In Memoriam - Jumping community mourns French Jumping athlete and Chef d’Equipe Jean-Maurice Bonneau 1959 -2024

Jean Maurice Bonneau, well-known and greatly respected French Jumping athlete, Chef d’Equipe and FEI Jumping Committee member from 2008-2012, sadly passed away on 18 March at the age of 64.

Bonneau discovered his passion for horse riding at the age of 12 thanks to Gérald and Michel de Béjarry. At the age of 18, he then went to join his brothers who were already established as professional riders, before setting up his own business in 1984.

Member of the French team from 1987 to 1996, his first participation at a major international event was the FEI Jumping European Championship in St.Gallen (SUI) in 1995, where France took home the bronze medal.

Further career highlights include his role as French Chef d’Equipe from 2000 to 2006, where he led the French team to gold at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Jerez de La Frontera (ESP) in 2002 and to team silver at the FEI Jumping European Championship in Donaueschingen (GER) in 2003.

“I had the pleasure of getting to know Jean-Maurice at Events and through our work together within the FEI Jumping Committee”, said Chair of the FEI Jumping Committee, Stephan Ellenbruch. “He was passionate and invested in our sport with an open mind allowing for good discussions. His passing is a heavy loss for the Jumping Community”.

Todd Hinde, FEI Jumping Director added “Jean-Maurice was a well-known and much appreciated member of the equestrian community. He will be dearly missed, and fondly remembered.”

The FEI expresses its sincere condolences to Jean-Maurice Bonneau’s family and friends, the French Equestrian Federation (FFE) and the global equestrian and Jumping communities.