Stridefull – a Romanian company on the level of the Olympic Games – a global brand
There are so many beautiful aspects in our work at Toud. One of them is that we have access to deep knowledge and inspiration through our clients and the projects we work on. That was the case with the Stridefull project—a moment of profound inspiration.
Stridefull – a moment of profound inspiration
The Stridefull team found us through Google. At that time, they didn’t have this name. They were just a small firm from Romania, with micro logistical points in France and the UK, involved in designing and constructing obstacles for showjumping competitions. They told us from the very beginning that they needed to build a brand, because they felt there was huge potential in the niche in which they operate.
These people from the team, now called Stridefull, were in fact, even then, the most important global company in this field – constructing obstacles for showjumping competitions. It is no coincidence that this was the company that had designed and built (together with the course officials) the obstacles for the Tokyo Olympic Games and that was now (in 2024) working on the obstacles for the Paris Olympic Games.
These people are professionals and, above all, individuals who understand the idea of humility—humbleness, as we like to call it in this global world. Clearly, in their community, in the world of this sport, everyone knew who they were—and that is because their constant concern was always to deliver the highest quality, in the best conditions, anywhere in the world, completely forgetting about their amazing track record and the idea of promotion or “polishing” their image.
What did we take away from this? Always, the sincere commitment to deliver perfection—to do things better, faster, more efficiently—is far more valuable than anything else. Moreover, this humility paves the way to learn, collaborate, listen, debate, and grow beautifully. That is what it’s all about: perfection in what you do and openness to collaborate (which involves debate, learning, communication, and human connections that bring value—the leap).
Presence at the Olympic Games – an enormous achievement for Romania
There aren’t many Romanians who “make it” to the Olympic Games, and even fewer are those who win there. Stridefull succeeded in both editions, being the company chosen to design and build the obstacles for both Tokyo and Paris. This is an astonishing performance, achieved by a handful of brave, visionary, perfectionist individuals coming from a country without a tradition or competitions of this kind—Romania. Their achievement is all the more remarkable.
What happened on the path we embarked on?
It seems to be the ideal case: you meet a team that is in a state of grace, what can you do next? The amazement continued just as beautifully for us. These people knew very well who they were, what they existed for, how they wanted to change the field in which they operate and, in addition, they even had a name—one meant to help them tell their story: Stridefull.
After a series of working meetings, we came to articulate their purpose, which went as follows:
„We are creators of showjumps who combine visionary design with innovative manufacturing technologies. Our purpose is to amplify moments for everyone, riders, staff, spectators, enthusiasts. We strive to achieve this by enhancing freedom in crafting new riding universes.”
What does Stridefull mean and what is the road to the visual identity?
In the context of showjumping, “Stridefull” (full stride) means a complete stride and refers to the entire cycle of movement a horse makes between two obstacles, influencing the rhythm of the approach. This includes all phases of the gallop—from the moment the horse pushes off with its hind legs until it returns to the same position. Understanding the length of the stride is crucial for adjusting the distances between obstacles. Riders and course designers calculate the strides to ensure smooth and safe approaches to the obstacles.
The name is very fitting because it highlights the essence of this team: the aspiration for perfection and freedom. “Full” (complete) adds a sense of strength, balance, and harmony—qualities essential for both a horse and a rider during a perfect jump. The name conveys the idea of fluidity and control, key elements in showjumping competitions.
In everything it does, this company amplifies the moments, the emotion, both for the rider and the audience.
A concluding though
For us, this collaboration is an immense joy and a commensurate responsibility. We are constantly amazed by this team’s ability to listen, learn, innovate, and find new ways to achieve perfection. For us, Stridefull—the people in this team—are a living example that if you want to reach the top, very top, the pinnacle of the world, you can do it, even when all around you is nothing but flatland.
Certainly, we were too reserved and used too few words when speaking about these people, who have achieved an unimaginable performance for an Eastern European country.
Alexandru Grigorescu, Co-founder Toud