Alex Matz is a 28 year old showjumper based in Pennsylvania throughout summer, and Wellington in Florida throughout the winter circuit. He was born into the industry and flourished with the guidance and support from his family who are rich in the knowledge of what it takes to produce a high quality horseman and the horses he competes today are a reflection of that. In this year alone, Alex has had Grand Prix successes across the board with podium results in The Hamptons Classic, The Princeton Horse Show, HITS-On-The-Hudson – to name just a few.

He was also selected to represented his country in the Longines Nations Cup Final in Barcelona and most recently won both speed stake classes with long time partner Cashew CR, and recorded his first ever win in the 5* FEI Longines Jumping World Cup Final at The Royal Agricultural Fair in Toronto, Canada with Ikigai. His belief in consistency and willingness to learn from the successful athletes around him have given him the most rewarding year of his young career to date. 

This is only the beginning!

Hello everyone! As the season draws to a close, I wanted to reflect on one particular event that stood out to me as the beginning of a long and successful career for this rider. I have had the pleasure of interviewing the youngest member of the team who represented USA in this year’s Longines League of Nations Cup Final – held in Barcelona. I am lucky enough to work for him personally and delighted to be able to share his insight on his first experience on a 5* senior, Nations Cup team. Read on for a truly inspiring interview with Alex Matz…

“Introduce yourself”
“My name is Alex Matz, I’m 27 years old and I was born into a family who have always had horses. Both of my parents competed at a very high level, including the Olympics and Pan American Games and have always preached the values of good horsemanship. I have a great team around me and I love my job.”

“When did you first hear about your opportunity to be on the team?”

“I first heard about the opportunity to go to Barcelona the week after The Hampton Classic in which my horse (Ikigai) finished 3rd in the 1.60 5* Longines Grand Prix. Our Chef D’equipe, Robert Ridland, reached out to me as I had expressed interest beforehand and applied through the USEF system. It was obviously a very exciting moment for me as it would be my first Senior Nations Cup team and as soon as I heard, we started preparing by organising the logistics and discussing with my parents the best plan for me and the horses.

“Tell me about the team you took to Barcelona?”

“I took two horses with me. Cashew CR, who is owned by my mother (Dd Matz) and Ikigai, who was my horse for the Nations Cup. Cesar Garcia Gonzalez accompanied them and has been on my team for the last three years. I felt like I had a very strong pair of horses, both of which have had a very successful year this year and a seasoned groom who I trust. My parents met me over there; they’re hugely influential in my everyday training and I was very happy to have them there to support me especially at my first team event.”

“What prep work did you do?”

“The prep work for Barcelona isn’t much different to what we do on a daily basis. If you’re selected to be on a team event, it’s because you’ve been successful in the lead up to that. So I think you want to be consistent and not change too much.”

“How were you feeling when travelling to Barcelona?”

“I was extremely excited to go to Barcelona. Competing for my country with horses I have developed has always been a huge goal of mine and is why I do this sport. So I was excited and eager to get underway, I didn’t want to wait!”

“What’s one item you never leave behind for shows?”

“I try to never forget my stick, but I can’t say I have a perfect record with that. That said, I knew the one thing I couldn’t replace was my red jacket, so I definitely made sure that it was packed.”

“Tell us about your teammates!”

“My teammates were fantastic. I was alongside Spencer Smith, who I’ve been friends with for a very long time. He has gotten a lot of experience in the last couple of years at Nations Cup events, so learning from him and taking his advice was great. I also had Aaron Vale on the team who was amazing. He’s got a wealth of experience and is such an accomplished and talented rider. Also Lucy Davis, who I didn’t know super well but has been incredibly successful at major events such as the Olympics. And finally Laura Kraut was the alternate. She has more experience and success than almost anyone on the US jumping stage and so to have her supporting, giving advice and leading by example was amazing.”

“What was the highlight of the event for you?”

“The Nations Cup event was definitely the highlight of the week. To be surrounded by such a high level of horses and riders was really incredible for me. I’d never been to a championship and to see the individual gold and bronze medal combinations from the previous Olympic games was so inspiring and motivating. There was always someone I could watch and learn from. And for my horse to perform the way he did, it made me realise how special he is and at what level we can compete. 

“What did you learn from the event?”

“It was my first time at a senior Nations Cup, and I was obviously a bit nervous, but I came away from it with a stronger belief in myself and my team. Both my horses jumped incredibly well and I was very close to great results. I think doubt is something that naturally affects every athlete, and if the best athlete in the world tells you they never doubt, that’s a false front. However, looking back on Barcelona, my biggest takeaway is that I feel like I belong. I obviously have a long road ahead with lots to to improve upon, but I feel that I have all the tools in place to compete at the highest level and win. 

“How do you settle your mind before an event like this?”

“I think that’s a constant battle but it helps to make sure that I’m as prepared as possible. I’ve also been telling myself to soak it in and have fun. After that, it’s go time.’

“What advice would you give a young aspiring rider, hoping to be in your position?”

“I’m not sure I’m in the position to give any advice at this stage of my career but I would say that the most important thing is to surround yourself with good people. Find people who have successfully competed at a high level, be open to learning from them, and work as hard as you can. Obviously there will be setbacks, but if you keep your optimism and continue to work hard, then opportunities are bound to find you.”