Youssef Salmeron: From Hotel Manager to Show Jumping Star

Developing Morocco’s Equestrian Future, One Horse at a Time

Youssef Salmeron’s journey from hotel management to the international show jumping arena is a testament to passion, hard work, and an undeniable talent for developing young horses. Now a leading figure in Moroccan show jumping, Salmeron is recognized for identifying and training top-level horses that often go on to compete under other riders. His success in the sport was not planned, but rather a fortunate turn of events that led him to discover his true calling.

Unexpected Beginnings in Show Jumping

Unlike many professional riders who plan their careers from a young age, Salmeron’s path to becoming a show jumper was anything but conventional. “I rode until the junior level,” Salmeron shared, “but when I went to study in France, I stopped riding for about eight years.”

During this time, Salmeron pursued a career in the hotel industry, working as a manager. It wasn’t until he was invited to ride a friend’s horse upon returning to Morocco that his life changed. “I came back, by coincidence, just riding a friend’s horse, and I ended up quitting my job and everything, becoming a professional rider,” he recalled. His decision to buy his first horse soon after sparked a passion that couldn’t be ignored. “I thought, maybe I should just do this professionally, and that’s how it went,” he said.

Developing Top-Level Horses

Salmeron has since become well-known for his ability to develop young horses into world-class competitors, a skill that has earned him significant recognition in the international show jumping community. One of his biggest achievements was the development of Levis de Muze, a horse that has gone on to compete at the highest levels of the sport.

“When you see these horses on TV at incredible championships and shows, you feel a lot of pride,” he said. “Of course, it’s hard to see them go, but it’s easier when they perform like that.”

Salmeron’s first top horse was Harold van Reutershof, a son of Diamantina, a full sister to the renowned show jumper Emerald. “At that time, the dam line was not really famous,” Salmeron explained. “But I took the horse up to Grand Prix level, and it was sold. That was my first good horse.”

Since then, Salmeron has continued to develop a string of talented horses. He currently works with promising young stallions and mares, including an 8-year-old stallion named Quint, who is from Levis de Muze’s bloodline. “I have another nice emerald mare, also 8 years old,” he said. “There are always new horses coming through.”

The Art of Selecting Top Horses

A key part of Salmeron’s success lies in his ability to choose the right horses to develop. When asked what he looks for in a young horse, Salmeron highlighted a few essential traits. “I love Diarado, so there’s always a little bit of Diarado hidden somewhere,” he said with a smile. “I like blood. You have to have blood. You have to see how the parents and grandparents performed.”

Salmeron also noted that he prefers horses that aren’t too flashy when free jumping as youngsters. “I like to see them jump nicely, but not spectacularly. When they’re too careful and too flashy, it’s sometimes not a positive thing,” he explained. “To jump very big, they need to have confidence, and you can’t build that when they’re overjumping.”

Running a Stable in Morocco

Operating a professional show jumping stable in Morocco presents its own set of challenges, but Salmeron sees the advantages of training his horses in Tangier. “When we bring horses here, the advantage is that they evolve quietly, without pressure from buyers or anything else,” he said. “We have nice arenas, good course builders, and the conditions to produce horses quietly are very good.”

However, logistics can be a challenge when it’s time to compete in Europe. “It takes a lot of organizing,” Salmeron admitted. “When we travel to Europe, the horses have to be completely ready because the process of getting there is complicated. But once they are prepared, it’s worth the effort.”

The Balance Between Sport and Commerce

While Salmeron has enjoyed success in the competitive arena, he is also a skilled horse dealer, selling many of the top horses he’s developed. Balancing the desire to compete at the top level with the need to sell horses can be difficult, but Salmeron is clear about his current focus. “I had in mind to compete at the top level, but it’s very difficult to do both,” he said. “I’m starting to move more towards being commercial, because to compete at the top today, you need a lot of horses and a lot of backup.”

Morocco’s Growing Equestrian Scene

Over the past decade, Morocco’s equestrian sport has grown significantly, thanks in part to the efforts of the national federation and its president. “In the last ten years, there’s been a huge evolution of the sport in Morocco,” Salmeron said. “We have good riders now, but we need more good horses. It’s difficult because we’re not a breeding country, but things are moving in the right direction.”

One of the most exciting developments is Morocco’s inclusion in the Global Champions Tour, a prestigious international show jumping series. “When we heard about it, we thought, no, this can’t be. It’s just crazy,” Salmeron said. “But it’s a great way to promote the sport in the country and to show the world what Morocco has to offer.”

Breeding for the Future

Though Salmeron focuses on buying and developing young horses, he has also started to explore breeding. “I breed a little bit, but not much,” he shared. “I have a few horses based in France, and when they’re ready to start working, I bring them here.”

While breeding may not be his primary focus, Salmeron’s understanding of bloodlines and his experience with top-performing horses give him an edge in producing future stars.

Best Memories and Building Connections

Looking back on his career, one of Salmeron’s fondest memories was placing second in the three-star Grand Prix in Massengie, where he competed against top riders like Kevin Staut. “That was with my first good horse, and it’s my best memory,” he said.

When it comes to building a connection with his horses, Salmeron believes that trust is key. “The most important thing is that your horse trusts you,” he explained. “To achieve that, you need to go one step at a time. You can’t go too fast, because you have to preserve the horse’s mental well-being. When they trust you, you can do a lot of things.”

For Youssef Salmeron, the future is bright, both for his own career and for Moroccan show jumping. His passion for horses and his ability to develop talent, combined with Morocco’s growing equestrian scene, promise even greater successes ahead.

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