Gigant

Almost everyone in the show-jumping community seemed to agree on one thing:

Gigant’s prime was behind him.

The horse who had been national champion in 2020, known for technically brilliant, beautiful jumps and considered one of the finest imported horses in the country, was now knocking rails. His jump quality had declined, and clean rounds had become increasingly difficult.

But one person still saw the same champion:

His trainer.

We first met him at Azmoon Club.

As he spoke about the championships and the years he had spent with Gigant, there was something more than hope in his eyes.

He still believed in his horse.

He asked only one question:

“Can Gigant jump like that again? Can he become a champion again?”

Maybe what he missed wasn’t only another title.

Maybe he missed those moments when he and his horse moved as one in the arena, the quality of jump that had once been Gigant’s signature.

He couldn’t give up on his champion.

He just needed a path back.

But the National Championship was less than 50 days away.

The path had to be focused and precise.

Gigant entered a 50-day ZERO•ONE VIP program. Physiological testing was performed, a direction was defined, and his training response was monitored weekly leading into the National Championship.

Then, fifty days later, in the competition arena...

After years, every eye was on Gigant again.

On the third day of the National Championship, the horse everyone believed had passed his prime approached one of the combinations.

He took off.

And the commentator’s voice rang across the arena:

“Wow... what a flight!”

An exceptional jump.

For a moment, it looked as though Gigant had left the ground behind and broken free of gravity itself.

The harmony was back.

The coordination, the quality, and the heart of a champion were beating again.

Gigant and his rider fought for the title until the final round, recorded the fastest overall time across all five rounds, and ultimately finished third in the country, missing a higher position only after a single rider miscalculation.

And the answer to his trainer’s question:

“Can Gigant become a champion again?”

was standing in the middle of the arena.

On the podium.

Perhaps the most beautiful image of the comeback came after the final round, when the rider leaned forward in the saddle and wrapped his arms around his horse.

The harmony was back, in the hearts of two champions.