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Tuesday, January 03 2017 / Published in General

Show Jumper Brian Walker Answers Your Questions

Brian Walker and Chico’s Bandita
Photo by Diana Hadsall Photography

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.

Do you feel social media (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc.) are beneficial platforms to showcase your skills and expertise along with your horse?

Social media is used by almost everyone in the equestrian community. I think when used properly it can be very helpful to promote the results of you, your horses and your business. I feel that it’s a great way to promote results across the board. However, I think it’s more helpful to promote the horses than riders because a rider’s ability to ride and train can’t truly be shown through social media as opposed to a horse’s. On the flip side, I think social media can mislead people to believe some people/horses are better than they really are through editing and manipulating photos and videos.

We all have bad days and sometimes feel like sitting on our couches and relaxing. What motivates you to get on your horse if you’re having one of those days?

You can deal with failure in one of two ways:

1) Run away

2) Stare it in the face and work harder

I’m not one to run away, so if things aren’t going the way I hoped, I know I need to work harder to improve. We all look for excuses, but most of the time the answer is to do additional work and push yourself in order to test your limits. This is something a lot of people aren’t willing to do. Training harder is the answer most of the time. It’s a game for me, much like a game of chess where every move you make has a consequence. That’s what keeps me from lying on the couch and accepting failure.

When you purchase a young horse, how do you determine what the best training program is for him/her?

Young horses are changing every day, so you shouldn’t have a strict training program as your horse needs to adjust and adapt to its new surroundings. While young horses are in the process of growing, some days they’ll be more tired than others and therefore, you need to cut them a little slack and take it easy on them. Overworking your horse is the best way to ruin young horses and I believe it’s better to make the mistake of underworking them and keeping them healthy and eligible to compete. For me, my program is simple for young horses (ages 3–5). They should be trotting forward, simple circles to make sure they turn left and right, and cantering forward with simple shortening. They need to learn to pull at a young age. I don’t like sitting the trot for young horses because their back muscles aren’t developed enough, but I like to jump and lunge them every so often. Mix up the workout schedule and keep it under 20 minutes so the horse can acclimate.

Do you feel your years of equitation have helped you become the rider you are today? If so, how did it aid you in becoming a successful professional?

Equitation helped put me on the map but it didn’t define my professional career. I attribute my success to the people who have trained me along the way and the love and support of the people I’ve surrounded myself with over the years who have paved the path of my professional career. Equitation gave me a solid foundation and fundamentals for riding, but I think I could have gotten to where I am without the doing equitation. For junior riders in North America, it’s a great learning tool for the proper basics of riding sophisticated courses. However, the equitation has changed over the years, and now the emphasis on horsemanship isn’t there. It should be a tool to further one’s riding and develop respectable horsemanship.

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

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The WPCSA American National Welsh Pony and Cob Sho The WPCSA American National Welsh Pony and Cob Show is happening now! Don’t miss another second by streaming it live! 🐴

📹👀HOW TO VIEW THE LIVE STREAM
The WPCSA will again be streaming footage live from the ring at the American National Show next week. You will need two free passes to get to the feed this year.

1️⃣�The first is a USEF fan membership which you can get through this site:
Join or Renew | US Equestrian (usef.org)

2️⃣ Once you become a fan member, you will need to log in to the USEF Network on ClipMyHorse. A video demonstrating how to do this can be found here:
Existing USEF Fan - Watch the USEF Network - YouTube 

📸Pictured- Grand Champion Section B under UK judge. 
Owner-Barbara Chappell
Handler-Paul Maye /Maye Show Ponies Fairfield, VA
A note from our editor. It's here!! The October is A note from our editor.
It's here!! The October issue of Sidelines Magazine! So happy to have the fabulous Amelia Newcomb  on our cover. Amelia is a dressage rider with over 100,000 students! You read that right! Amelia has a very popular YouTube Channel where riders from around the word can learn and improve on their dressage - and it's not just dressage riders who are benefitting from Amelia Newcombe Dressage on Your Tube but riders of all disciplines - don't miss her story! Thanks to Sidelines photographer Lindsey Long for the beautiful photos. This issue has so many great stories! Catch up with eventer Zachary Brandt Equestrian (make sure to see how much he loves his dogs), and meet show jumper Katherine Anne Brewer and her horse Super Bunny, artist Samantha Dawn, equestrian Megan Smith who teaches Pilates 4 Equestrians; and Ela Ladwig a dressage rider and trainer who's multi talented because she's also a talented artist also. We have an amazing story on hunter-jumper rider Lisa Mooney who has a story you don't want to miss!! We also have a story on Tyler Held who's passion for eventing has taken her on quite the journey, and we catch up with Jimmy Toon in our Unbridled column. This issue also features our Save The Date section where you can check out show dates for this year and next from horse shows around the country! So get out your calendar!! And don't miss our great columnists, hunter-jumper with Rob R.L. Jacobs, eventing with Liz Halliday Eventing and sports psychology with Margie Sugarman. And check out the photos of riders at the 2023 The Hampton Classic Horse Show also! It's another great issue! Make sure to subscribe to Sidelines also - one year for $14.95 and the magazine is delivered right to your house or barn!! 
Enjoy the October issue: https://sidelinesmagazine.com/app/#/reader/50029/1767167

Link in Bio!!!
Are YOU ready for it? The wait is over! The Capita Are YOU ready for it? The wait is over! The Capital Challenge Horse Show has officially begun! 

Not able to attend the 2023 Capital Challenge Horse Show? 🏆 No problem! Watch all 11 days of competition for free with the live stream, sponsored by C. Jarvis Insurance Agency Inc., on capitalchallenge.org or usefnetwork.com. 🎥
Balancing riding and academics can be tough, so Bl Balancing riding and academics can be tough, so Blue Ribbon Scholars is here to help! Whether you need help with a single subject, SAT prep, or transitioning to online school, Blue Ribbon will tailor a unique program to the needs of every student athlete, grades K-12. The exclusive education services provider at HITS Ocala since 2019, Blue Ribbon offers in-person tutoring services throughout the duration of the winter circuit, in addition to our virtual services via Zoom year round, anywhere, anytime! 

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