When I pitch up at Gate 622 at Palexpo there’s no obvious sign that an Olympic champion is in residence. I walk past the CHI Geneva stables and spot a long grey neck and two front hooves sticking out in front of me. They belong to Checker, who’s acting all curious, ears pinned back but showing no sign of hostility whatsoever.  

“He just showing off a bit. He’s got character,” Sofie Karlsson, Christian Kukuk’s faithful groom, tells me. She has just popped up behind us and Checker is keeping his beady eye on her, sensing somehow that she has a few treats in store for him. Paying strict attention to her every move, he points his ears in the direction of the gentle rustling emanating from bucket of sweets in her hand. “It’s the only way to make him look good in photos, and even then, it’s not always a success,” jokes Sofie. 

No sooner have we started chatting than Checker goes back to his own affairs, vexed almost that we’re talking about him rather than taking a direct interest. “I often say that there are many different sides to him,” adds Sofie. “He’s curious but very independent too, work-shy but a warrior, serious but funny, lovable but anti-social.”  

Checker has also had to deal with a lot of strange faces in these last few months, with the spotlight falling on both him and Christian since their Paris triumph. “He gets a lot of attention, and everyone wants to take selfies with him now,” says his rider. “I've never been asked so many questions, in fact, about his character, habits and programme. That said, there isn’t a horse on the planet that’s had more treats than him since the Olympics.” 

There’s more to the handsome grey, however, than just winning medals. He likes to make a little mischief too, as Christian goes on to explain: “When I say he’s intelligent, I mean it. He escaped from his stable the other night and made a beeline for the bucket with the carrots and other treats in it. He knew exactly where it was and completely ignored the bucket next to it, which had grains for his stable mates. There he was the next morning, standing all proud in the middle of the stable, waiting patiently for someone to come and open the stall for him.” A rascal if ever there was one. 

Checker 47 had had numerous owners and riders before he arrived at Christian’s stables in October 2020 and embarked on the path to success. “That’s perhaps one of the reasons why we had to earn his trust,” recalls Sofie. “He's always a bit shy with people he doesn't know, distrustful even. But everyone just loves looking after him in the stables now.”  

The 14-year-old Westphalian grey is actually a peaceful soul. He likes nothing better than grazing peacefully at home and trotting through the woods. “He’s a real idler and doesn’t like working, but when he hears the lorry pull up in the yard, he starts champing at the bit.” A true warrior, he comes alive in the arena, as Christian explains: “He knows when it’s Sunday. Positive pressure can be a big help for both of us, horse and rider, so I try to come up with different routines at the big meetings.” 

It’s a strategy that paid off handsomely in the French capital back on 6 August this year and one the Olympic champion hopes will do the trick again in this evening’s Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final and, of course, in Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix. 

Aurore Favre