20 APRIL 2022 AUTHOR : Mélina Massias

Tony Cadet’s career took a new turn at the end of last year. Based in Brittany, the fifty-year-old pilot decided to embark on a new adventure.  Excellent trainer of young horses, the friendly rider had, among other things, revealed the full potential of the talented Consul dl Vie, Uppsala del Caballero and Toledo de Mescam. If trade will inevitably be part of his future, Tony Cadet hopes to seize the right opportunities to, why not, taste
at the high level with a mount of the same caliber as his two former accomplices.

At the end of last year, Tony Cadet took a new turn, in his career and life. After completing his entire equestrian journey in France, the fifty-year-old rider, renowned for his qualities as a trainer of young horses, decided to start a new adventure in the United States. However, there is no question of abandoning its hexagonal structure, located in Moustéru, in the Côtes-d’Armor, near Guingamp. Thus, the Breton aims to spend more or less six months in America, during the winter period, and then return to France the rest of the year, for the summer season. “I work for Janie and Mike Yag, who manage the Shore Acres Farm. They have been customers at home, in France for several years, during which they have invited me several times to come to the United States.”

Tony Cadet and Etononemoi del Caballero in Wellington. © Sportfot

I did competitions and obtained good results. They then offered me to hire myself entirely. I told them that I wanted to come in winter, when there is no competition in France and try to develop something across the Atlantic. The rest of the time, I return to France, to my stables, which I have kept. I have a super rider who rides and makes young horses work in my absence,” explains Tony Cadet. “All my career, I have ridden a lot of difficult horses, with which other riders did not cope. Sometimes, we don’t always feel recognized for the work done with these horses. I know I would still have work in France, but I wanted to embark on a new adventure, to have another experience. It motivates me and I wouldn’t have tolerated staying at nothing!”

For his first long-term stay in America, Tony Cadet observed and analyzed the needs and desires of U.S. customers. “The goal is to train quality horses in France, well adapted to the American market, then import them there, ideally at the end of the seven-year, and sell them,” he says. In the United States, it is not always easy to find professionals to hire. There are many young riders, who climb tremendously well, but who do not make it their job afterwards.” If the first idea is focused on trade, both in show jumping and in hunter, a discipline highly developed among American fairers, the tricolor driver does not close any doors. “My owners across the Atlantic are very open. If we find horses to jump
beautiful courses, they would be quite willing to keep one or two. I am lucky to be able to decide when to sell or keep a horse. Last year, in Fontainebleau, Janie and Mike acquired a seven-year-old mare, Etonemoi Del Cabalero (SF, Air Jordan x Le Tôt de Semilly). They were ready to keep it, but I told them that it had to be sold. It is important that other professionals are aware that we do business. But the day I find a horse to jump higher, we may try to reform a French team for the Nations Cup in Florida! It would be nice to go up alongside Eric Navet! (laughs)”, projects Tony Cadet, visibly fulfilled in his new
organization.

Tony Cadet and Toledo of Mescam, now mounted by Kevin Staut. © Sportfot

By expanding his circle of contacts on both sides of the Atlantic, the Breton hopes to develop a project that can benefit everyone. “I also hope to be able to help my customers better market their horses. Everyone understood very well my approach to going to the United States this winter. This will be beneficial for everyone. In my career, I have had the chance to come across two very good mares with Uppsala Del Cabalero, (Kannan x Le Tôt de Semilly, editor’s note) and Toledo de Mescam, (Mylord Carthago x Kouglof II, editor’s note). They were great but if I wait for others of their caliber to arrive, it can be long!” says the driver, who has retained all his usual owners in France, with the exception of the France Élevage Group, which preferred to recover his stallions, including Eden du Rouet. “I took Eden at the age of three because no one wanted to ride her. I trained him until he was seven, participating in the Fontainebleau finals each time and the Lanaken World Championships in 2021. I attach myself a lot to my horses and it was difficult to see him leave, especially since he was extremely kind. We necessarily spend a lot of time with delicate horses and I always give them a chance. I’m still Eden, but it’s life, you have to accept it. It had been worse with Consul Dl Vie. (Z, Clinton x Heartbreaker, who ended his career on the Youth circuit with Ramatou Ouedraogo), who was really my horse and with whom I had done a lot (the Breton rode him for seven years). The same goes for Toledo. I started jumping at 1.25m with her, then, in two years, I participated in Nations Cups, I won a 5* event in Dinard, played at 1.60m, then she left overnight when I wasn’t even there. In this profession, we must accept that horses are sold, otherwise we must own all those we ride,” relativizes Tony Cadet. “I have spent a lot of time in my life taking care of the horses of others. Today, I also want to think about my family, to discover new horizons, while staying in the horses. “My wife and daughter follow me in the United States. This will allow my daughter to become bilingual and then we see and experience something else. It’s pretty nice!”

