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Thursday, March 16 2017 / Published in General

Show Jumper Brian Walker Answers Your Questions

Brian Walker
Photo by Hervé Bonnaud, 1clicphoto.com

Brian Walker, a dual Canadian and American citizen, has trained, worked and ridden alongside the best in the world over the last 25 years. As a junior, Brian won the Maclay Medal Equitation Championship in 2001. Brian has made a name for himself by developing quality horses into successful competitors in both the hunter and jumper arenas, earning accolades for himself and his clients. Do you have a question you want Brian to answer? Send questions to editor@sidelinesnews.com.

My son just started riding. He enjoys it but keeps complaining that he’s the only boy. Do you have any advice as to what I can say to him to convince him to keep at it?

Ever since I started riding, there has been a stigma against male riders because people think that it’s a female sport. This is not true. As a junior rider, there are more females than males that ride, but that changes at the professional level, as the situation becomes reversed. I think it’s important to encourage young boys to keep riding or even to start riding at all. Therefore, you must make sure it’s fun for them. I think having a male trainer can help keep young boys motivated in order to show them that this isn’t just a female sport. For the most part, boys attending the shows become friends and that also helps their motivation. At some age, boys realize that all these extra girls around are pretty cool and they soon stop worrying about the lack of male riders.

I want to get a young horse from Europe to bring along with my trainer. Where should I start to find a few good horses to try when we make the trip over?

Depending on what level you ride at, buying a horse or horses in Europe can be tricky. Being an American living, riding and selling horses in Europe, I’d say that I have the upper hand when selling to North America because I know the market better than most people here. The best advice is to try to do business with people in Europe you trust. I also advise against clients going out and trying to buy horses on their own without their trainer. It’s imperative that people rely on their trainers to find them the perfect horse. If you don’t think your trainer can find you a good horse, you may need to reconsider the person you train with.

My horse and I took a few months’ riding hiatus because I’d been traveling. I feel completely out of shape. What are some exercises/activities off my horse that you’d recommend to get me back into shape? Additionally, are there exercises that I can do with my horse to get me fit again other than dropping my stirrups?

If you take a few months off from riding, there are some exercises you can do to try to keep or get back in shape. Cardio exercises for at least 20 minutes and leg, back and core exercises are also good to keep you fit for riding. The best training to get back into riding shape is to ride and jump courses. Dropping your stirrups is a good exercise but I don’t find it very productive if you’re not in shape to ride. Jumping courses gets your balance and your timing back, which are the most important for competing.

I keep having a rail down over the last jump in my rounds of the Junior Jumpers. It’s become very frustrating for me. Do you have any suggestions for me to fix this?

There are many factors that can lead to having the last rail down in the class. I’d say for the most part, riders’ nerves get the best of them and they rush the last fence. You must ride the last fence the same way as the first. You must give your horse time to clear the fence; don’t worry about riding the timers for the time allowed until all four legs are back on the ground after the jump. Keep your body back and very still. Most of the time, you can under-ride the last jump as your horse is much more excited at the end of the course. If the time allowed is tight, find some other spots earlier on in the course to make up the time so you can slow down and take your time at the end. I also see a lot of young riders try to help their horse with their hands more and more at the end of course, trying to help the horse go clear. Too much hand will make a horse inverted and have a rail down behind.

I know you were extremely successful in the equitation. I get ribbons at A shows but I’m just out of the ribbons at WEF. What can I do to stand out from a crowd of many accomplished and talented riders

Competing at WEF in the equitation requires very good riding. There are a lot of skilled riders and horses. If you’re just out of the ribbons at WEF but win at smaller shows, you first need to work on your accuracy. Beyond accuracy and better riding, there are some small things that maybe you’re missing. Separate from riding, the turnout of both horse and rider are very important: clean horse, tack and boots along with proper attire. With very good riding and attention to all the details, then you should be able to be competitive in the equitation at WEF.

 

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The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

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We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

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https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

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