Nicolas Frere

Horse training and handling is a tough pro- fession for a man or a woman. But Nicolas Frere from Belgium is undaunted. His love bian Horses standing at his recent born Danisa Training Centre. Interviewed by Sonja Smaldone for horses is overwhelming to the extent of spen- ding twenty-four hours with the most elegant ani- mal in the world. Nicolas lives in Beerse, Belgium, where he trains and looks after many of the Ara- Hello Nicolas. Just to set the scene with our readers, will you please give us some back- ground to you, your family and education? My parents where already into jumping horses when I was born. So, I spent my entire chil- dhood around horses. As a kid, I used to ride horses myself. Exactly twenty-years ago, my mother bought an Arabian filly foal. That changed my horse breed pas- sion. self. Now, I just could not imagine living my life without Arabian horses you see. I used to spend my weekends and school holidays at Swatam Arabians with Tom Oben as well as at Schoukens Training Center where I have been for two years. This is also where I started working after my study programme. How did this passion you have for Ara- bian horses begin? To what extent has this love you nurture for the Arabian hor- se affected your life? The passion for Arabian horses came by it- Nicolas, have you developed a systema- tic program for handling Arabian horses. Can you describe this program? How have your handling techniques evolved over the years? Yes, I have. It is difficult to explain the program gi- ven that every horse is different. So, I use different techniques according to which specific handling son “handler” to figure out the limit of the horse. What, in your opinion, really defines a good the horse needs. Is there a limit to what an Arabian horse can be taught through handling? Yes, there is. Some horses keep learning every day and like to learn. Some other horses do not learn at all. It’s a bit like with human beings you know... (laughter) But, it’s entirely up to the per- Handler? What do you need to become a suc- cessful one? Every handler has his/her own way of handling a horse. A handler just needs to understand his horses. As every horse has a different kind of mind-set, that horse will also need a different way of handling. Nicolas, how do you feel about the showing environment? Do the most deserving horses in terms of today’s standards really win at shows? Everybody has their own opinion about what a do not agree on many points whereby the horses are being judged at shows today, especially with reference to movement. For me, a horse cannot be judged on movement while he/she only cir- good horse is. In my humble opinion, you should be able to do a lot more than just beauty compe- titions. You should also be able to ride horses! I cles and cannot trot in a straight line. But, then again, everybody has their own opinion. What are your favourite bloodlines? I don’t really have a favourite bloodline. My favourite horse is obviously an Arabian horse! Exactly, what do you do at Athbah Stud in Riyadh, Qatar? I’m currently managing all the horses at Athbah Stud in Saudi Ara- bia. From the paddock horses to the mares-barn and the show-barn to prepare the horses for the competitions. Always together with my fanta- stic colleagues from Athbah Stud. You used to be a groom at famous Schoukens Training Center in Maldegem, Belgium. Tell us a bit more about this experience. How relevant has it been to your professional career advancement as a handler? This was an amazing experience for me. I learned everything I have known till today. While I was working at Schoukens Training Cen- ter, I had plenty of important business opportunities. As working for Athbah Stud from Saudi Arabia for the past 8 years. How and why Danisa Training Centre came about? What’s the main thought behind it? It was time for me to take up a new challenge in my life. So I decided to start a business with my mother and my girlfriend. At the end of the day, isn’t there a big challenge working together with two ladies and myself being the only man?! (laughter) Which show have you been to as a Handler most recently? Share with us most exciting moments... Every show involves big excitement. As on every show you can actually see and realize that all the hard work and effort you put in the training gets rewarded in the end... I have had a lot of exciting moments in my show career. But, the most thril- ling one was when I showed Gabel Athbah (Eks Alihandro x Meqbilat Athbah) in Paris at the World Championships 2018. He was crowned World Champion Bronze Junior Colt there! How important are the Fairs of Arabian horses? Fairs are very important. To keep the breeding sec- tor alive and to always attract new people! How and where do you see yourself in ten years? Still enjoying good health and being able to do what I do the day of today, i.e. working with Arabian horses! Nicolas, will you please leave a final messa- ge for the readers of AHM? Let’s keep supporting each other in any way or another to keep the Arabian horse breed going on! As we all have the same big passion and love for the Arabian horse. Thank you so much Nicolas. This was truly inspiring. On behalf of the entire AHM Team, I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavours!