A Small Stand, Bad English and a Dream: Eric Leyssalle and The Devoucoux Family

Eric Leysalle represents Devoucoux Saddles, a French custom-saddle company.  Their saddles are exquisite, fit to the rider and horse and rely on the handiwork of the French craftsmen in Biarritz.  Representatives come directly to you and your horse (you'll meet Eric if you're in the Southeast) for a fitting.  If you need changes or anything else then they'll come back, no charge.  Brilliant.  Eric knows what he's talking about and he does it in a French accent.  What could be any better than that?  www.devoucoux.com

image used with permission of Devoucoux

Q.  Describe Devoucoux.

A. Good question.  It's a classy company making sports saddles for almost twenty years.  Jean-Michel Devoucoux is the owner and the beginning of the story.  He started it in 1994 and it was a small family; like a dream.  Now it's more professional because Devoucoux works with the best riders and the saddles has changed.  Every saddle is custom made for the horse and rider.

Q.  How long have you been working for Devoucoux?

A.  I've been working since 1994 with Jean-Michel, and he wanted me to know everything.  I saw the factories and in the office and learned everything before going out on the road.  That was a great experience and that was very good to know every part of the business.  I left for a little bit for PG saddles (French jumping saddles).  I wanted to come to the US and three years ago left again PG.  I started in Ocala which is funny because my English was so bad.  I started with a small stand and bad English.  In one month I sold 50 saddles.  The owner asked me to stay.  

Q.  How did you get involved with Devoucoux?

A.  I was working in a tack shop close to Versaille.  It was a big tack shop and Jean-Michel started selling saddles there.  I think it was not a good way to sell the saddle because you are not close to the customer and you don't see the horse.  If you like a saddle in tack shop you don't see the horse and the balance is different and every horse is different.  I started to sell Devoucoux in this tack shop and when I left Jean-Michel said hey would you like to come with us and do it on the road?  I was one of the first to sell the saddles in France on the road and be with the professional and the horse.  It's much better.   They asked me to come and I remember it was at a big event, Le Lion d'Angers.  I came very early in the morning and sat with Jean-Michel and a friend.  It started like this.  It was a lot of fun.  They say you want to go with us and I say okay.  So come to Biarritz and stay two or three months to learn everything.  After a month and a half I say I want to go on the road.  Jean-Michel said okay.  I went back to Paris and Normandy.  I was so busy.  It was the beginning of the story.

Biarritz, France.  

Used with curator's permission from www.old-picture.com

Q. What is your role there?

A.  I'm here to help the rider find a good saddle for him and the horse.  You have to listen to the rider and you have to know the horse.  Some want to be straight on their feet some want to be more comfortable.  For the horse of course you have to do the perfect fit.  The horse has to be comfortable.  You can hurt him so you have to be careful and to do the right saddle.  I listen first to what they're looking for and I try to find a good model first.  You have a wide seat, flat seat, narrow seat and after a size of flap and balance of horse.  It's easy to do with Boyd [Martin] and Phillip [Dutton] because they know what they want.  But an amateur, they are listening and need your help.  This is my role.

Phillip Dutton in his Blue Devoucoux

photo used with permission of Devoucoux

Q. Where are you from originally?

A.  I was born close to Paris, and after in a big horse area between Normandy and West of Paris.

Q.  Do you find you miss France?

A.  Yeah of course!  I miss my country but I love your country, I love to be here.  My brother and sister and parents are in Paris.  I come back every year to visit and stay a little in the South of France.  But I'm very happy to be in this country.  I love there's a lot of horse shows everywhere.  I go in the winter to Ocala.  I love to move, I don't want to stay in one place.  That's the great part for me: My area is from Pennsylvania to Aiken, South Carolina.

