28 SIDELINES MAY 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
On Course with Brian Walker
By Jan Westmark-Allan
Trainer and rider Brian Walker has the distinction of
being the last junior rider to win the Maclay Equitation Final
when it was held at the famous Madison Square Gardens
location. The year was 2001 and the prestigious win was
only one of many accomplishments on Brian’s junior rider
resume.
Now 28, Brian has his own successful farm in Wellington,
Woodside Farm, Inc., and is living the dream of being a
business owner, trainer and teacher. “There are a few
greats who have infuenced the professional I am today.
Missy Clark probably has had the biggest impact on my
career. Missy fne-tuned my riding skills as a junior; but
she also gave me skills to succeed beyond the show
ring, as a professional and horseman in the industry.
She demonstrated an extremely hard work ethic and
horsemanship, which I try to emulate today,” he said.
Coming from a long line of horsemen and horsewomen,
Brian grew up in Aiken, South Carolina and spent summers
on a family farm in St Lazare, Quebec. “I started riding at
the age of three and my frst pony was a small white Welsh
named Bonnie. Being around horses from an early age
and having our own farm, set me up to watch, learn and
develop a bond with horses from the get go,” Brian said.
Sidelines:
When did you open your farm?
BW:
In 2005, I started my own business, Woodside Farm
with Lauren Amsterdam, who is now Lauren Ward, wife
of McLain Ward, in Old Westbury, New York. At the time
we were working together under Eddie Horowitz at Pine
Hollow. Eddie battled health issues and couldn’t operate
his business any more. It was then, in the fall of 2005, that
Lauren and I made a choice to venture out on our own. I
love working for myself. I like being my own boss. You
have a lot more responsibilities but also a lot more rewards.
Sidelines:
Are you in Wellington year round?
H
O
R
S
E
S
H
O
W
Brian Walker at his barn in Wellington
Photo courtesy of Brian Walker
Brian competing Garfeld, “The thrill of competing will never get old for me”
Photo by Shawn McMillen
BW:
We are in Wellington six months out of the year, from
November to May. The other six months we are based out of
Lexington, Kentucky.
Sidelines:
Share some highlights of your fantastic junior career.
BW:
In 2001, I won the Zone 1 Maclay Regionals and the Maclay
Championship. I was also the Reserve Champion at the USET
Finals and the Ronnie Mutch Equitation Champion, the Kathy
Scholl Winner at Lake Placid, the Calvin Klein Equitation Class
Winner at the Hampton Classic and
was 6th Overall at the North American
Young Rider Championships. In 2000,
I won the Christy Conard Perpetual
Trophy Winner and in 2000 and 2001,
I was Reserve Champion at the WIHS
Equitation fnals.
Sidelines:
What did you do after your
junior career?
BW:
Fresh out of my junior career I
worked for Todd Minikus, who taught
me two important qualities: humility
and hard work! I spent two years living
and working in Holland with Jan Tops,
the Dutch Olympic veteran and world
renowned horse dealer. He exposed me
to the very elite end of the show jumping
world, buying, developing and selling
Olympic caliber horses. He threw me
into it head frst and trusted me to scout
out horses all over Europe, learning the
difference between a good and great
horse. His knowledge of horses and