Horse Profile: Cayman Jolly Jumper

Cayman Jolly Jumper (Hickstead – Riva de Pleville x Quaprice Bois Margot, breeder : Nathalie Chevalier), a 13-year-old Selle Français-bred gelding known for his sharp reflexes and fiery character, claimed an incredible victory in the Rolex Grand Prix at Dutch Masters – one of the four Majors that make up the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

Only three combinations made it to the jump-off, and Simon Delestre was last to go with Cayman Jolly Jumper. To secure the coveted victory they needed to produce a clear round – and they delivered. Cayman Jolly Jumper descends from an Anglo-Arabian dam line, the same lineage that also produced the famous Anglo-Arabian stallion, Nithard.

Cayman Jolly Jumper as a youngster. (Private Collection photo)

Cayman Jolly Jumper was particularly sensitive

Nathalie Chevalier vividly remembers the moment she first laid eyes on his dam, Riva de Pleville, a mare by Quaprice Bois Margot. Riva would later become the cornerstone of Chevalier’s breeding program. “I bought Riva de Pleville when she was three years old from Rodolphe Bonnet (Haras du Bois Margot), with whom I have maintained a very good relationship. I was specifically looking for a Quaprice Bois Margot (Quincy) offspring. When I saw her free-jumping, I immediately knew I had to buy her – it was love at first sight.

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She had incredible jumping quality, even more than I initially expected, which led me to decide to conduct an embryo transfer from her. I personally created and registered the ‘Jolly Jumper’ breeding suffix under my name, Nathalie Chevalier.

I chose Hickstead MVD because I had seen him jumping over the jump pillars at the CSIO Jumping International La Baule, and I thought he must have had an extraordinary mindset to have achieved that.

Cayman Jolly Jumper was born in 2012 and was the first foal born via embryo transfer from Riva de Pleville and Hickstead, and because he turned out so well, I did a second embryo transfer. Evora Jolly Jumper, the second foal, was born in 2014 from Riva de Pleville and Qlassic Bois Margot. She was double clear and tied for first place before the five-year-old final in Fontainebleau, but she was sold before the final. Since then, she competed successfully at Spruce Meadows in Calgary (1.40m, 1.50m) with Matthew Sampson (under the name Evora BJX), but unfortunately, she later sustained an injury. I officially established my horse breeding business in 2016, transferring the Jolly Jumper prefix to my company. From that point on, all embryo transfers were carried out under SARL Jolly Jumper.

The other foals born from Riva de Pleville via embryo transfer, include:

Huayra Jolly Jumper (born in 2017, by What a Quick Star (Big Star)), who is still owned by Nathalie Chevalier
Nevera Jolly Jumper (born in 2023, by Mylord Carthago), who was sold
Oreca Jolly Jumper (born in 2024, by Mylord Carthago), who is still owned by Nathalie Chevalier

Riva de Pleville never carried a foal herself. I competed with her up to CSI1* (1.30m level) as an amateur rider, but she had the ability to jump at least 1.50m.

I chose Hickstead because I had seen him jumping over the jump pillars at the CSIO Jumping International La Baule, and I thought he must have had an extraordinary mindset to have achieved that.

She passes on her boundless energy, incredible jumping ability, and, most importantly, exceptional intelligence to all her foals. They all like to think for themselves, so it is important to ask them things the right way and to be patient. However, Riva is not very tall, so her offspring tend to be on the smaller side!

Cayman Jolly Jumper was particularly sensitive, just like his mother. He grew up without any issues until he was three-years-old, when he then began showing some sensitivity during his breaking-in process. Afterward, several riders rode him before ending up with Frenchman Simon Delestre.

He always had an extraordinary jumping talent, and I always believed in him. Many people think Hickstead “made” Cayman, but in my opinion, he is 75% Riva de Pleville – her conformation, energy, and character are all strongly present in him. Time will tell, but I am convinced, but I think all of Riva de Pleville’s offspring will share these traits! I am building Riva de Pleville’s bloodline, and I believe people will talk about it in the future. As breeders, we are often forgotten when a horse reaches the top level.”

A love for Jus de Pomme

Valérie Allix is the breeder of Riva de Pleville, the mother of Cayman Jolly Jumper. She recalls: “I bought Orientale DB, who is the mother of the grand-dam of Cayman Jolly Jumper, in 2001 from Guido Bruyninx, and I had a lot of pleasure working with her. She was in foal to Riva by Kannan at the time that I bought her. The mare was later sold at the Fences auctions in 2004. I adored Jus de Pomme, and the cross with Riva and Quaprice Bois Margot seemed like a perfect match to me. Riva de Pleville was born through embryo transfer, as was R de Pleville by Orlando in 2005.

Riva was ridden by Bruno Garez, but she was a small mare with a lot of blood. She was later sold and became a broodmare, producing the incredible Cayman Jolly Jumper by Hickstead – a stallion I was representing at the time.”

Kannan

Orientale DB had a filly by Kannan at Valérie Allix’s, which was arranged by Guido Bruyninx. Bruyninx played a major role in Kannan’s success story – however he does not remember too much about the horse – which, in a way, fits perfectly with this narrative. “I bought Kannan at the end of his fourth year, after getting a tip from a Dutchman. Kannan was a very expensive horse at the time. I initially bought half of him, and my wife was quite worried by this decision. When I bought the whole horse, she became even more concerned. I rode Kannan myself for one year and then I sold half to François Mathy Sr. – we kept him until I won the seven-year-old Belgian champion with him. After that, he went with François Mathy Jr. to the Sunshine Tour, where I sold him to Alexandrine Hécart of Haras de la Roque in France. In France, he had a career both as a sport horse and as a stallion. He has been amongst the top sires in the world for eight years. Kannan was a truly special horse. I have to admit I am a bit disappointed – I have spent 30 years trying to find a worthy successor to Kannan, but I have never managed to.

There is always a bit of luck involved – no one could have predicted things would turn out this way with Kannan. It is a pity I do not remember more about Orientale DB. At the time, I sold many horses to Valérie Allix. Cayman Jolly Jumper has always shown phenomenal jumping ability. It is quite something to have contributed to such a horse without even remembering it.”

Anglo-Arab mareline

Orientale DB was bred by Haras du Hazoy. Nicole Bouilliart looks back, although she no longer remembers Orientale DB specifically: “At the time, I had purchased La Bise du Thil from her breeder, Jacques Pennet for competition and but later we used her for breeding. I was co-owner, together with Nelson Pessoa, of the stallion Feinschnitt van de Richter, who became the foundation of my breeding program almost 50 years ago! I used Anglo-Arab and Thoroughbred mares with the goal of breeding blood-type horses, as I believed speed would be essential for success in competition.

La Bise du Thil also produced a daughter by Feinschnitt van de Richter – she was an outstanding mare. Her grandchildren are now performing very well in international showjumping.”

It is both humbling and fascinating that someone can play a role in breeding a horse like Cayman Jolly Jumper – and not even remember it. Perhaps that is the true magic of breeding: you do not always see the result, but your influence lives on.