Q.  Do you see a difference in the sport of eventing in France vs. America?

A.  There is more eventing in the US.  A lot more.  Some in France, they have good riders too but there are a lot more competitions in the US.  It's easy to find some.  In France you have to drive four or five hours.  A lot of people are coming form Europe to compete in the US because there are more events in the US of course.

photo used with permission of Devoucoux

Q.  Why are Devoucoux saddles so good?

A.  I think the best part of Devoucoux is the fit for the horse.  Jean-Michel is the first guy to say we don't want to sell these standard panels.  Everything is for the rider and we really take care of the horse.  After of course great quality and service.  We really take care of the customer.  If the customer doesn't like it we change the panels.  We do it directly in the stables.  This is a very important point.  If you don't like your saddle we give you all your money back.  I love this product.  We have a wide range: dressage, jumping and Chiberta and cross-country saddles.  It's easy to work with different people.

From Karl Baedeker's  Southern France, Including Corisca (1914)

Q.  Where are the saddles made?

A.  The factory in Biarritz; you can go and visit.  It's a beautiful city; it's one of my favorites.  It's so close to the sea and close to Spain.  There are mountains and it's beautiful.  The factory is there and there's 50 person working there, maybe more with people in the office.  Everything is made in France.  Which is important because not everybody makes it in France!

Q.  Any fun stories from being on the road to fit saddles?

A.  One time I was on a big highway and the traffic was so bad like in Washington.  I'm used to being in traffic--and I remember a girl saw the saddles and asked me for a card.  And I go the day after and I sold a saddle.  A funny way to sell a saddle.  Every day I have fun!

Q.  What kinds of barns or farms to you go to mostly?

A.  I go everywhere where people want Devoucoux.  Professional farms, amateurs, big and small farms.  Sometimes I work with foxhunters because they need very comfortable saddles.  It's very different every day.

Q.  Are you in a relationship?

A.  I'm married with an American girl named Tammie.

Q.  Do you ride yourself?

A.  I rode jumpers for a long time.  But now I don't have too much time.  But the last time I rode, that's a funny story.  I rode with a friend in Ocala and she said Eric you should come and have fun with me.  I packed everything and was happy to come and jump.  She gave me a Chiberta and I rode an hour and a half over pretty big fences.  I really had fun.  I was sore but I hadn't ridden.  Everything was perfect.  We went out until about 2:00 am and I was still in pain.  My friend said you have to go and see a doctor.  So we went.  The doctor called me back and said you have go to the hospital you have very bad appendicitis. I went to the emergency room and did surgery.  I thought I was sore because I hadn't ridden in so long!  I was so in pain.  It took fifteen days to recover.  It's okay now, I'm fine.

Q.  What kind of things do you like outside Devoucoux?

A.  I like classic rock like Radio Head. Jazz.  French food like fish and oysters.  I like Citronelle in Washington, a French Bistro.  The Ice House Cafe.  Friday and Saturday night they have jazz bands.  Dan, the bartender, is my friend and everyone says he's the best bartender in Virginia.  It's just like home.  When I'm home I can walk everywhere.  I love D.C.  I'm a country guy and I like to be in the city.  You can be in Middelburg in 40 minutes and you can be in a museum or restaurants.  It's not a big city, it's big enough. I love this place.

Q.  Do you have a favorite wine?

A.  Burgandy wine and Bordeaux.  I love it.  I love white wine.  Bordeaux is classy. I like Burgandy because it's more delicate.  And I love champagne.  When it's good.  I prefer to have Coke than bad champagne!

Q.  Who are some of the riders you sponsor at Devoucoux?

A.  I love my customers and am close to them.  The legend Bruce Davidson, Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin is lovely and funny and a great rider.  Leslie Law is from Great Britan but I think will ride for the US; he wants to be American.  I'm very close to Sharon White.  I want to thank these riders and Devoucoux for working with me.  Without these riders we are nothing.  It's a team.  

Sharon White in her Orange Devoucoux

photo used with permission from Mike McNally

It's a Groom's Life: Emma Ford in the Streets of Rio, about Phillip Dutton, and Her Favorite Horse. (Psst, it's Connaught!)

Emma Ford was born and raised in England.  She came to the US in 1998 to work for top eventer Adrienne Iorio.  She currently grooms for Phillip Dutton, winner of Rolex 2008 and 10-time USEA Rider-of-the-Year.  She keeps his True Prospect Farm going as well as speaking at the Dutton Eventing Academy.   In 2007 she won the US Eventing's Professional Groom's Award.  She knows her stuffs and shares that and more below.