Eden du Rouet and her former pilot in Lanaken. © Sportfot

Based in Naples this winter, Florida, the Frenchman will be able to benefit from a new stable next year, directly based in Wellington. Enough to look to the future serenely, especially since this first experience was a success.” For now, my owners are very happy. I only did good competitions and I was rather successful in the tests. All this resulted in sales, so my first winter was rather beneficial. It’s not always easy to integrate, but I won two or three times on the Wellington long track, in hundred-down events, with all the great riders accustomed to Florida. This made it easier for me and my colleagues gladly say hello when they meet me. Even McLain Ward greets me in French, with a good accent!” smiles the Breton. In the United States, the latter had to get used to a brand new organization, far from what he was used to in France. “The first two months
were quite difficult for me. In France, we ride a lot of horses during the day.  There, we have a groom for three horses and the organization of the day is totally different. In addition, I don’t pass the bar in the quarry or brushcutter and I don’t mow the lawn! (laughs) On the other hand, we have the advantage of being able to ride our horses twice a day and devote more time to them. I’m starting to adapt to all this and I’m doing my best to make everything go well, “says Tony Cadet. Even during the winter, the pilot made a few stops in France, to take care of his mounts left in Brittany and help his rider, who is supervised by Loïc Gloaguen, a friend based in Rennes. On the United States side, an Amazon was also hired to take care of the team during his absence.

Two different cultures

In Wellington, where much of the equestrian bustle in the United States is concentrated, the whole city lives to the rhythm of horses. Exit the sidewalks, replaced by horse paths and hello the red lights reserved for equitors. Every year, the properties, each more beautiful than the other, fill up to prepare for the season. From Tuesday to Sunday without exception, Wellington International’s various tracks run at full speed, both for start-ups and experienced riders, like the many Europeans putting down their suitcases in Florida for winter, and for trade, flourishing on the other side of the ocean. Then, and because of the climate, the alleys empty. But, by embarking on this new adventure, Tony Cadet has above all immersed himself in a whole new culture, different from the one that reigns in France.

Tony Cadet and Consul dl Vie. © Sportfot

“As a rider, as a professional in the United States, if we do our job well, we earn a good living. In France, owners tend to think that it is normal for our income to be average, because we practice a passionate profession, unlike the United States where competence is recognized. We don’t have the same vision of things. My owners are happy that I win events and put their team forward, so they are as happy that I earn a good living,” says Tony Cadet, who points out that the prices of services are higher across the Atlantic.” There is also a difference among amateur riders. They are not in horses to earn money. In France, many people want to buy young horses by telling themselves that they will resell them more expensive later. In America, they are aware that they will spend money on their leisure. An amateur rides a twelve- or fifteenyear-old horse, which he buys turnkeys, with security. The quality of the frames in the U25 events, for example, is remarkable. You never see a bad course; young people are supervised with the best coaches possible and have a real quality of riding. On the 50, 60, 80cm or 1m events, there is not a bad distance, not a georgette, not a taxi. Returning to France, we can see riders evolved over 1.10m but who should jump 80cm. In the United States, they do not hesitate to buy a 1.30m horse to do 1m tests and gradually increase in level. The biggest difference is there: in France, we often try to evolve over 1.50m with a horse made to jump 1.40m. In the United States, reflection works in the other direction.” One thing is certain, Tony Cadet seems fulfilled and more ready than ever to take up this exciting new challenge.

Featured photo: Tony Cadet and Gigolo of the Forests in Wellington. ©
Sportfort