I'm a professional showjumper - AMA

[showjumper]

As the title says

Feel free to ask me anything!

How are you managing to keep on top of training the horses with the hard ground we've had all summer - is it just flatwork, or are you jumping them?

Has the weather affected competitions in the UK?

(I was riding in 1976 hence the question)

Are you in the south? I think I used to jump with you in juniors OP!

@sunflowersinthesky

How are you managing to keep on top of training the horses with the hard ground we've had all summer - is it just flatwork, or are you jumping them?

Has the weather affected competitions in the UK?

(I was riding in 1976 hence the question

Luckily we have an excellent surface at home & most competitions we travel to will either be on surface or water their ground, so no not really affected too much. I have been getting up at silly o clock though to try & ride before the heat!

Are you in the south? I think I used to jump with you in juniors OP!

@Paddingtonthebear ahhh have I outed myself! I've tried to be careful! Maybe, I'm SW?

@showjumper glad to hear your horses also have a good work life balance.

Another question
Have you ever had a horse that you just didn't get along with?
If so, did you persevere or give up fairly early on with it? What happened to it....If indeed there was one?

Have you ever coveted somebody else's horse and wished to sneak it on your lorry?

@twoheaped

Thank you, I like to hope they do 😁

Have you ever had a horse that you just didn't get along with?
If so, did you persevere or give up fairly early on with it? What happened to it....If indeed there was one?

Yes, of course. I like to think I'm a decent rider 🤪 but I'm only human and horses are not machines. It happens less often now as I am fussier with regards to the horses I ride and I try to stick to my type.
I try to persevere for as long as I can - obviously there was a reason why I bought/agreed to ride the horse in the first place. Would change tack/ask my trainer and/or friends for help. Any horses that I haven't got on with have found more suitable homes. The most recent one that came ti mind was a 5yo I sold last year - he was absolutely massive (17.3hh) and whilst he had every ounce of potential, he was just too big for me to hold together. He has gone to a good friend (male) and is doing fab in his new home 😝

Have you ever coveted somebody else's horse and wished to sneak it on your lorry?

Yes, who hasn't 🤪 every time I see Peder Fredricsson's Hansson I want to sneak him into my lorry 😂

I've nothing to add/ask other than to say that I've found this a really interesting AMA.
In my younger days I did a stint on a less well known SJ yard....the SJ in question was in later years found to have been involved in some criminal activity 🙀 which didn't surprise me as I found her quite a nasty piece of work.
I do love the fact that in pretty much all equestrian sports men and women compete on an equal playing field (and must be one of the few sports that does) and i think its pretty evenly balanced in terms of which sex wins the most medals.
Hope you make it to the Olympics in 2020, I think my friends daughter may could be a future Olympian show jumper and I have loved watching her progress from juniors up to where she is now.

Another one who’s finding this fascinating, thanks OP.
Despite all the dedication and graft and because it’s your profession, and the competitive instinct, the heartaches and the head scratching as well as the joys no doubt, do you still manage to feel ‘the love’, that ‘thing’ for horses, whatever .....? I.e if you gave up riding professionally would you still keep horses/ride?
I ask because a promising young showjumper I groomed for a long long time ago, unexpectedly gave it all up, went into a non-horsey career and had nothing more to do with horses. And yet I don’t think she was being overly pushed, she just seemed to lose the love, which I thought was sad though I respected her decision and admired her dedication at a young age.
(Also asking as my bunch of field ornaments are being severely trying at the moment and for two pins I could cheerfully throw the towel in right now and I can’t imagine how much more frustrating this must be at anything more than middle-aged hedge-ambling level!)

@Thunderpunt

I've nothing to add/ask other than to say that I've found this a really interesting AMA.
In my younger days I did a stint on a less well known SJ yard....the SJ in question was in later years found to have been involved in some criminal activity 🙀 which didn't surprise me as I found her quite a nasty piece of work.
I do love the fact that in pretty much all equestrian sports men and women compete on an equal playing field (and must be one of the few sports that does) and i think its pretty evenly balanced in terms of which sex wins the most medals.
Hope you make it to the Olympics in 2020, I think my friends daughter may could be a future Olympian show jumper and I have loved watching her progress from juniors up to where she is now.

