 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
California Riding Magazine • July, 2010 On Course With Zazou by Zazou Hoffman |
Marisa Metzger and me at Melanie Taylor Smith’s Emerging Athlete Program clinic at Hansen Dam. Photo: Robert Metzger Well, it’s been a very busy month. I found my jumper prospect, a grey, but insanely green Russian Warmblood. He shares a grandfather named Hockey with Richard Spooner’s Pariska2. I’ve named him Damien Hirst after a brilliant, but subversive British artist. You can see us trying the water for the first time on YouTube under Zazou and Damien Hirst. I was so fortunate that my mentor, three-time show jumping Olympian Kathy Kusner, was available to give me some pointers. The horse had a disconcerting habit of combining a half-rear with a root down and a strike out, in no particular order and without warning. Kathy worked me through it and my horse no longer bullies me. I got another refresher course on the importance of “always going over the fence the first time, no discussion,” then continuing to challenge the horse by exposing him to new things. Ditch, bank, water, logs, etc: all boxes checked off. My goal is the Foxfield Jumping Derby in the fall. We made extraordinary progress in a month with a few breaks to allow the lessons to sink in.
Me and Balthus and Junior rider Emily Hartley at the LAEC Memorial Day Classic. My next adventure was riding in my first show as a professional in the Equitation Challenge as part of a team with Emily Hartley and Laura Ware. We didn’t make it to the second round, but it was fun to share the experience with my fellow riders and fun to be back in the competition ring. I also helped Richard Fuchs move from Children’s Pony Hunters into the Regular Large Pony division. I got as much satisfaction from his successful transition as I did from helping two-time Ronnie Mutch Scholarship runner-up Emily Hartley move from Children’s Hunters to the Small Junior Hunter division on my homebred horse Balthus. They were intrepid in their first ‘A’ horse show, their first 3’6” Equitation class and it was the first time the mare was braided. They have a great future ahead this year and I’m sure many opportunities will come her way, as she’s a great student and horsewoman. You can see their rounds on YouTube under Emily Hartley and Balthus-LAEC. At the same show, I helped an adult rider, Marcy Connelly, put in several confident rides after a long hiatus from the show ring. I also spent a couple of days observing Melanie Smith Taylor work with the U.S. Hunter Jumper Assn.’s Emerging Athletes program at Hansen Dam. It was truly inspiring to watch Melanie selflessly pass her knowledge to these talented and eager riders who were lucky enough to be chosen to participate in this clinic. A close friend of mine, Marisa Metzger, drove eight hours from Northern California, as did many other participants. She rode a horse named Malaika, who is owned by Emma Hainze, who kindly hauled the horse south. The horse is trained by Sue Lightner. The lesson Taylor emphasized was “when it comes to the aids, use as little as it takes but as much as you need to get the job done.”
Kathy Kusner helps me with my new horse. I have a fun trip planned to the Lake Placid Horse Show to catch up with my East coast trainers Missy Clark and John Brennan. They’ve been in Europe for two months coaching my barn mates Hillary Dobbs and Darragh Kenny at the World Cup in Geneva and many other Super League shows. Happy summer!
After a junior career capped by her win of the 2009 ASPCA Maclay Medal, Zazou Hoffman is now riding and teaching as a professional. She is available for lessons, clinics and private consultation, as well as Grand Prix sponsorship. Based in the Los Angeles area, she can be reached at zazouhoffman@gmail.com. |