Q.  How did you come to the US?

A.  It was March '98 and I had finished my degree in England and had never traveled.  Well, I had been to France for two days.  I wanted to go and travel and not go to the real world right away.  I went through an exchange agency and they hooked me up with Adrienne [Iorio].  Basically I filled out an application with what I had done and what I wanted to do.  They had employers on the other end with what they could offer.  I interviewd over the phone and ended up with Adrienne.  After eight months she checked in and was like, " Do you want to extend your visa?"  Yup!  Eighteen months in, "Do you want to extend your visa?"  Hell yeah!  Now I'm here with a Green Card.  Still not in the real world.  I don't see myself going back to England to work in the event circuit.  The weather is way better here!

Emma Ford with Connaught (right)--photo credit to www.equinature.com

Q.  Who have you worked for since being here?

A.  Adrienne and Phillip [Dutton].  I have been with Phillip since August 2005.

Q.  What made you make that switch?

A.  I sort of got the bug.  Me and Adrienne went to the Blenheim 3-star.  I thought it was pretty cool and thought it was very neat.  I just wanted to do more of the international stuff.  I knew Phillip was looking for a groom so went that way.  it expanded from there.

Blenheim Palace--photo credit to www. blenheim-horse.co.uk

Q.  What does your daily life look like?

A.  95% is with the competition horses.  Turning out, tacking up, medical needs, grooming.  It's the same at any barn.  It's all the same.  Everyone has to take care of every horse.  No amazing difference.  I hardly ride.  I'm pretty much on the ground all the time.

Q.  What's your favorite thing about the job?

A. I enjoy being on the road.  Going to the big competitions and seeing the horses run, especially the upper level horses.  The barn is so busy we joke that being on the road is my downtime.  The actual competing is what I enjoy seeing.

Emma Ford (far right) on the road in Hong Kong

photo credit to Mark Hart

Q.  What's the hardest thing?

A.  Keeping it all together!  Keeping the barn going and keeping on top of things.  One of the things different from Adrienne to Phillip is that there's so many more people involved like working students, farriers, etc.  I have to delegate to make sure everything works smoothly.  That's definitely what I find the most difficult.

Q.  How would you describe Phillip Dutton as a person?

A.  Anyone who knows him would say "quiet" comes first hand.  He's very quiet but all observing.  He definitely sees everything and is one for a good story.  He loves a good story.  Adrienne was very hard working too.  I've worked for two people that are so hard working.  How he juggles everything including his family is amazing.  His wife is a big part of the famr keeping the office running.

Phillip Dutton  aboard Connaught in Hong Kong

photo credit to Mark Hart

Q.  How would you describe his work style?

A.  He is always on the go.  If he's not riding he's on a conference call.  If he's not on a call he's teaching.  It's unreal how he fits it all in.  He's one of these people that wants you to work hard but you take away what you put in.  If you don't make an effort why should he bother?

Q.  What is the atmosphere like at his farm?

A.  People are coming and going whether it's farriers, vets, students, boarders--it's very busy.  Work needs to be fun but it can get stressful.  Especially with this run up to Rolex.  We've got four horses going so it's the final gallops...There are days when you think you'll pull your hair out but we all pull together.  We make it fun but it can be high stress.

Q.  Who is there from day to day?

A.  Me; Phillip; his wife; three riders: Jenny, Boyd [Martin], and Ryan; 2 working students: Nate and Charlotte.  Then Bea who rides and is learning and helping me to manage the barn.

Q.  How many horses do you work with?

A.  From anytime we can vary between 35-40 horses on the property.  We oversee all of them and work together to take care of them.  Coming up to big competitions my priority is the upper level horses (off the top of my head we've probably got, including student's horses, at least 12 Intermediate through Advanced horses on the farm).  But you can't just not take care of the others either!

