10-Year Anniversary of Scott Brash Winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping
2025 marks the 10-year anniversary of your historic Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping victory, and you remain the only rider to date to have won. How does it feel to reflect on such a monumental achievement?
Words cannot really describe what it felt like to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – it all still feels quite surreal. I remember experiencing such a mixture of emotions; delight, relief, happiness, even sadness in a strange way as it was a goal our whole team had been utterly focused on, and we had finally achieved our target, suddenly that chapter was done! It was absolutely incredible, and a single moment that I will remember for the rest of my life. At the beginning of my Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Journey, I do not think I ever really thought it was possible for me to win. Each Rolex Major hosts the world’s best horse and rider combinations, and any combination could win – so I have always understood how hard it is to win a Rolex Major, let alone the whole Rolex Grand Slam. If you told me that I would win at the CHI Geneva, and then go on and win two more Rolex Majors, and on the same horse, Hello Sanctos, I would not have believed it was possible.
How do you think winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping has influenced the trajectory of your career?
Winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping has been a defining moment in my career, which has elevated my profile beyond the equestrian world. Similar to the Olympic Games, the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping reaches a broader audience, placing riders on a global stage and bringing greater recognition to the sport.
Has your perspective on this extraordinary accomplishment evolved over the past decade? Do you find yourself appreciating it even more now?
Absolutely! Securing the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping was an incredible moment. I do not think I fully appreciated how special it was to achieve the full Rolex Grand Slam on one horse, Hello Sanctos. It is extremely rare for the same horse to win both an indoor show, such as the CHI Geneva, and then go on to win the top outdoor shows such as the CHIO Aachen and the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, it is an amazing achievement and what he did was quite extraordinary. In 2016, the following year, I continued to achieve great results with Ursula XII – placing second in the Rolex Grand Prix at Aachen, winning at Calgary, and finishing third in Geneva. So, as time has passed, I have come to appreciate the sheer magnitude of Sanctos’ achievement. Each year, I return to the venues on different horses with the hope of winning just one more Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major, which is an immense challenge in itself!
What was your mindset going into each of the three Majors, did your approach or strategy evolve from one to the next? Which presented the greatest challenge and how did you overcome it?
We prepared for the CHI Geneva, in the same way I normally would; training our horses so they peak specifically at Rolex Majors throughout the year. When we won the Rolex Grand Prix at Geneva in 2014, it was a fantastic end to the year, but I was not thinking about the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping as a whole at all. We approached the CHIO Aachen in 2015 a unique way, and it was by far the most challenging. I had always intended on taking Ursula XII, because I knew Hello Sanctos was not suited to the vast grass arena at the CHIO Aachen. I had competed with him there the previous year with little success, and he had even been eliminated in that same arena as a young horse with a previous rider – but at the time Ursula XII was injured. So, once it became clear that [Hello] Sanctos would be competing at Aachen, we developed a careful plan to ensure he was as prepared as possible, training him in similar grass arenas to help build his confidence. Even at this point, winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping was not my focus. It was only after our victory in the Rolex Grand Prix at the CHIO Aachen that my mindset shifted entirely, and I set my sights firmly on the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament in Calgary. In hindsight, it feels as though each step unfolded with a purpose, shaping my path toward success in the sport.
How important was your horse, Hello Sanctos, in achieving this feat?
Hello Sanctos truly is my horse of a lifetime. He has so many attributes, but his top attribute is that he is so clever, he wanted to win. Despite the challenge we faced at the CHIO Aachen, on event, [Hello] Sanctos overcame that fear, and it just shows how incredibly talented he was. Whilst I do think it is possible for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping to be won again, for it to be achieved on the same horse – everything has to go right on the day, it’s very tough.
The Journey to Achievement
What are the milestones that paved the way to your success?
The key milestones in my career trace back to my early years and include; when my father introduced me to equestrian sport, when I got my first pony, and finding my first top horse, Intertoy Z, who enabled me to compete on the international stage. However, a significant turning point in my career came when I met my owners, Lord and Lady Harris and Lord and Lady Kirkham – they purchased Hello Sanctos with the Olympic Games in mind. Had the Olympic Games not been held in London in 2012, that opportunity may never have materialized. Reflecting on my journey to winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, another key milestone would be my decision to take Hello Sanctos to the CHIO Aachen in 2015, instead of Ursula XII.
What does achievement mean for you?
For me, achievement is a sense of pride in reaching a goal – when all the dedication, preparation, and teamwork come together. Success is not just about winning; it is about progress and personal fulfillment. For example, completing at a five-star Grand Prix with a young horse, even if there are faults, can still be an achievement if it marks a significant step in their development. Ultimately, it is about pushing boundaries and taking pride in the journey as much as the outcome.
Is there a personal goal you have yet to attain and if so, what is it?
I would love to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping again. It is strange goal, because even though I have already won it, I am still as hungry as ever to go and try to win it again.
Source: Press Release from Revolution World for Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping
Photo: © Rolex / Kit Houghton
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Categories: English, Interviews, Jumper News Great Britain
