Oliver Fletcher arrives in Avenches this week to compete in the CSIO4*-NC and the Longines EEF Series Final, as part of the Great Britain team.
The British rider will rely on Cassanova One BVL Z for the Nations Cup, whilst his experienced Hello William will be his partner for the Grand Prix. Two different horses for a competition in which Fletcher is clear about his priority: to take it step by step and try to deliver his best performance both individually and for the team.
Horses have been part of Fletcher’s life practically since he was born. The son of two riders who competed at the highest level and took part in major championships and Olympic Games, he grew up in an environment completely linked to equestrian sport. However, he recalls that his parents never tried to force that path on either him or his brother.
“I was extremely lucky. Both my parents competed at the highest level, taking part in major championships and Olympic Games. Never, not for a second, did they push me towards this sport, but naturally I ended up getting into it. I loved it from day one. I was probably riding horses before I knew how to walk,” she explains.
A decision that Oliver made by himself, although always with the backing of his parents. “Both my brother and I had to make that decision for ourselves and they have been incredible from the beginning to where we are now.”.
His sporting career has already enabled him to accumulate numerous memories, both individually and as part of British teams. Among them all, Fletcher highlights two in particular. The first came at the London 5* Grand Prix, which marked both his and his horse's debut in a five-star Grand Prix and, furthermore, came after his partner recovered from major colic surgery.
“It was our first big competition after returning and we got a double clear in my country. It's a moment that will stay with me forever,” she recalls.
This is coupled with a successful spell in the youth categories. Fletcher estimates that he won nine or ten medals at European Championships during his years as a Children, Junior and Young Rider, although there is one that holds a particularly important place in his memory: the individual gold he won in his final year as a Young Rider with the same horse with which he would later compete in that 5* Grand Prix in London.
“We won individual gold by jumping clear every day and with all my family there. It was another truly special moment that I will never forget.
Now, one of the main pieces of her sports project is Cassanova One BVL Z, a ten-year-old gelding owned by Silke Scheiber. The horse arrived at her stables at the end of last year and the partnership began competing together at the start of 2026. In just a few months, Fletcher has found in him qualities that make her look to the future with special optimism.
“Silke has been incredibly generous and it’s been fantastic getting to know her, and having her support and trust. She bought Cassanova at the end of last year and we started competing together at the beginning of this year. He has already achieved fantastic results and is jumping really well,” she notes.
Fletcher does not hesitate when speaking about his partner's potential. “He has all the capability in the world, by far compared to any horse I’ve ever sat on. It’s about channelling his talent and power and managing to put all the pieces together”.
Aside from his physical condition, his attitude when entering the arena stands out in particular. “He’s a real trier. He fights for his rider.” Fletcher also acknowledges the prior work carried out by James Winter in the horse's training and the importance of having the backing of an owner who allows him to develop the partnership with time and confidence.
Cassanova, however, is just one of the pieces in a yard where Fletcher currently has several promising horses. After recently selling a few horses, the team has brought in new faces, whilst continuing to rely on one of the partners he knows best: Hello William, with whom he has been paired for over seven years.
They are joined by several six-, seven- and eight-year-olds in which he places great expectations. Among them, he particularly highlights Montechino, an eight-year-old that has also travelled to Avenches.
“I think he's definitely a horse to follow in the future. He has very little experience, having only started competing internationally this year, but he has a huge amount of power and is very careful. I think he really stands out and is one of the horses to watch.
The way in which Fletcher talks about his horses also provides an insight into his philosophy as a rider. For him, the daily routine is not solely about riding and training, but about getting to know each horse and understanding their way of thinking.
“A normal day for me is spending time with my horses. I love horses as much as people, so I feel very fortunate to be able to be with them every day, get to know them, try to get inside their heads and work with them, not for them or against them.
Steve Guerdat had a particularly important influence on that way of understanding riding. Fletcher spent several months with the Swiss rider when he was around 16 years old, an experience from which he retains teachings that he still applies in his daily work.
“He taught me so much about how to build a relationship with the horse, about horsemanship and about all those invaluable lessons for a rider. This goes far beyond talent and results. I think that often riders need to look beyond that and truly build a relationship with their horses.
A philosophy that stems from the emotional bond between horse and rider. “At the end of the day, if you don't love horses and they don't love you back, they aren't going to try. Horses already have to make a huge effort for us, so I believe that if they don't feel the affection and care you give them, there is zero chance they will give everything for you.”.
Fletcher has also transferred that vision to an aspect that increasingly occupies a larger space in his activity: the training of other riders. Both during competitions and at home, he acknowledges that he especially enjoys working with people and horses to try to get each horse-and-rider combination to reach their best version.
With that same philosophy, they have prepared their participation in Avenches. Hello William will be their horse for the Grand Prix, whilst Cassanova One BVL Z is scheduled for the Nations Cup. The preparation has gone smoothly, with the aim of both arriving in Switzerland fresh. Approximately a month ago they competed for two weeks in Saint-Tropez and, since then, the work has focused on keeping them in shape without pushing them too hard.
“They've had a fairly quiet couple of weeks, getting them into shape and keeping them fresh, and I hope we are ready to give it everything this week in Switzerland.
After Avenches, there will still be important competitions on Fletcher's calendar. Ascona will be one of his next destinations and he also plans to take part in two or three legs of the Longines Global Champions Tour. However, the Briton does not want to look too far ahead.
“Right now we are taking it step by step. Our main objective this week is to try to do the best we can for the team and do the best we can in the Grand Prix. After that, we'll go contest by contest.
For the time being, all their attention is focused on Avenches, where Great Britain will be looking to wrap up their participation in the Longines EEF Series Final with a strong result. Fletcher arrives with two team-mates in whom he has complete confidence and with a philosophy that has accompanied his entire career: “Right now we have one hundred per cent of our concentration and determination focused on making this week go as well as possible.”.
