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Wednesday, August 22 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.

 At home, my horse and I are able to perfectly clear rounds with a good time. However, when we try to go faster, a few rails always end up being knocked down or clipped. Do you have any advice for increasing our speed and accuracy?

Timing is a very important skill we always need to work on with riding; it doesn’t matter if we’re going slow or fast. When you go faster, the timing needs to be that much more accurate in order to not have a negative effect on the horse. Riding speed classes or jump-offs simply requires practice to be able to do them better. However, not every horse can go fast, so you must have a realistic plan for your horse. If you have an unrealistic plan, you probably won’t be happy with your results.

With slower-going horses, you need to try to make short turns to make up time, and find a few places where you can leave strides out. Hot or faster horses need somewhere you can slow down for a moment to keep them from getting too flat. You only need to win by a margin, so a rider should be smart when they ride quicker and not just run around as fast as they can, because poles will also fall down.

My horse has been able to clear 3’6’’ jumps effortlessly, but now that we’ve moved to 4’ jumps, his back legs keep knocking the rails on the fence. How can I prepare my horse for the higher jumps, since it seems he isn’t recognizing the height difference?

Jumping higher jumps clear requires a rider who has confidence at that level and a horse with ability for that level. If a horse keeps knocking the jumps down at a higher level, then it’s one of two things: either the rider is getting in the way, or the horse simply can’t jump that big.

A horse that knocks jumps down could result from the rider using too much hand or riding with too much, making the horse shoot at the jump. If the horse is careful in front, then with too much leg pressure, the distance gets too close, making the horse hit the jump behind while it gets out of the way with its front legs. If the riding is good and jumps keep falling, then maybe you should jump your horse at a lower level. Always put your horses in classes they are competitive in.

Recently, I saw pictures of you jumping on a derby bank. How do you prepare yourself and your horse for such a jump?

The Hamburg Derby is probably the most prestigious derby in the world, with very big jumps, all different natural fences and a huge crowd for the final day. You must jump two qualifying rounds and be top 30 to jump in the final. There isn’t really much to prepare you for all the elements, but we practice some of it before. I jumped eventing jumps and practiced on a smaller bank.

In Hamburg, they call the bank “The Wall.” When you get to the top, it really is almost a 20-foot vertical drop. There isn’t anything to mentally prepare you when you are staring down it on your horse. You need a brave horse, but you also need to be a brave rider.

How do you know when you’re ready to take on sponsors?

Sponsors come when you prove yourself to some level. There are many levels of sponsorships; some are horse owners, which are the most important, and some are companies that provide products for something in return.

I don’t feel like there’s really a moment when you’re ready or not, as the sponsors probably will determine based on results if you’re ready. My only advice is to not bite off more than you can chew. It’s better to have a few sponsors that you can always keep happy rather than getting to a point where you may have too many sponsors and you can’t keep them happy because of time constraints, and you end up with none.

Focus on your riding and training to produce consistent results and sponsors will follow.

 

 

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Tagged under: brian walker, q&a, show jumping

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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

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
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...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
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Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
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Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
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 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #sidelinesmagzine
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