FEI’s Horse of the Month: Sertorius De Rima Z

With their 2024 Olympic debut and first World Cup win in the rear-view mirror, French rider Pauline Basquin hopes to keep the ball rolling.

Pauline Basquin (FRA) and Sertorius de Rima Z IFCE. (FEI/Benjamin Clark photo)

By: Katie Roebuck/FEI | March 7, 2025

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you're listening to an article from horse sport.com. fei’s horse of the month: sertorius de rima z by: katie roebuck/fei |. sertorius de rima z ifce has been one of the leading lights on the dressage circuit over the last 12 months and could take his rider, france’s pauline basquin, to new heights in 2025. last november, in madrid (esp), basquin and the zangersheide gelding won their first fei dressage world cup™ qualifier. they were the only partnership to top 80 per cent with a score of 80.9 per cent in the grand prix freestyle. they also won the grand prix, rounding off a memorable weekend. basquin said of her horse: “he is very generous and has a real fighting spirit. he loves to perform and enjoys being in front of the audience.”. advertisement scroll to continue with content winning in madrid moved basquin into the top six in the western european league. a few weeks earlier, sertorius was third in the world cup qualifier in lyon with a personal best 81.9 per cent in the freestyle. with just one qualifier to go, basquin and sertorius are 11th in the western european league standings with nine to qualify for the basel (sui) final. memorable 2024. it was a memorable 2024. the pair competed at their first olympics – a home games in paris. they charmed the 16,000-strong versailles crowd and media alike, finishing individual 16th. basquin had the names of her children arthur and camille written on her gloves. it kept her head in the right place as she and sertorius produced their best on the biggest stage of all. afterwards she said: “he has so much generosity and he is an extraordinary horse. to do that at versailles was unbelievable. i smiled throughout the trot work and i was able to feel the pleasure of being there. i had to concentrate, but we work so hard that it is important to enjoy it and take pleasure in the moment.”. ‘real warrior’. basquin has described sertorius as a ‘real warrior’. she has been patient with him; he was seriously ill with colic just as he was moving into the top flight. it set him back two years, but basquin was happy to wait until the time was right for her horse. sertorius’ sire is the legendary sandro hit, his dam, the kwpn mare siolita. he was bred by marine ferte. basquin and sertorius first got together when he was a diminutive three-year-old. sertorius is owned by the institut francais du cheval et de l’equitation, and basquin is an instructor at their cadre noir, in saumur. their system works well for basquin and sertorius. it’s allowed him to flourish as a horse and in the sport in a timeline suited to him. “equitation in the french tradition, is a type of riding that respects the horse, which is gentle and not coercive,” basquin said. “we need to listen to our horses as much as possible. in saumur, we are lucky enough to have several miles of outdoor tracks. sertorius spends half the day in the paddock, and has massages three times a week.”. forward with france. sertorius and basquin were part of france’s first fei dressage nations cup™ winning team in rotterdam (ned) in 2023. they also represented france in the fei european championship in riesenbeck (ger) in the same year and went to the fei world championship in herning (den) in 2022. this year, the pair could head to an fei dressage world cup™ final in april, and there is also the fei european championship on home soil in crozet (fra). as a seven-year-old he won the french championship in le mans. now in his 15th year, basquin has produced him to perfection. as we mark international women’s day 2025 on 8 march, we say “chapeau” to the french athlete on the fantastic job she has done in developing this fine horse! watch all the action from the final leg of the fei dressage world cup™ series in ‘s-hertogenbosch (ned) on fei tv on saturday, march 15.

Sertorius De Rima Z IFCE has been one of the leading lights on the Dressage circuit over the last 12 months and could take his rider, France’s Pauline Basquin, to new heights in 2025.

Last November, in Madrid (ESP), Basquin and the Zangersheide gelding won their first FEI Dressage World Cup™ qualifier. They were the only partnership to top 80 per cent with a score of 80.9 per cent in the Grand Prix Freestyle. They also won the Grand Prix, rounding off a memorable weekend.

Basquin said of her horse: “He is very generous and has a real fighting spirit. He loves to perform and enjoys being in front of the audience.”

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Winning in Madrid moved Basquin into the top six in the Western European League. A few weeks earlier, Sertorius was third in the World Cup qualifier in Lyon with a personal best 81.9 per cent in the Freestyle.

With just one qualifier to go, Basquin and Sertorius are 11th in the Western European League standings with nine to qualify for the Basel (SUI) final.

Memorable 2024

It was a memorable 2024. The pair competed at their first Olympics – a home games in Paris. They charmed the 16,000-strong Versailles crowd and media alike, finishing Individual 16th.

Basquin had the names of her children Arthur and Camille written on her gloves. It kept her head in the right place as she and Sertorius produced their best on the biggest stage of all. Afterwards she said: “He has so much generosity and he is an extraordinary horse. To do that at Versailles was unbelievable. I smiled throughout the trot work and I was able to feel the pleasure of being there. I had to concentrate, but we work so hard that it is important to enjoy it and take pleasure in the moment.”

‘Real warrior’

Basquin has described Sertorius as a ‘real warrior’. She has been patient with him; he was seriously ill with colic just as he was moving into the top flight. It set him back two years, but Basquin was happy to wait until the time was right for her horse.

Sertorius’ sire is the legendary Sandro Hit, his dam, the KWPN mare Siolita. He was bred by Marine Ferte.

Basquin and Sertorius first got together when he was a diminutive three-year-old. Sertorius is owned by the Institut Francais du Cheval et de L’equitation, and Basquin is an instructor at their Cadre Noir, in Saumur.

Their system works well for Basquin and Sertorius. It’s allowed him to flourish as a horse and in the sport in a timeline suited to him.

“Equitation in the French tradition, is a type of riding that respects the horse, which is gentle and not coercive,” Basquin said. “We need to listen to our horses as much as possible. In Saumur, we are lucky enough to have several miles of outdoor tracks. Sertorius spends half the day in the paddock, and has massages three times a week.”

Forward with France

Sertorius and Basquin were part of France’s first FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ winning team in Rotterdam (NED) in 2023. They also represented France in the FEI European Championship in Riesenbeck (GER) in the same year and went to the FEI World Championship in Herning (DEN) in 2022.

This year, the pair could head to an FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in April, and there is also the FEI European Championship on home soil in Crozet (FRA).

As a seven-year-old he won the French championship in Le Mans. Now in his 15th year, Basquin has produced him to perfection. As we mark International Women’s Day 2025 on 8 March, we say “chapeau” to the French athlete on the fantastic job she has done in developing this fine horse!

Watch all the action from the final leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ series in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) on FEI TV on Saturday, March 15.