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California Riding Magazine • May, 2009 On Course with Zazou by Zazou Hoffman |
Success in the Junior Jumpers may seem like an arbitrary goal for some riders, but the more I learn about competing at the top level of my sport, the more I realize that it is a step-by-step process. The Equitation division creates a foundation upon which to build. For someone like me who is restricted by monetary shortcomings, the path I choose must be excruciatingly free of costly mistakes, such as setting a goal that takes me off the main path.
USHJA Emerging Athlete Haley Webster.
One example would be trying to compete too early at a height that my horse or I might not be ready for and, in the process, losing confidence or spending money on a division where it would be nearly impossible to win any prize money back. With that in mind, it was especially satisfying to conclude the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL as Circuit Champion in the Medium Junior Jumpers (1.35M). Goal set, goal achieved. Emerging Athletes I have watched with pride as Emily Hartley has made tremendous progress with her riding. She is a talented young Californian who was limited by the lack of a horse that could transition her from the 3’ local medals to the 3’6” national medals, including the USEF Talent Search. Emily’s parallel goal was to get some experience in the jumper ring. I saw an opportunity to help her and loaned her my horse Eva Hesse for the year. I suggested she try to break out of the local show circuit and into the A and AA competitions. In addition, I brought the FEI Children’s Jumper Qualifier to her attention. Emily competed in the class on the grass at the Oaks within a week of taking on Eva Hesse. She didn’t win, but she had a noteworthy round and, more than anything, she got the sense of accomplishment one gets from setting and accomplishing a goal. Next she took on the equitation ring, including the Talent Search, and put down some terrific trips. All her hard work culminated in being accepted into the USHJA Emerging Athlete Program. Helping Others I had a chance to help another talented young rider and winner of this year’s Ronnie Mutch Scholarship, Haley Webster. She, too, was accepted into the Emerging Athlete Program and I was able to help her by arranging for her to ride Bird, the athletic young Thoroughbred jumper I work with. Haley and Bird will have to learn together, but the experience of teaching a horse and learning from the horse is invaluable for a serious, dedicated rider. That’s where professionals come from: their skills are acquired from living the experience. This should happen more often: horsemen helping horsemen. I have a horse that needs a rider; you have a rider that needs a horse. Let’s work together. Let’s not get bogged down in fear and paperwork. Haley Webster’s parents made a decision based on faith: faith in technology. They live in Northern California, so they never saw Bird in person, just on YouTube.
Zazou Hoffman on Bird and USHJA Emerging Athlete Emily Hartley on Eva Hesse. Haley’s grandpa and Haley hopped in the truck and made the eight-hour drive to Sullivan Canyon with their trailer to pick up Bird at our community ring. Haley is so lucky to have a support system in her family and in the owner of the horse, Mari Hotaki Bezeyler. Teamwork is invaluable in this very complicated, Byzantine (SAT vocabulary word) sport. I look forward to hearing the reports back from the Emerging Athlete clinics with Olympian Melanie Smith Taylor. (Thanks to my friend Kathy Hobstetter for coordinating both events, which take place May 9-10 at Hansen Dam Equestrian Center in Lake View Terrace and May 16-17 at Leone Equestrian Center in Sacramento.) I have two riders to root for. Next, I’m off to the World Cup in Las Vegas where I can watch horses and riders at the top of their game and root for Hillary Dobbs, my North Run barnmate, who will represent the United States in the competition.
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