Stories from the Series: Bronislav Chudyba

10. Jun 2024 / Category: News

Interview by Christa Dillon
Images Yadel Mohler Photograpy

The final regional qualifier in the Longines EEF Series will take place this week at the centre in Samorin, Slovakia. Following their superb performance in Mannheim at the first Region Central qualifier, where they finished in fourth place, the Slovakian team will be hoping for another good result ahead of the South and Central semifinal in Budapest in July.

Slovakian rider Bronislav Chudyba showed his class and experience in the Mannheim Longines EEF Series, jumping clear in both rounds aboard the impressive 10-year-old bay stallion Statis Conti. Bronislav is no stranger to the Longines EEF Series, having been a part of the Slovakian team that qualified for the final in Warsaw in 2023.

Statis Conti began his 2024 campaign with a third-place finish in the KEP Italia 1m50 Grand Prix in Arezzo in April before lining out for the Slovakian team in Mannheim. With his eye-catching jump and smooth, rideable way of going, Statis Conti is one to watch.

“The result in Mannheim was great! I was very happy to be there,” said Bronislav. “With Statis Conti, I have tried to build him up, and in the second half of last year, he began to feel very good. I really like him; he always tries to do his best.”

The Longines EEF Series is integral to Bronislav’s 2024 season plan. “Looking forward, we hope the Slovakian team can qualify for the Series final in Warsaw. We had a very good result in Mannheim, and we will try to be as good at our next qualifier in Bratislava. We will do everything we can to qualify for the semifinal in Budapest. I plan to continue to ride Statis Conti throughout the rest of the Series.”

Alongside the Longines EEF Series shows, Bronislav will be competing in World Cup Qualifier classes with the aim of picking up enough points to earn a place at the 2025 FEI World Cup Final in Basel, Switzerland. He did not jump Statis Conti in the Mannheim Grand Prix, instead deciding to use the Longines EEF Series Nations Cup as his preparation for the World Cup classes in Szilvasvarad, Hungary, the following weekend.

“If you are good in competitions like the Longines EEF Series, then the step up is not that big and becomes about the opportunities you get. I always try to do well in the Nations Cup competitions because I am jumping for my country. I have jumped at the World Equestrian Games and on the Longines Global Champions Tour, and I think in the end, if you can do well in the [Longines EEF] Series classes, you can jump at any shows in the world.”

Bronislav is based in Bratislava, where he runs Double CH Farms. He has spent the last four years carefully producing his string of horses, with a good mix of established older horses and talented younger prospects. Bronislav is particularly excited about the eight-year-old stallion Quinto Van Het Molenhof. In 2023, this horse finished first in the final of the Youngster Tour in Valencia. He picked up further good results with a win in the 6 and 7-year-old class in Ebreichsdorf (2023 Series semi-final event) and second place in the 6 and 7-year-old class in Bratislava.

Alongside producing and competing his competition horses, he also buys, sells and breeds horses for sport. Bronislav has a great team of people behind him and is keen to maximise opportunity.

“My dad was a professional race jockey. He taught me a lot about feeding and conditioning horses and has supported me at each career stage. Now, I am trying to make the best of what I have learned from him. With the owners and sponsors that I have, I want to prove myself-they all help me a lot, and I am very thankful for that. For the Slovakian riders, it is not always easy to get to a show like Mannheim, but when we get the opportunity to ride at these bigger competitions, the horses and riders perform so well.”

Catch all the action from the final regional qualifier this Friday from 11.00 CEST with Clipmyhorse.tv and live on our website les-eef.eu.