. I have a string of 7 horses, two of which are young horses. The horses, which are between 9 and 13 years old, are all fit to compete on the major WEF and WEC circuits. With Nick, we adapt the program to each horse, trying not to have the same horse compete over three consecutive weeks. The advantage of having several horses is that we can rotate them. As for the young horses, they compete in Wellington on dedicated circuits.

Le Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF): An unmissable event

Horse Pilot : The WEF is the stuff of dreams in France. Can you describe it in a few words?

Nina Mallevaey : It’s a huge sports complex that offers a very complete range of competitions. So it’s a really great tool to work with, because we’re on site with all our horses and we can really help them all evolve.

Horse Pilot : How is the WEF organized and what are its different circuits?

Nina Mallevaey : The WEF offers a wide variety of disciplines, including hunter equitation and hunter style, which are highly developed in the USA, dressage and show jumping. In show jumping, the WEF offers several circuits:

• Young horse circuits (5-7 years) with weekly qualifiers and a final.
• U25 circuit with a semi-final and a final.
• The U25 Nations Cup works like a classic Nations Cup, except that you can put together your own team with riders of different nationalities.
• Special 1m50 circuit with a Saturday evening final under the lights and a larger prize fund.
• International events from 2 to 5 stars.

Horse Pilot : How do you take part in WEC and WEF events?

Nina Mallevaey : Participation in WEF and WEC 2, 3, 4 and 5-star events is via the FEI selection system. It therefore requires previous participation at this level of competition and a good world ranking, especially for the 4 and 5 stars.

Horse Pilot : Do the WEC and WEF events earn you a place in the world rankings?

Nina Mallevaey : Events from the 2-star and 1m45 levels upwards are eligible for world ranking points. This includes virtually all 3, 4 and 5-star events, the 2-star Grand Prix and the U25 Grand Prix.

Horse Pilot : Which event do you particularly enjoy at the WEF?

Nina Mallevaey : I particularly like the U25 circuit. It’s a circuit that brings together a lot of young riders. The goal of qualifying among the top 30 for the final, which takes place on a Saturday evening under the lights, is very motivating. This is my last year in this category, so I intend to make the most of it.

Horse Pilot : How do you adapt to the specific challenges of the WEF?

Nina Mallevaey :With its many different events, the WEF allows us to aim for several goals, whether with young horses, CSI 3, 4 and 5 stars or the U25 circuit. It’s really motivating to be able to set all these goals and see how you progress over the course of the season.

Horse Pilot : Apart from the competitions, what do you like best about the WEF?

Nina Mallevaey : The WEF brings together many top-level riders in an exceptional setting. You meet lots of new people, which is very enriching. We’re lucky enough to have the stables next door to the event, so when we’re not competing, we can easily watch the events.

Le World Equestrian Center (WEC) : Le plus grand complexe équestre des États-Unis

Horse Pilot : The WEC is renowned for its exceptional facilities. What were your first impressions of the site?

Nina Mallevaey :This is my first year in the WEC. It’s really impressive. It’s like the Disneyland of horse shows! The structure is huge, everything is well organized, everything is thought out for the horses, grooms and riders. It’s a magnificent setting, with state-of-the-art facilities and a high level of functionality.

Horse Pilot : What makes the WEC so special?

Nina Mallevaey : Like the WEF, the WEC brings together several disciplines such as hunter style, hunter equitation and show jumping. The WEC also offers high-level competitions, from CSI 2 to 5 stars, throughout the season. A highlight is the Nations League stage at the end of March. Unlike the WEF, there are no Young Horse or U25 circuits, but the facilities are newer and particularly impressive. It’s a great event too.

Objectives and perspectives

Horse Pilot : What are your goals for this season in Florida?

Nina Mallevaey : I have several of them:

• Qualifying my 7-year-old for the WEF Young Horse Final.
• Participate in the Nations League weekend 11 in Ocala with the French team.
• Qualify for the WEF Rolex Grand Prix.
• Performing in the U25 circuit for my last year in this category.
• Move up in the world rankings.

Generally speaking, I’m going to make sure that all my horses perform well throughout the season, that they’re in top form and happy during these three months in Florida.

Horse Pilot : What impact has your participation in the WEF and WEC had on your career?

Nina Mallevaey : It’s an incredible and very rewarding experience. The fact that I’m based in the same place all season with all my horses means I can make a lot of progress with them. I’m also up against some very good riders, which is very instructive for the future.