Biography

French rider and instructor Rodolphe Scherer (44), who is based in the West Coast Vendee region of the Pays de la Loire, last came to Badminton in 2008. Last year with his Badminton entry Makara de Montiege he completed Burghley and in 2014 the pair competed as an individual at the WEG finishing in 19^th place.

Rodolphe is one of France’s most experienced riders with over 20 four-star starts to his name and is the winner of several senior team medals.

He was born in Nantes and followed his father Ivan, a riding teacher (Olympic reserve 1980) and technical delegate into the sport. He first competed internationally as a member of the French junior team for three consecutive years (1987-89) and in 1989 was French junior Champion and the winner of the individual European silver. He then won several team medals in Young Rider Championships. In 1992 aged 20 he made his first visit to Badminton although was eliminated XC. Four years later he was a member of the French team for the Olympic Games and again in 2000 – both times just missing the individual medals finishing in fourth place. After six years in the UK he returned to France and since 2003 has been based in the Vendee where, with his wife, he runs an equestrian centre at Haras de Presnes.

Rodolphe is married to Aude and has three children

Makara de Montiege, owned by Mrs Maryse Bouchet & Mrs Aude Largarde, is a 16-year-old French-bred grey Selle Francais mare. She is by Be Bop III a son of the famous Trakehner Abdullah, out of Clara de Montiege by the SF and jumping stallion Hospodar (also the dam-sire of Preci-Spark’s former four-star mare Erbium). She was acquired as a five year old from Nicolas Touzaint by Aude who then produced her to two-star level. In 2010 Makara was sold and bought for Irish rider Austin O’Connor although a year later the mare returned to his former rider. In 2009 with Rodolphe she was 14^th at the European Championships.