We arrive at her stable to find Killer Queen VDM contentedly munching on her hay, a bucket of water on hand for her to keep it wet. “When her hay is nice and moist, it’s impossible to get her to budge. She’d only move if Daniel or Sean, her former groom, called her,” says her current groom, Marine Renaudet, a broad smile on her face. Marine, from France, started working for Daniel Deusser just a few months before Killer Queen VDM arrived. Horse and groom have since had a love-hate relationship. 

“I know very well that she doesn’t like me,” jokes Marine. “She only has eyes for Daniel and men in general. Back when Sean was still working with us, if he called her when she was out for a graze, there was no stopping her. Killer would rip the tether out of our hands and dash off to the one she loved.” As if to prove that point, the groom in the neighbouring stables whistles at the Belgian mare, who pricks her ears up and pops her head out of her bay, demanding a treat or a pat. “She loves being the centre of attention,” explains Marine. “But if it’s time for her to rest, there’s no disturbing her. She’s temperamental, but not in the sense that she’s moody. She just has a strong character. She’s single-minded and she knows exactly what she wants.”  

A quiet force of nature, the unflappable bay has amazing confidence in herself. She loves a little stimulation too and happily takes part in exercises and activities when at home. “Her favourite way of passing the time is grazing”, continues her groom. “She’s a creature of habit too. She likes a nap in the morning or early afternoon, spreading herself out on the floor of her bay, with her head sometimes stuck in her feed bucket. Her favourite moment of all is when Daniel’s nine-year-old daughter comes and pampers her. She stands on a stool with a stiff brush and gives her a nice long massage. Killer is in heaven.” 

Deusser and his formidable Killer Queen VDM have been gracing the arenas of the world together for more than seven years now, building up a strong relationship in the process. Asked if she has become his favourite, the German rider is non-committal in reply: “She’s given me so much, no question, and I’ve had her longer than most of my horses.” Love at first sight it was not. When they first joined forces, Deusser struggled to get to grips with the Belgian half-blood’s unique jumping style. “She wanted to go too far, too soon,” he explains. “She’s always had the right instinct, but I had to adjust to her and the way she is little by little and let her do her own thing, while working as best I could on her innate talent. It didn’t always feel right on our first few outings, but we almost always went clear.” Deusser will be hoping for more clear rounds from his Killer Queen this afternoon and, if at all possible, another Rolex Grand Slam win and a first in Geneva. 

“There’s some stiff competition, but Killer is in a good frame of mind and we have a chance, for sure,” he says. “I think she wants it, and she only ever does what she wants. Out of all the amazing horses I’ve had, like Cornet d’Amour, Tobago and First Class – they’ll always have a special place in my heart – she’s the one I’ve ridden longest and she’s always been consistent. She’s always there, at the top, like the incredible athlete she is at 14.” 

Aurore Favre