Vincent Zacharias Bourguignon’s Journey of Passion, Partnership, and Prestige in Equestrian Sport

In the world of international show jumping, Vincent Zacharias Bourguignon is making waves, blending his Moroccan heritage with his Belgian upbringing to bring fresh talent to the sport. With a highly successful breeding stable near Antwerp and a passion for representing Morocco, Bourguignon’s story is one of dedication, cultural connection, and a unique vision for equestrian sports. Recently, Bourguignon shared insights into his journey, his breeding program, and his future aspirations in an interview after his success at the Morocco Royal Tour.

Breeding, Training, and Selling Young Horses

Bourguignon’s main business lies in training and selling quality young horses, a pursuit that has become his specialty. Based near Antwerp, his operation is home to around 50-60 horses, including broodmares, foals, and young prospects. “Our focus is on young horses,” Bourguignon explained. “We train them from an early age and prepare them to compete and excel, aiming to produce horses for every age and level.”

His stable in Belgium isn’t only a training ground but also a place where future stars of show jumping are bred and developed. As he described his work, Bourguignon spoke with pride about his father’s role in establishing their breeding program. “Everything starts with my father, who began our breeding program over 30 years ago. We’ve built generations of talent,” he shared, explaining how the farm carefully pairs mares with proven performance records to well-known or promising stallions.

Representing Morocco: Pride and Opportunity

Though raised in Belgium, Bourguignon has always felt deeply connected to Morocco through his mother’s heritage. This connection led him to join the Moroccan equestrian team, where he experienced the thrill of competing in the 2019 African Games in Rabat. “It was a great experience,” he recalled, expressing gratitude to Marcel Delestre for his role in securing him a spot on the Moroccan team. Bourguignon and his team achieved remarkable success, winning team gold and individual bronze in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. “It was amazing,” he said, smiling. “The Moroccan fans gave us incredible support, and it’s something I still feel recognized for when I’m here.”

Bourguignon notes how Morocco is growing in the equestrian world, with increasing opportunities for young riders and improvements in infrastructure. “Five or six years ago, the sport was already solid, but now you can really see the youth coming up,” he said. “The sport is expensive, and you need good horses, but I see more Moroccan riders buying young horses in Europe and learning to produce them.” He praised the efforts of Moroccan Equestrian Federation President, Moulay Abdellah Alaoui, for his commitment to advancing equestrian sport in Morocco. “The Federation is doing a great job of investing in infrastructure and resources to help Morocco grow as fast as possible.”

Equestrian Cultures in Belgium and Morocco

With one foot in Belgium’s thriving equestrian scene and the other in Morocco’s emerging one, Bourguignon sees the differences in equestrian culture firsthand. “In Belgium, equestrian sport is everywhere—you drive out of the stable, and you’ll see horses in every direction. Here in Morocco, it’s different, partly because of the climate and the focus on other traditions in the horse world.”

Though Morocco’s climate isn’t ideal for large-scale breeding, Bourguignon acknowledges that some Moroccan breeders are working to succeed in producing high-quality horses in the country. “It’s a challenge here due to the weather and limited pasture, but there are people giving it a try, and some will succeed,” he noted.

Building Bonds and Winning Hearts with Horses

Among the many horses he’s trained and competed with, Bourguignon’s heart belongs to one special partner: Cascabel. “Cascabel is my heart horse,” he shared. The journey with Cascabel didn’t start easily; Bourguignon initially doubted the horse’s potential. “When he came to me, I wasn’t convinced. In fact, I even tried to sell him at one point,” he laughed. But when he watched Cascabel jump for another rider, he saw something special. “I stood there watching and thought, ‘This is good.’ I called my father and said, ‘We need to test him over a 1.50m course.’ Cascabel flew over it, and that’s when I knew he was staying with us.”

Cascabel has been with Bourguignon ever since, taking on challenging courses and placing consistently in competition. “He’s a little quirky—cars passing by still spook him sometimes,” Bourguignon chuckled, “but I think that’s part of why I love him. We all have a soft spot for a challenge, right?”

Vision for the Future

For Bourguignon, breeding isn’t only about tradition; it’s about advancing the sport. “When we choose mares, we look at their backgrounds. We focus on bloodlines that produce 1.50m or 1.60m horses,” he explained. While they pair with well-known stallions like Diamant de Semilly, Bourguignon also experiments with young, promising stallions from strong maternal lines, noting that this blend of established and emerging bloodlines helps them create future stars.

Despite the challenge of balancing breeding with competition and sales, Bourguignon is committed to his path. “The sport is unpredictable, and selling is part of the business, especially when you want to make a living at this,” he said. Yet, with a strong foundation and a well-established breeding program, Bourguignon’s vision for his stable is clear. “We’re always building. I’m excited for what’s ahead, and I’m hopeful that Morocco will continue growing as a competitive force in equestrian sport.”

Bridging Borders, Building Legacy

As he looks forward, Bourguignon is proud to represent Morocco and share his Belgian heritage in the equestrian arena. By blending his passion for both countries, he’s helping shape the next generation of showjumping talent. With a growing stable, a heart-horse to keep him grounded, and a vibrant future in breeding, Vincent Zacharias Bourguignon is set to leave a lasting mark on both Belgian and Moroccan equestrian landscapes.

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