SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Sidelines Caps
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Monday, April 16 2018 / 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.

Did you ever have tack break or malfunction during a class? How did you handle it?

Tack can always break but I have never had it happen to me on course. As the rider, you should always be checking your tack to see if there are ever pieces that look old or not 100 percent, and never rely on your groom to point it out. Old, stretched tack should be replaced immediately. Separate from old tack, you must also check to make sure your bridle or reins are put together properly. Cheek pieces and reins sometimes aren’t connected to the bit properly and can come undone. I see that happen often enough. If you’re using a Pelham with a converter, make sure the converter is connected properly and always check to see if there are any flaws. More attention to these details should significantly reduce the risk of equipment malfunction.

When searching for a young horse to train, what do you look for in a jumper prospect? What do you look for in a hunter prospect? 

The qualities I look for are the same whether I’m looking for hunters or jumpers. There are many different things to consider when looking for young horses to develop. You first need to ask yourself what your goals are. If your goal is to sell the horse for profit, then you must first consider the price of the horse and then the time frame in which you think you can sell it. Do the numbers add up? Those are the first questions I ask myself when looking at a horse I like. I like to work with horses that are good types. They also need to naturally ride well. I like a horse with good balance because it’s difficult to teach a horse balance. A horse with good balance is also a horse that most people can ride. I like horses with good technique. They also need to be brave.

When you were first starting, what did you find to be the most challenging part of show jumping?

I think when you start out, you actually have no clue what’s really difficult or not. With more experience, you realize what the real challenges are. For me, there are two really challenging parts to show jumping: 1) horsepower, and 2) having your horses under complete control. It doesn’t matter what level you ride at, finding the right competitive horse for your style of riding and the level you want to compete at is a daunting task. Rideability is key for having consistent success in the jumpers. Most faults come from our horses not listening, either going forward or slowing down, putting us at a distance not suitable to clear the jump. It’s ever-evolving flat work that trains our horses to listen to our commands so we can successfully answer all questions on the course.

Do you ever feel pressure to do well at horse shows now, since you’ve consistently done well throughout your career?

I’m a competitive person, so I always want to do well at shows. I think it’s important to remember that winning isn’t always everything. There are some classes you need to use as training rounds to set your horse up to win the big class. I don’t feel I put any extra pressure on myself to do well at shows. I train hard at home because my main goal is to be competitive at shows.

Of all the horses you’ve competed with, which was your favorite, and why?

One of my favorite horses was a chestnut and white horse that probably was a Paint, but his markings weren’t like a typical paint. His name was Macanudo Very Well St. George. We called him George in the barn. I think I was 16 years old the season I rode him. He had jumped big grand prix all over the world with Peter Wylde. I was fortunate enough to ride him because he was older, at the end of his career, and it was time for him to step down to do High Juniors and Young Rider work. Not only was he cool looking, but he also had a great character. He always tried his hardest. He was fast, scopey, simple to ride and, most of all, he had all the experience in the world. If I wasn’t quite sure what to do sometimes, he always knew what to do. There is nothing better than having a horse with more experience than you.

What is the best way to find a comfortable saddle, both for your horse and for yourself?

There are many good saddles on the market that offer different benefits. I ride in Equipe saddles because I think they’re the best, most comfortable saddles on the market. Equipe saddles are Italian and there are many different styles to suit different riders’ appetites for comfort: deep seats, flat seats, forwards flaps, etc. The back of each horse is shaped differently, and there are different styles of trees that suit different types of backs. Saddle fitters can create a saddle that is also custom to the horse and rider to ensure a perfect fit. Every different saddle maker has a different type of appeal that attracts buyers. Try a saddle that you like the look of and see how it first feels to ride in, then try to find the right fit for your horse. Not all saddles are the same, and some are also known for better quality than others.

 

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: brian walker, q&a

What you can read next

Cover Girl 27 Picture Perfect in $30,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City
Andre Dignelli – Sharing His Heritage
Dog of the Day – Marigold

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Jessica West always rode any horse that was availa Jessica West always rode any horse that was available to her throughout her Junior career, so she knew she had an advantage when she decided she wanted to ride on an NCAA team in college. Now a senior at @@auburnu and majoring in psychology, Jessica has enjoyed everything about the equestrian team and is ready to move on to her next adventure. 