Thank you, I'm glad you've enjoyed it 😁

Oh wow, that sounds horrendous! I'd love to know who that is/was 🙈

Yes me too - it does make me proud. I think it is the only Olympic sport where men and women are equal.

Thank you so much, and the best of luck to your friends DD x

@yongnian

Yes, definitely. The love, admiration and respect I have for my horses triumphs any competitive instinct... of course, anyone involved with horses is aware of highs and lows, there is nothing like winning a Grand Prix then coming back home to be thrown off by a little fucker green 4yo spooking at a pole on the ground.
I can completely understand why he/she quit - a 4 fault day can easily turn into a 4 fault show, 4 fault season... it has to be one of the most frustrating sports on the planet.... and when you are just throwing money at it for no results... it's hard work.
I do think that if for any reason I stopped competing I would still be involved in some way whether that is coaching or course building, who knows. I love the animals and love the sport 😁 I will come home sometimes and think ffs but that is part and parcel of any career, I believe. I know I'm much happier than my husband/friends in the corporate world.
Field ornaments are the most trying creatures on the planet!!!!! Sympathise!!

Brilliant thread! Who were your idols growing up?

Am loving this thread.

I have 2 dcs, a 14 yr old dd and a 4 yr old ds. I rode when I was younger (skivvied for rides at local riding school from being 10, typical ponymad girl with limited parental support) and eventually had my own.

Bought dd a pony when she was 2, then an another when she was 8, paid for weekly lessons etc. Despite doing everything right she is a very nervous rider. Just breaking in a baby highland that was for me as she had more or less given up and she is desperate to ride her. Been getting on during the backing process, asking to ride, not wanting to get off, wanting to move to the next level etc etc.

Do you think some people and ponies just click? And there is a special connection?

Ds who is only 4 has just inherited dds outgrown section A who could be quirky to ride. Nothing nasty just more reactive than a kids pony should be. With ds he is a different pony. Proper riding school lr pony quiet. Stands stock still for a bath for him. Will stand for hours being titivated with. Follows him around like a dog when he is leading him around.

Do you think horses and ponies pick people? And will try harder for some than others?

Baby highland has been very straightforward and honest to do so far, but can be a madam for some people to deal with. Lr pony has always been quirky which is why dd didnt bond with him but him and ds are amazing.

Have you ever 'given' a ride to someone else because the horse preferred someone else? Or picked a ride up because it didn't gel with its current jockey?

I can see it happening on a small, private scale but I imagine when the stakes are a 500k Olympic potential it stings a bit more.

My dds pony slows before a jump. He used to actually chip one in but he's stopped that now (think it might have been a pain issue long story). I have two conflicting opinions. Dds usual trainer says keep it low until he gains confidence. Clinic triainer says crack on (pony jumped 100 regularly with previous owner). Dd happy at 80 at the moment. Is this slowing and looking thing normal? He jumps everything nicely but just likes to have a look.

Did you need to learn how to judge where to get a horse to take off, or did it come naturally to you? I was useless at it. I know some horses can put themselves right for a jump and others can't - is it a long and difficult process to teach them? Do some horses never get it?

The highest I ever jumped was when my semi-retired ex-competition loan horse suddenly decided during a nice gallop that he rather fancied jumping a massive recently fallen tree. As he firmly took charge, swerved towards it and accelerated, I thought "Oh bugger!" but he adjusted his own stride perfectly and soared, not over the tree trunk, but right over and through the branches as well. He actually aimed for the highest bit.

He was very pleased with himself

Love this thread (no poles yet, have to be careful about how often and when I ask him questions like that so went for gallop instead to clear his head) I’m hanging around for lorry living inspo 🥂

@Blue136

Brilliant thread! Who were your idols growing up?

Thank you 😁

This is really going to show my age now lol. Mary King, although an eventer, was my hero. I was completely in awe of John and Michael Whitaker (and still am 😂). Di Lampard was a huge influence too.

Thank you @Frouby 😁

Do you think some people and ponies just click? And there is a special connection?

