Gilles Müller knows all about the value of building a career step by step. The Swiss rider has grown up surrounded by horses, but he has also grown alongside them, especially alongside Giavanna CB, the mare that came into his life when she was four and ended up becoming a fundamental part of both his sporting career and his family. Now, as he competes in the U25 category in Avenches, Müller continues to develop a string of horses with which he hopes to make the jump to higher-level classes and he has a clear dream for the future: to represent Switzerland at a major championship.
Horses were present in the family long before Gilles began to compete. His father even participated in events of up to 1.30 metres and his paternal family was always connected to them. Thus, his path began in a natural way, moving from ponies to the riding school and initially participating in a gymkhana and a drag hunt.
Then came her first competitions with her own pony and, at the age of twelve, an opportunity that would mark a new step in her training.
“When I was twelve years old, I was able to take charge of my uncle's horse. With it, I got my licence and, subsequently, I was able to take part in the European Children's Championship,” he recalls.
However, it would be two years later that the horse which would end up changing his trajectory appeared. When Gilles was 14, his father acquired Giavanna CB, who was then four. The beginnings were not straightforward, but rider and mare learned and progressed together until they reached stages that in those early moments seemed difficult to imagine.
“Although it was difficult at first, we grew together. With her I was able to compete in several European Championships and achieve my greatest successes. She has become a member of the family and is surely the main reason why I decided to follow this path.
That shared process means one of its results holds a significance for Müller that goes beyond the purely sporting. His greatest success came in Gorla Minore, where he achieved victory in the EEF Nations Cup after producing a double clear round with Giavanna.
“Reaching every stage with the same horse until achieving that success was something very emotional and special for me and my family,” he explains. “At the beginning we would never have thought that we could get so far together, but every step we asked of him he surpassed.”.
Giavanna remains part of his string and Müller continues to select a few shows for her. The mare keeps her eagerness to compete and is in good shape, although the Swiss rider no longer enters her in the most demanding classes.
Alongside her, she currently has mainly three other horses for competition. Christella, a twelve-year-old mare, has established herself as her main mount and represents one of her major commitments to continued progress.
“She has become my best horse. She has a lot of quality and power, and my goal is to prepare her long-term for higher-level challenges.
Completing this group are Lenny, a ten-year-old gelding, and Levis, who is eight. Müller has high expectations for both, although he believes they still need to gain time and experience before taking the next steps.
Patience is precisely one of the pillars of his way of working. His aim is not solely to reach certain heights or results, but to understand what each horse needs and to adapt its development to its character and capabilities.
“For me, it is always important to get the horses on my side and understand them. I believe that every horse has its own character and you have to understand it. Ultimately, my goal is to develop each one individually as far as possible and always keep them fit and motivated.
That approach also determines his routine when he is not competing. Müller starts his days early and, especially when temperatures are high, makes sure the horses are turned out from first thing in the morning. Then comes the ridden work, which can take place out in the countryside or in the arena depending on the needs of each individual horse.
Add to this another aspect of his activity that he particularly enjoys: coaching his pupils. The result is usually intense days, albeit with an individualised plan for each horse.
“It is important to me that all the horses have spent enough time outside and that each one has a well-adapted programme based on their age, fitness level and competition schedule. We always try to keep them motivated, but also to continue developing them.
This week, one of those competitions is Avenches. Competing at home makes the Swiss event a different experience for Müller, both because of the atmosphere and the sporting level and organisation.
“The Avenches show is special for all Swiss riders. There is a fantastic atmosphere, it is very well organised and it brings together a lot of good riders.
In this edition, Müller is taking part in the U25 tour, so his presence is not yet linked to the CSIO4*-NC. Precisely there lies one of his most immediate goals: to return in 2027 prepared to compete in the four-star classes.
“This year I am competing in the U25 Tour, but the goal is to be ready next year for the 4*.
However, the Swiss athlete's sporting horizon extends much further. His great ambition is one day to become part of a national team at a major championship and fight to get on the podium representing Switzerland.
“Of course, my main goal is to represent my country in a championship and come back home with medals.”.
Müller is aware of the distance that still exists to reach that goal and does not intend to skip any of the intermediate stages. “The road to get there is still very long. But I enjoy every stage, even if it is sometimes a difficult path.”.
An important part of that motivation is once again found in what has defined his own history with Giavanna: developing horses from a young age and seeing how far they can go with time and work.
“It gives me enormous satisfaction to see the young horses grow and take them, step by step, towards increasingly greater challenges.
With that philosophy, Müller continues to build his project and is also looking towards new additions. Currently, his team remains open both to finding young horses with potential and to bringing on board individuals willing to support that process for the long term.
“We are constantly looking for young horses or motivated individuals who are willing to invest in the future and walk this path together.
An idea that sums up well a career in which grand objectives coexist with patience. From that horse belonging to his uncle with which he obtained his licence to Giavanna, Christella and the new generation of his stable, Müller continues to move forward with the same premise: to understand each horse, keep it motivated and allow the daily work to determine how far it can go.