Read more about Jessica at the link in our bio!

#ncea #ncaa #equestrian #collegiateequestrian #huntseatequitation #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #collegelife #showjumper #hunterhorse #horseshow #sidelinesmagazine
In the unique and challenging sport of combined dr In the unique and challenging sport of combined driving, Jacob Arnold has proven himself to be a bona fide star. It’s been said that success develops from a recipe based on hard work, perseverance, learning and sacrifice, paired with a love of what one is doing. Since the time he was a boy, Jacob has had the right combination of all of those ingredients, which have culminated in a meteoric rise to stardom.

Beginning his career as a Junior, Jacob earned the coveted @usequestrian Junior Equestrian of the Year award in 2011. Since then, he has taken the combined driving world by storm, competing successfully in four @fei_global World Championships. He also won the USEF Advanced Pair Horse National Championship in 2020 and 2021, among other victories—all before the age of 28, in a sport that has historically been dominated by older drivers. Last September, he placed 12th—the highest of any American driver—at the 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs in a field of over 100 top-level drivers.

Read more about @jacobarnoldcombineddriving at the link in our bio!

@alex.banks.photography #combineddriving #drivendressage #dressage #driving #carriage #horsedriving #equestrianstyle #equestrianlife #horselover #drivinghorse #carriagehorse #showhorse #sidelinesmagazine
@rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the f @rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the first equestrian Major of 2022, winning the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. In doing so he also claimed an additional bonus for non-consecutive Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping wins, following his victory at CHIO Aachen last year. The German champion’s outstanding performance riding his trusted partner Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z once again makes him the live contender for the coveted Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

Catch up on all the action and watch the free highlights video on the Sidelines Show World blog (link in bio!)

#showjumping #rolex #grandslam #rolexgrandslam #showjumper #dutch #netherlands #dutchwarmbloods #equestrianlife #hunterhorse #hunterjumper #equestrianstyle #showhorses #showjumpersofinstagram #jumpinghorse #grandprixjumer #grandprixhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 ac Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 acres in Jupiter Farms, Florida.

Jupiter Farms is an equestrian community with a trail system and a sand riding arena at the park. Charming home features vaulted ceilings, custom trim, custom lighting in master bedroom that changes color with a remote. Granite countertops in kitchen and laundry room. New 2022 stackable washer/dryer. Privacy fenced backyard with beautiful tall pines for shade, many palm trees also on property.

Secure fenced  25’ x 25’ pen with wood fencing , for a horse, dogs or a garden.  Wonderful property in desirable Jupiter Farms. 45 minutes to Wellington, 25 minutes to Jupiter Dog Beach. Perfect oasis for dog and horse lovers, close to everything in South Florida. MLS# 10778333, Agents welcome.

$655,000
Contact 561-246-9317
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • THE SIDELINES TEAM CAP IS HERE!
    The SIDELINES Team Cap is here! Choice of 4 colors $20 (Tax and shipping included!) Go to sidelinesmagazine.com

    [Read more]

  • GREAT PEAKS REALTY
    Heath Gram 605-209-2052 www.greatpeaksrealty.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022
  • Better Business with Malvern Bank: Michael Meller’s Secrets to Success
  • Third Annual Painted Ponies Art Walk takes over Southern Pines, NC!

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Jung Ends as He Began — On Top — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
  • ROLEX TESTIMONEE DANIEL DEUSSER WINS ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT 2022 DUTCH MASTERS
  • STABLE VIEW IN AIKEN POSTPONING ‘A’ RATED $400,000 H/J CHALLENGE SERIES DUE TO RESTRICTIVE MILEAGE RULE

Category

Recent Posts

  • Katie Duerrhammer: Driven by Love and Respect for Horses

    By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Melissa Fuller &...
  • The Importance of Finding the Right Bit for Your Horse

    By Liz Halliday-Sharp Anyone who knows me is aw...
  • Martha Ingram’s Family Ties, From Horses to Philanthropy 

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Brenda Black &nb...
  • Course Designer Spotlight: Alan Wade

    Course Designer Spotlight: Alan Wade Our next S...
  • Judge’s Spotlight: John French

    Judge’s Spotlight: John French Our Judge’...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!