What is it about this guy? “This guy” is France’s Kevin Staut, of course, current leader in the highly-competitive Western European league of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup? Jumping series. He’s also #1 in the worldwide show jumping standings.
As the European action switches to Zurich, Switzerland this weekend, Kevin takes on the best of Germany, Ireland, Great Britain, Belgium, Sweden, The Netherlands and everywhere else, yet again, as they compete toward the World Cup Finals in Leipzig, Germany at the end of April.
In the photo Kevin is riding the impeccable Silvana de Hus as they were on their way to a World Cup win on their last foray into Switzerland, at Geneva in December. This weekend Kevin will ride Le Prestige St Lois de Hus and Banda de Hus, on whom he won the Telegraaf Prize and placed 7th in the Grand Prix, respectively, in Amsterdam last week.
Dominance in the jumping arena has its perks. Kevin is currently leading a double life as a model in ads for fashion house Gucci; here’s a video shot during the fashion shoot at the Grand Veneur stables of Edward Couperie, with horses owned by Edward and Virginie Couperie.
What’s up with Gucci, you ask? There were no badly-shod people at the Gucci Masters during the Paris Horse Show last month, that’s for sure. Virginie Couperie is official Gucci ambassadoress for the show, and Gucci sponsors international rider and royal family member Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco.?In case you always wondered just how a glamorous a horse show can be, watch this:
So it’s on to Zurich this weekend! You’ll notice that Kevin Staut will be wearing the green and gold arm band on his left arm designating his points leadership. I wonder if Gucci had a hand in designing that too…Judge for yourself when you watch on FEI TV! But you’ll have to watch over breakfast; the jumping starts at 13:45 CET, which means it will begin at 7:45 a.m. on the East Coast of the USA, and earlier in other time zones.
Top photo: Kevin Staut at the Geneva FEI World Cup Qualifier. FEI photo by Kit Houghton.
