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Monday, July 04 2022 / Published in What's Happenin'

Unbridled With John Roper

By Britney Grover

 

 

John Roper absolutely loves watching high-end equitation. “To watch well-trained Junior riders on good horses negotiating difficult courses without a bobble is beautiful. It’s like magic,” he said. That enjoyment hasn’t gotten old even after 40 years as a hunter judge.

 

Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, John and his family had no involvement with horses whatsoever. Then when he was 16, John began trail riding with friends on the weekend, all day long—by the time he graduated from high school, he was absolutely sure he wanted to be a horse trainer. He worked privately for a family for nine years, during which time he showed at his first recognized show in his early 20s, and then opened his own business in 1970.

 

When he wasn’t teaching his clients, John found himself at the warmup ring watching other trainers to learn. He loved watching horses jump around the ring, and so pursued getting his judge’s card, not knowing if he’d be any good at it. After closing his business in the early ’90s, he had much more time to judge. Now, John has enjoyed judging from California to Devon, Kentucky and the World Equestrian Center.

 

 John lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife of 35 years, Ann, whose daughter, Nicole Tillman, and granddaughter are also enjoying lives with horses. He still loves teaching and training, and does occasional clinics, though most of his horse time is spent judging equitation.

 

 

What’s your best early memory of riding?

Most exciting memory was winning my first blue ribbon—even though it was in a pair class based more on matching horses!

 

What’s your favorite thing about being part of the horse world?

I think the horse world is basically very tight and close. Your fiercest competitors will be there to help you for the sake of your horses.

 

In your career, is there a rider whose talent stands out in your mind as being one of the best riders that you have been associated with?

Yes, a young lady that rode with me in the early ’80s that showed that natural talent was a girl named Haley Richards. At 11 years of age, she could climb off a medium pony after having a perfect trip, climb on her brother’s 4’ horse and lay down a trip in the regular working hunters. Her ability to understand stride length and her natural eye was uncanny. She was a very, very gifted rider.

 

What advice do you have for those considering getting their judging cards?

Make sure you know you can sit there for 8 to 12 hours a day watching horses go around one after another, then be enthusiastic about placing them in a certain order.

 

John Roper

Photo by Brenda Black

 

 

If you had a week off, what would you do?

Just relax, hang out, go out to eat with my wife, wax my car, maybe snoop around an old antique mall.

 

If you weren’t involved with the horse world, what career do you think you would have picked?

Archaeologist, or something to do with music. I love old rock ’n’ roll.

 

Where would you like to go but haven’t?

I’d like to go to the Super Bowl with my wife—if the Titans are playing, that is!

 

Have you had a funny horse moment that still makes you laugh?

I raised a horse from a weanling and at 6 years old I sold the horse to a professional in New York. I saw the horse two or three years later in Wellington in a big schooling area, and called to him. He turned his head in my direction and whinnied.

 

Who inspires you?

Early in my career, Walter “Jimmy” Lee inspired me. He taught me about quality horses. He was a great teacher and trainer. I learned a lot from him. I’m still inspired by Kelly Mullen. She’s the hardest worker I have ever seen. She never gives up on any project. And last but not least, a person that just lately started inspiring me is a young man named Troy Medina, whom I had the pleasure of teaching in Florida this last winter. His love of horses is immeasurable, whether or not it is riding, grooming, mucking or whatever. But mainly he is like a sponge, soaking up information on learning, and while at it he was so completely thankful for my help. Thank you, Troy!

 

What talents do you feel you have?

I guess you might say I have a talent for putting together albums for people, which include their lives with their horses. I really enjoy past history of our sport, and memories of old past horses.

 

What three things can always be found in your refrigerator?

Water, wine and peppermint ice cream

 

Something people don’t know about you?

I am more spiritual than anyone knows.

 

What’s something everyone should try at least once?

Falling in love

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Tagged under: equestrian, equitation, horses, John roper

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Dedication, perseverance and a support team like n Dedication, perseverance and a support team like no other—that’s Liz Lund’s recipe for eventing success. An accomplished eventer, breeder and trainer, Liz splits her time between Copeland Farms North in her home state of Minnesota, and Copeland Farms South in sunny Ocala, Florida. As Liz continues growing her business, she has only one mantra: Love what you do, and the rest will fall in place. 

Get to know Liz and her journey as an eventer and businesswoman at the link in our bio!

