Trust the Process
Over the past three years, the places I have travelled to thanks to this profession are unbelievable… and yet still there is no place like home. Having missed the show the last few years, I was adamant I did not want to forego the opportunity of jumping on homesoil at Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham again. The homecrowd always get behind the riders at HOYS and the atmosphere there is one of a kind. Catching up with old friends, many of whom I grew up on the circuit with, made the long days extremely enjoyable! I was beyond proud of my horse Hardessa for winning the Leading Showjumper of the Year Grand Prix as well as my other horse Catoki for coming second in the Speed Horse of the Year. Up until the final day at HOYS I was yet to jump a clear round. However, everything seemingly came together on Sunday. I always knew Hardessa had all the potential and had been getting frustrated at myself as on paper we just had not delivered the result I knew she could achieve. That was the best feeling about the whole thing when I crossed the finish line to realise we won; it was not just the moment and that round that meant so much to me, it was the whole process and journey leading up to it. I am constantly learning from all my horses, and I am thankful to Hardessa for teaching me what is possible with the right amount of patience, resilience and self-belief. She had to step up very quickly when I got her a few years ago and in hindsight, I used her in classes she was not necessarily ready for. Having dropped her down a level these last few months, focusing on rideability and keeping her confident in the ring she felt like she was ready to step up again. It is so important to stick to your own plan and do what is right for you and your horse. I grew up watching HOYS every year dreaming of one day being a part of the iconic ‘Ode to the Horse’ Finale. I have such fond memories of my pony days, chasing qualification all around the country. My mother Mandy drove me all the way to Scotland for the last qualifier of the season on my pony Spring Disney back in 2010. Thankfully we managed to take the last coveted ticket and went on to finish fourth in the 128cm final. Britain remains a very strong nation in pony sport thanks to the opportunities young riders are given to qualify and compete there. Similarly, the historic Newcomers and Foxhunter classes are key on the national circuit all season. HOYS is the pinnacle of the year for so many British showjumpers, and I truly hope that the national talent, alongside international competition, being showcased is one thing that never has to change.
In other news the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona was incredible to watch. Having been part of the team there last year I know special l it is to don your team jacket at the event. The history and prestige of the Nations Cup Series is incomparable, with the finals in Barcelona being the closest thing to a championship experience. Next year the FEI are cutting down the series to just five events and rebranding it as the League of Nations. This is an attempt to modernise the sport and keep up with the globalisation of the industry. The growth of showjumping is undeniable, with the emergence of so many different series. From the Longines Global Champions Tour, Longines EEF Series, Major League in North America to the traditional World Cup Series and Grand Slam Events you can have numerous top-level competitions every weekend. It is an exciting time for the next generation as there appears to be plenty of opportunities, but there are higher demands on horsepower to match this level of competition week in and week out. Gone are the times where to be one of the best in the world just one star partnership will suffice. Now more than ever before you need a team of horses and a team of people around you and building this up is a challenge alone. As riders it is often claimed that we are behind the times and do not use our platforms effectively to engage people and educate them about the sport. I recently was interviewed for ‘The Rein It In’ podcast with equestrian influencers Ash Howells and Josh Hill. They interview professionals in the equestrian world from riders, farriers and stewards to sports psychologists and equestrian business consultants in both an entertaining and honest manner. They are extremely insightful, and I would highly recommend giving it a listen. The work they are doing to share experience and knowledge is admirable.
After all the excitement post HOYS it was straight back to the drawing board showing some of my younger horses in Lier, Belgium. Soon I will be heading to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the GCL Finals as part of the New York Empire team. Just a fortnight later there are the playoffs in Prague to culminate another whirlwind GCL season… I think my horses have more stamps in their passports than most people get in a lifetime! There is also the eventual homecoming at the London International Horse Show to look forwards to which I am proud to be an ambassador for again in 2023. Whilst it is all systems go for my entire team, I have learnt it is also a necessity to celebrate the successes, however short-lived they may be. Showjumping is a sport where unfortunately you will lose far more than you will win. Having experienced a few setbacks this summer, I have a greater appreciation for the days when it all goes to plan. Knowing this is perhaps the greatest victory of all!
All the best,
Jodie x
https://www.youtube.com/@AshJosh Link to Podcast