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Tuesday, November 21 2017 / Published in Weekly Feature

Julia Tops: Riding and Learning Around the Globe

Julia is currently competing on the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) with Sire One, pictured here at LGCT Cannes.
Photo by Sportfot

By Emily Riden, Jump Media

While many university students spend their summers enjoying a vacation from their studies, Julia Tops has capitalized on the time off from regular classes to pursue academic opportunities around the globe.

In May, the 19-year-old University of Toronto student spent three weeks studying abroad in Shanghai and Beijing. In July, she had the rare privilege of being one of a select number of students in the G20 Research Group attending the annual G20 Summit, held this year in Hamburg, Germany.

These opportunities are fueled largely by Julia’s academic success and hard work but, if you ask the young rider, it is riding and competing that has given her a wider outlook on the world and ultimately helped to put her on the international academic path she is on today.

Julia (second from left) spent the spring in Shanghai and Beijing studying global politics from both Western and Chinese perspectives as part of a University of Toronto summer abroad program.
Photo courtesy of Julia Tops

Going Global

When competing with the best junior and amateur show jumping riders in the world, traveling, showing internationally and getting to know people from different cultural backgrounds comes with the territory. And when your mother is Tani Zeidler, a former Canadian Show Jumping Team member, and your father is Dutch Olympic gold medalist and founder of the Longines Global Champions Tour Jan Tops, frequent travel is even more inevitable.

“I grew up traveling between Europe and Canada, and riding really exposed me to how much I love traveling and experiencing different cultures,” said Julia.

When it came time for Julia to pick a course of study, international relations was the ideal choice.

“Riding was definitely a huge part of why I chose my major,” Julia said. “Competing in different locations and getting to experience different cultures gave me a sense of what international relations has to offer.” Now, as she heads into her third year of university, Julia has expanded her focus to a double major in international relations and contemporary Asian studies.

This summer, she was able to concentrate on both majors while in China studying global politics from both Western and Chinese perspectives as part of a University of Toronto summer abroad program, held in conjunction with Fudan University in Shanghai.

“I loved Shanghai,” said Julia. “I really loved the Fudan University professors. Their insight was incredible, and they engaged with us on a level that was very accommodating. Obviously, our level of freedoms in regard to speech are very different in China than in North America. The professors didn’t divert their answers to promote a certain agenda, which I thought was amazing, especially at the university level.”

While the intensive study abroad program packed a full year of course credit into three short weeks, Julia and the other members of the 25-person program also got to experience Chinese culture outside of the classroom. Visits to a migrant workers’ village, the Great Wall of China, the Bund, the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and other culturally significant locations were all part of the learning process.

“My favorite ‘field trip’ was a historical walking tour of the Bund, which is the area that separates east and west Shanghai and where all the trading ports used to be,” explained Julia. “I thought it was beautiful, and the architecture was amazing. It was very multicultural, and you could see a blend of influences from various countries.”

Julia’s passion and interest in the different influences and cultures around the world also led her to become involved in the University of Toronto’s G20 Research Group. The group is dedicated to studying compliance to goals put in place at the annual G20 Summit, an international forum aimed at studying, reviewing and promoting high-level discussion of policy issues pertaining to international finance.

In her first year of university, Julia was a compliance analyst for the group, focused on nations’ compliances to their employment commitment. Now, she is a lead analyst, supporting a group of compliance analysts.

“I sit on the leadership team now and, hopefully, I will keep advancing in the group,” said Julia of her aspirations. “I really enjoy what I do for this research team, and I think it’s extremely important work.”

Julia’s work for the G20 Research Group has allowed her to begin to advance within the assembly, and granted her the rare opportunity to attend the G20 Summit.

Julia and Sire One, a 10-year-old Italian Sport Horse gelding, at the 2017 Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco
Photo by Sportfot

Equestrian Outlook on the World

For some, knowing that the chance to attend the G20 Summit as a student is slim might be enough to deter them from even trying. But Julia never sees a limit to what she can do and what she can help accomplish to better the world, a perspective she credits to her parents and their role in the riding world.

“Riding has given me the outlook that I have on everything,” she said. “The number of people that you meet in the riding world who have the ability to make an impact on various sectors of the globe today is unreal. I think that is a lot of the reason why I’m so excited about studying international relations and thinking that there are so many things that you can do in the world. I don’t have as much of a ‘realist’ outlook, simply because I’m exposed to so many people who are involved in riding who are willing and able to make those changes.

“You’ll never find a sport that’s as well-connected as riding,” Julia continued. “I think that is truly unique, and I think it’s given me a different perspective than most people have because I truly believe we can make a difference.”

For most, spending time in China and Germany, along with studying for the LSATs and the GREs in preparation for applying to both law and graduate schools, would be more than enough to keep them busy over the summer holidays. Not Julia. She also actively competed two horses, Sire One, a 10-year-old Italian Sport Horse gelding (Silverstone x Ahorn), and India Blue ZF, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Mr. Blue x Calvados IV) bred by her mother’s Zeidler Farm.

Julia (far right) atop the Great Wall of China with fellow University of Toronto students
Photo courtesy of Julia Tops

With the opportunity to attend the G20 Summit being too good to pass up, Julia changed her original plan of competing at Spruce Meadows this summer, instead opting to spend the full summer based with her dad at Stal Tops in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands. From there, Julia could compete on the Longines Global Champions Tour as well as the CSI Young Rider Global Future Championships, hosted by Tops International Arena in Valkenswaard.

“It’s incredibly hard to balance both, especially since I’m very driven in both regards,” said Julia of making time for both her educational and competitive pursuits. “I have a lot of aspirations, which sometimes may be a little bit lofty considering how much time I have for both. But I love the balance. I don’t know it any other way.”

While Julia is uncertain where her career path will eventually lead her, she knows that the sport that helped get her to where she is today will always play a role.

“I don’t think I could live my life without riding being a part of it,” said Julia. “Whether it plays as big of a role as it does right now, I’m not entirely sure, but I credit a lot of where I am to riding. It will be a part of my life forever.”

 

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Tagged under: Emily Riden, Julia Tops, jump media, longines global champions tour

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Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

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Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
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