110 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Maria Wynne
Sidelines Writer Across the Pond
Less than twelve years ago, a young man in New Zealand
was a bricklayer who had never even been on a horse. Within
two years of his first ride, he was competing at the three star
CCI level, something most people cannot achieve after a
lifetime of riding.
Jonathan Paget, known as Jock, is the new, fresh and
exciting face of the sport of eventing and he recently did the
unbelievable – becoming only the second rider since Ginny
Leng in 1989 to win both Badminton and Burghley in the same
year. Jock was also part of the recent silver medal team at the
European Championships. With such great accomplishments,
the question on everyone’s mind is will he compete at Rolex
and achieve the Rolex Grand Slam?
Jock has slowly, steadily and surely climbed through the
ranks, maintaining a low profile, working hard at home, creating
a system with his horses and their management that has thrust
him onto the worldwide stage of the sport. Nothing is left to
chance. His invigorating vitality, his pure love of his horses
and his laid-back manner has created a new standard in the
eventing world.
Jock quietly won the 2013 Badminton Horse Trials in the face
of a media frenzy that included a “war” for the Rolex Grand
Slam between Andrew Nicholson and William Fox Pitt. (The
only rider to have achieved the Rolex Grand Slam was Pippa
Funnell in 1994.) Rivalry between Andrew and William was
intensified by a personal and professional relationship between
the two that is fierce. Add to this the participation of the current
world, Olympic and (repeat) European champion Michael Jung,
and you had a mighty triumvirate.
The rest of the field was all but forgotten by the media, and
all attention was focused on this trio.
Horse & Hound
Magazine
printed T-shirts for sale with a choice of either ‘Team William’
or ‘Team Andrew’ emblazoned across the front, further hyping
up the competition between the two main protagonists. This
frenzy, however, relieved the pressure on the rest of the field,
who were able to use this to their advantage and quietly ‘get
on with the job.’ Amongst those riders was Jock. At Badminton
2013, he crept up as something of a rank outsider and claimed
the title as his own at the very last pole of the competition.
The 2013 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials was a different
story altogether. Jock did not creep up from the outside, he and
Clifton Promise dazzled from their first canter up the center line
to lead from start to finish. William, Andrew, Pippa, and other
regular names were left trailing with marks in the 40’s. Jock
and Promise were the only combination to score in the 30’s. To
win a CCI four star is amazing. To set a new standard within
winning at the four star level by working harder and developing
techniques further within four short months is nothing short of
genius. Jock has found a way to enhance how he wins, not ‘if’
he will win. Jock commented that for five years Clifton Promise
“was the reason I got up in the mornings.” He gave hope and
inspiration, and has duly rewarded his devoted partner and
rider with dazzling performances.
Clifton Promise, a New Zealand Thoroughbred, has grown
from being a gawky long-legged teenager of a horse since
Jock started riding him in 2007. His owner, Frances Stead, has
always believed in the horse and has unwavering faith in Jock,
becoming as Jock says “my second mum.” The partnership
between the Clifton horses, Jock and the belief of Frances has
succeeded in creating the sensation of 2013.
The entire eventing community is very aware that 2014
promises even more from this calm, quiet and unassuming
young man; and that he is leading the new wave of younger
eventing riders with passionate enthusiasm. Rolex will possibly
be the next stage upon which we will be able to watch a
bricklayer from New Zealand stamp his mark on the worldwide
scene.
About the writer: Maria Wynne has spent her entire life with horses and her
family background is steeped in them. She is a proud (single) Mum of the an
adorable 5 year old son named Theodore Denman, who is named after the 2008
Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner.
Jock celebrating his victory at the 2013 Land Rover Burghley
Horse Trials.
Photo by Maria Wynne
Jonathan Paget:
The Fresh New Face of Eventing
e
European Connection
