John Whitaker is likely one of the most adorned showjumpers within the historical past of the game, successful greater than 20 championship medals together with crew silver on the Los Angeles Olympics. As we mark his seventieth birthday as we speak (5 August), John shares some key classes he has learnt throughout his unimaginable profession on this first-person piece from the H&H archives…
David Broome and Harvey Smith have been my idols rising up. After I began competing on the larger exhibits, they have been on the high of the game, so that they actually impressed me. They have been each good in numerous methods, so I used to observe and be taught what I might from them – and plenty of different high riders over time comparable to Hugo Simon and Nelson Pessoa. Even now, typically after I’m driving I’ll suppose, “How would Hugo Simon resolve that drawback?”
At a present in the future, David suggested me, “Whenever you suppose you’ve accomplished sufficient work in your horse, do one other 10 minutes,” and I take into consideration that tip very often – by no means lower your work quick.
My mother and father, Enid and Donald, have been massively influential, too – they inspired my three brothers and me to by no means quit and keep in mind there’s all the time one other day. My father all the time tried to take the strain off and provides us confidence – he by no means made us really feel like we needed to win in any respect prices.
You possibly can have 9 fences down out of a course of 10 and he’d say, “By gum, he jumped that one fence unbelievably.”
In my youthful days I used to be all the time altering the bits on my horses. My father instructed I ought to regulate the feed as an alternative, and it labored – type issues from the within out.
John Whitaker on the arrogance of youth
I want I’d recognized after I was beginning out that you may’t win each class. Whenever you’re younger you suppose you possibly can win all the things and if you don’t it’s disappointing.
Even now, I discover it actually arduous to make myself go gradual – for instance if I’m in a category simply to coach a horse.
Behind my thoughts I’m pondering I must be making an attempt to win. However studying to be a superb loser does include expertise – it’s worthwhile to be resilient, go away your errors behind and crack on once more tomorrow.
Confidence is a large a part of this sport and success breeds success. Everyone has unhealthy spells, however you be taught to trip the storm, return to fundamentals – and never panic. That’s the tough half.
Earlier than I enter the ring, I attempt to keep targeted, psyche myself up and inform myself I can win. I don’t suppose you’re any good should you don’t get some form of nerves – it’s nearly having the ability to management them – and I believe the larger the event, the higher I trip. After I was younger, I discovered large exhibits like Horse of the Yr Present daunting so I used to say to myself, “What’s the worst that would occur? It’s not the top of the world, exit and do your finest.”
I’m not significantly superstitious however, if I win a category, I are inclined to hold issues the identical – the tack, the nice and cozy up routine, what number of jumps I do, hold sporting the identical tie, my Nice Britain underpants…
John Whitaker’s high tip – don’t neglect the horses!
I received to a present as soon as and found I didn’t have any of my package at the back of my lorry – or any horses both! We’d all thought the others had taken care of it, so we arrived to find an empty lorry. In order that’s my high tip – don’t neglect something.
I reckon I trip higher now than I did 20 years in the past. I don’t win as a lot – I most likely don’t take the identical dangers and I don’t have the identical horsepower – however my place, management and stability is healthier than ever and I believe that’s only a pure development relatively than one thing I’ve labored on.
The horse John would like to have proper now
I take into account myself extraordinarily lucky to have had so many good horses, however it could be good to do what Nick Skelton did – to discover a horse like Huge Star to finish my profession with a ultimate blast.
I might be joyful to have any of my previous horses in my string proper now – Ryan’s Son or Hopscotch, however I want I had Milton above all others. He was merely excellent and crammed you with confidence; having him was the fairytale.
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H&H showjumping editor
Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her position as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the globe reporting from exhibits and interviewing riders, connections and people concerned behind the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on each topic throughout the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to steady administration — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand expertise of working within the equestrian business as a driving teacher and yard supervisor.