The story about your DS and your pony is adorable 😍 yes definitely - the same as some people click. Personalities match, way of going match. I'd like to think trust pays a key part of it to - I never try to overface my horses or ask too much of them before they are ready.

Do you think horses and ponies pick people? And will try harder for some than others?

I wouldn't necessarily agree that horses pick people - obviously I have heard of cases where it seems like fate etc and that really is lovely, but at a higher level unfortunately doesn't tend to happen. I do agree though that some will try harder than others - many of those tend to be mares.

Have you ever 'given' a ride to someone else because the horse preferred someone else? Or picked a ride up because it didn't gel with its current jockey?

I have given a ride away not necessarily because he preferred someone else but simply because I couldn't gel with him. The owner really liked the horse and really wanted me to ride him, despite me saying I wasn't sure. I like my horses to be well schooled and rideable - point and shoot horses aren't my type at all - but I took him on. He had the most incredible, careful jump but we just didn't work. He is now with a top Irish rider and wins everything!!!!! 😝

Yes, I have a very exciting 8 year old who was passed to me because she just didn't really click with her previous rider. It's happened numerous times!

@Twistella

My dds pony slows before a jump. He used to actually chip one in but he's stopped that now (think it might have been a pain issue long story). I have two conflicting opinions. Dds usual trainer says keep it low until he gains confidence. Clinic triainer says crack on (pony jumped 100 regularly with previous owner). Dd happy at 80 at the moment. Is this slowing and looking thing normal? He jumps everything nicely but just likes to have a look.

By slows, do you mean as in to a trot and then does a bit of a cat leap or just slows his canter to have a bit of a look?

Personally I would agree with your DDs usual trainer as opposed to the clinic trainer. There is absolutely no reason at all to speed up through the levels if your DD is happy at 80.

If she is nervous, the pony may be picking up on this, hence the slowing... she may be checking him a little too?

If this is something that you are concerned about, do you know of any super confident light weight jockeys that could have a sit? If there has been some confidence issues in the past, the pony may benefit from this.

Hope this helps! Xx

@sunflowersinthesky

He sounds incredible! Would have loved to have met him... lucky you for getting the opportunity to ride him 😍

Did you need to learn how to judge where to get a horse to take off, or did it come naturally to you? I was useless at it. I know some horses can put themselves right for a jump and others can't - is it a long and difficult process to teach them? Do some horses never get it?

Great question - one that I get asked constantly when I'm teaching.... it's not your job to worry about that. Your job is to focus on the canter, as long as the canter is right, you will take off at the correct place (unless of course you ask them to take off before!). Of course, some people do have a better "eye" for seeing a stride, I would say I have been one of those people who has had to work at it!
Again, the horses that put themselves right or correct themselves tend to be the ones with the best canter. We spend a lot of time with our 3/4/5 year olds really getting their canter right and getting them to go on a deep stride. It can be a really long process and it's a case of constantly improving. There is a saying along the lines of "strides are a bit like men, don't take the first one you see..." - that's 100% true.
I've never known a horse not to "get" it, of course some are more trainable than others though!

Really shallow question, but do you have a favourite “type” of horse. I’m a sucker for a flashy chestnut with lots of white

By slows, do you mean as in to a trot and then does a bit of a cat leap or just slows his canter to have a bit of a look?

He slows his canter to have a bit of a look. He's an absolute legend pony in all ways but people keep picking up on this trait. Thanks for the advice dd is perfectly happy at sticking at 80 she wants to do a BE80 next season and if they manage that happily and safely he'll be feted for the rest of his days!!

@weaselwords

Really shallow question, but do you have a favourite “type” of horse. I’m a sucker for a flashy chestnut with lots of white 

Yes who doesn't?! I have a very flashy fluorescent orange chestnut with a blaze & 4 white socks - he looks like something out of a fairytale 😍
I think my weakness would maybe be bright bays.

@Twistella he sounds fab, I really wouldn't worry. Best of luck to your DD xx

He's a bright bay too thanks, great thread

Love this thread. Just downloaded Riders to read again 😂