François Mathy
François Mathy
Professional Rider & Businessman
Portrait of a champion running through time.
François Mathy was born in December 1944. His father was a grain seller in Liège, Belgium, where all the family lived and would spend weekend at the countryside.The opportunity to ride a horse in perfect amateur. An amateur certainly more talented than average.
When François Mathy was nearly eighteen years old, he started competing. He started as a junior rider with a very nice horse that he bought for 100.000 Belgian Francs, which you can compare to about 2500 EU nowadays ; This was already a lot of money at the time. That’s how success started.
To get horses more efficient, François Mathy sells the mounts which offered him his successes.The rider and the businessman with exceptional flair enters the track to never get out.
The network of François is developed at high speed.
Champion of Belgium, winner of great prizes around the world, thanks to his extremely successful career as a horse rider, François Mathy had the opportunity to compete all over the world and meet many interesting people among others Alwin Schockemohle with whom he starts a collaboration to find, buy and sell horses.
In Belgium, breeding ground of the best horses, where equestrian sport was born, François Mathy is the only rider to hold that kind of medal.
“This is my greatest memory as a horse rider. Gai Luron and I won the individual and team bronze medal. I bought Gai Luron when he was three years old and we raised him ourseleves. As a young horse, he was quite difficult and spooky, but he was always a very good jumper, Mathy tells. Unlike all this other horses, François never sold Gai Luron. Unfortunately, his career wasn’t long due to an injury he never recovered from.”
My Father, this champion!
I don’t remember that olympic games victory, I was to small, but as every son of a champion, I did too proudly wear that medal around my neck. At that time, I couldn’t imagine how that paternal ambition would be contagious. It would be the beginning of the esteem of a son to its father.
Today, I can claim that my father was making history : 45 years later, he remains the only jumping Belgian rider owner of such a reward.
My father never stops. He is part of those who anticipate and constantly renew themselves.
Don’t let this somewhat boorish man from the Ardennes fool you, he is in fact a sensitive and charming man. His international reputation, not only for his athletic results but even more for his business ethics and his knowledge are one of the reasons for which I am proud to be his son.
I was 15 years old, I was Euopean champion, when in Fontainebleau, I managed one of the only two double clear of the competition. After the competition, my father’s reaction was kind of discreet. But on the video, I saw a man who was jumping as much as my horse, that was my father.
A handshake is worth more than any contract and a good deal is when all involved parties are satisfied.
Last but not least, to make one’s passion its job is a honour and an opportunity.
Welcome to the Mathy stables,
“ He is to always stay ahead “
In a few minutes he sees what other put months to see. Mathy always had an eye on the right horse and found some of the most exceptional horses of the history of equestrian sport.
This exceptional talent has brought to him the most famous customers who are still faithful to him today.
“I have been working with some of my collaborators for more than thirty years now.”.
One of the most renowned partners of François Mathy , is Mclain Ward “he is an absolutely amazing rider and we have done great business together for many years“.
Mclain has bought most of the horses he rode and rides with François Mathy. Sapphire, Rotchild and now HH Azur are all exceptional horses Mathy found for Mclain.
Charlotte Bettendorf, Champion of Luxembourg, rides for Mathy stable. She lives with the family and trains horses under the guidance of François.
Despite this success that could make you dizzy , François Mathy is always working in a strong family structure. In harmony with nature, François Mathy wanted modern infrastructures that respects this nature he loves so much.
A At the age of 69, he spends all his days in his stables offering tailor-made programs for champions requirement.
Many things have changed, everything has evolved but François Mathy’ s name is now known around the world and continues to sound.
If you want to catch his attention, talk to him about horses.