📸 Melissa Fuller #eventing #equestrian #dressage #showjumping #horse #horsesofinstagram #horses #equine #equestrianlife #horseriding #crosscountry #pony #eventer #jumping #equestrianstyle #eventinghorse #hunterjumper #equestriansofinstagram #dressagehorse #instahorse #showjumper #horselife #horsebackriding #horselove #pferd #horserider #horselover #ocala #eventinglife #sidelinesmagazine
It’s been a while since I’ve shown. After Indo It’s been a while since I’ve shown. After Indoors we turned the horses out and let them be horses. But now it’s time and I’m getting ready to head to Florida for the winter circuit. I’m feeling a bit anxious about getting back into the competitive state of mind, doubting myself and feeling more stress than I did when I was showing. Is this normal? What’s happening to me? What do I do to get back into the right place in my head? Why do I keep going back to this if it does what it does to me at the start of each season? - a Sidelines fan

"Throughout human history, people have enjoyed organizing competitions—the Ancient Greek Olympic Games go back to 776 BC. If you look around, you’ll notice that competition is everywhere in the modern world. Many historians believe that 'competitiveness' is a biological trait that co-evolved with the basic need for human survival. However, returning to a competitive state after time off from being a competitive athlete can be quite daunting," says sports psychologist Margie Sugarman.

"The proper mindset keeps you grounded in the present instead of solely focusing on the results. This automatically helps lower the performance brain state and allows for better focus, performance and results- Focus on what you can control."

Read the full column at the link in our bio!

📸 Ruby Tevis #paard #eventing #pferdeliebe #horsemanship #equinelife #jumping #horsepower #equestrianlifestyle #caballos #horsestagram #pferdefotografie #horsegirl #horseshow #equestrians #ponies #quarterhorse #horselovers #mare #thoroughbred #showjumper #equinephotographer #instagram #horsephotographer #equitation #horseaddict #horsetraining #horseoftheday #gelding #equestrianphotography #sidelinesmagazine
Emily Dulin has always been an animal lover, and h Emily Dulin has always been an animal lover, and helping others is in her blood. She’s the daughter of a Venezuelan ambassador and has spent much of her professional career working in social services and animal welfare. In 2015, Emily took on the role of chief executive officer of Brooke USA Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the welfare of working horses, donkeys and mules, and helping the people that depend on them for survival worldwide. 

“We are making a difference,” Emily said. “We will evaluate an animal at the start of a new program, and then just one, two and then five years later, we see marked improvements in terms of how they are handled, husbandry practices, what they eat and even how crops are being grown just to feed their animals—how feed is stored—and more. To see that end result firsthand is what I find most satisfying.”

Get to know Emily and how she helps working equines as the leader of @brooke_usa at the link in our bio!

Thank you to Brooke and Cody Holcomb of Wyco Ranch in Ft. Pierce, Florida, for the use of your farm, donkeys and horses for the Sidelines photo shoot.

📸 Melissa Fuller #equine #horse #equestrian #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrianlife #horseriding #dressage #instahorse #pony #horselove #pferd #equinephotography #showjumping #horselover #horselife #cheval #horsebackriding #horsephotography #equestrianstyle #donkey #pferde #horseofinstagram #equestriansofinstagram #riding #photography #equinesofinstagram #caballo #dressagehorse #sidelinesmagazine
The February issue of Sidelines Magazine is here a The February issue of Sidelines Magazine is here and it's filled with love - including the love story of dressage riders Sarah Lockman Tubman and Lee Tubman! Thanks to photographer Kristen Scott-Crocker for the beautiful photos and Kimberly Gatto for sharing Sarah and Lee's story. 

We have so many amazing stories in this issue—get to know Sharn Wordley and Craig Martin of Wordley Martin Equestrian, LLC, the two Kiwis have had a fascinating journey in the equestrian world! And meet three day eventer Liz Lund who not only has a great story but wins the award for holding the most horses in one photo taken by Sidelines photographer Melissa Fuller. Hint, it's more than five but less than seven - and everyone had their ears up!! Amazing! 

Also meet hunter-jumper rider and photographer Kirsten Hannah Lafforthun, artist Vanessa Whittell Equine-art, dressage rider Brett Ingram and Emily Marquez-Dulin of Brooke USA, which is a great organization to support - make sure to visit them! 

Meet Madison Ibach and Reagan Ibach, sisters who work at the Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort and have a huge social media presence - make sure to follow them on Instagram! We are excited to continue our Women Entrepreneur stories and introduce you to Gigi Stetler, President/CEO of Broward RV. 

We also feature three great breeding and stallion stories and introduce you to John Almond and Margaret Hoffecker Almond of Loafers Lodge Welsh, and Craig Heckert and Patty Larson of Rivervale Farm, and Kelly Sigler Patterson of Looking Glass Farm. Mary Choate has great answers to share in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists Rob R.L. Jacobs, George Williams, Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing and Margie Sugarman. 

Make sure to sign up for a year's subscription to Sidelines by visiting our website, www.sidelinesmagazine.com so you can get a copy of the magazine sent to your house or barn every month! Enjoy reading this issue now - link in bio!
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