Q.  Do you have any favorite horses you work with?

A.  I do, though I probably shouldn't!  Connaught, he is extremely quirky.  When I first started he hadn't really come into himself.  I am drawn to quirky horses.  If you asked anyone they'd be like, "Yup, he's her favorite!".  I love the way he tries.  At competitions he wants to please.  If he was a child, he'd be the nerd in the class.  He always comes out on top.

Q.  Where have you traveled with Phillip?

A.  We went to Germany for the Worlds in 2006; 2007 to Rio in Brazil for the Pan Ams.  Obviously England.  Last year to Hong Kong.

Emma Ford (first row, center) at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong

photo credit to Mark Hart

Q.  What does your to-do list look like to travel internationally?

A.  Once you're on the road it's everything to do with making sure the horse is happy within himself.  Simon [Connaught] is the main one I've traveled with.  It's individual care of the horse.  He's a finicky eater so you want to keep his stress level down so you're forever hand grazing him.  Just keeping them happy.  Extreme care of their legs and knowing what they're looking like.  You've got time to do that.  You've got to know your horses.  Simon does best when you're not at him all day.  If you can leave him alone then that's when he eats.  He doesn't want you grooming and massaging and putting on the magnetic blanket.  He can't stand that!  You have the time to take the proper individual care of them.

Q.  Do you have any grooming tips?

A.  For me it's time management.  If Phillip has seven horses at an event then time management is key.  I have them ready 5-10 minutes before he needs to get on.  If I haven't had time to go over tack again then I put babby oil on my hands and go over the bridle to bring out the shine.  We use lots of oil sprays for African American hair.  We put it in their tails and make them shiny.  A product called Super Grow is good for blanket rubs.  Another good one is, especially with the economy, witch hazel.  If you can't afford Sore-No-More use witch hazel to tighten up legs.  It's less hard on their skin than rubbing alcohol but has the same benefits.

Q.  What are your favorite products for grooming or tack cleaning?

A.  Equinature products are a must for my grooming kit.  The antifungal shampoo is a must for any horse with a skin condition.  It rebalances the pH of the skin therefore improving the overall health of a horse's coat.  Devoucoux tack cleaning cream for saddles is amazing.  You can put one or two layers of cream on it and it's back to normal after a downpour.  I also like Leather Therapy products for bridles.

Q.  When you have time off what do you like to do?

A.  I ballroom and Latin dance.  I'm looking for a new [studio] in Pennsylvania.  Any weekend we're home they tend to have socials and stuff.  I've done it for nine years.  A good friend of mine used to work for Adrienne's sister and took me to a place down in Wellington she used to go to and I got hooked.

Q.  Who's better: American or British eventers?

A.  I'm not going to say!  I do think for the Americans to know how good they are they need to be competing with European riders.  Because the Europeans can travel more to more competitions.  We need to be up against them to knew where we're at.

Q.  Any crazy, wild stories?

A.  I'm not the biggest party groom but one that sticks with me is when we were in Rio [for the Pan Ams].  The base of the venue was an hour from where the riders were staying.  The riders had a van to take them back and forth.  They had that van take us into the city for dinner and we had to take a taxi back.  The driver said they knew where he was going but he didn't.  They guy pulls up outside this army barracks and one of the girls jumps out.  The guard was like, "Who are you?!" and pulls a gun on her. Everyone is like, "get back in the car!"  All is well but looking back on it, it was a funny moment in our lives.  Luckily the driver did eventually sort it out.  The funny thing is that we were literally one street away from where we wanted to be.  One of our more entertaining evenings.

Q.  Do you have a favorite competition?

A.  I love Stuart Horse Trials. One: it's a beautiful area and, two: they have good parties!  But Rolex is on its own, really.

Q.  What are your future goals?

A.  Grooming-wise I wanted to do the Olympics, Burghley, Pan Ams and the World Games.  So I've just got to get to Badminton.  I would like to go to another Worlds.  [The World Games] in Kentucky next year will be amazing.  Hopefully the stars will align and we'll make it.  I would like to get into sport horse rehabilitation when I move on.  I would like to hang in there for the Olympics in London but that's still three years away.