Please give us a short introduction of yourself and your riding history:

I’m 57, a qualified CA(SA)  and have been in the banking and business sectors since I qualified. After a long break of 27 years I got back into show jumping 10 years ago. 

I started riding at Inanda Club and the old Grayston Stables as a child, and finally jumped my first A Grade horse in 1985 as a 21 year old. I stopped riding soon after to complete my studies, then took it up again in 2012.

Please can you list your achievements/ wins/ titles.

I haven’t won anything of note but completed my first Derby in 2019 (with12 faults) and recently I completed my first World Cup Champs at Shongweni Club, placing 8th with a clear round and one time fault.

I won a few 1.40 classes a few years ago in my wife’s horse Callaho Con Quito.

Who will you be competing on for Derby this year? 

 I’ll be competing in EquiConnect Chilliwack

What kind of preparation/ training have you been doing to face the formidable Derby this year, and get your horses ready?

This year I’ve competed at Stokkiesdraai shows including SA Champs (where I was placed 4th in the first 1.45 class) then recently at Shongweni WCQ.  These shows have got Chilliwack jumping fit and ready for bigger jumps. I usually hack him out often and ride him twice a day sometimes as he is now very fit and strong and gets fresh very easily.

What mental tools do you use to cope with the pressure of riding at this top level?

 I’ve learned to manage my breathing by slowing it down when I get nervous and I focus on my canter rhythm when warming up as well as my body position to make sure I’m riding correctly. I try to stay tall and make sure I ride lightly. Thinking about what I’m doing with my body helps me get my mind focussed.

You’ve seen a number of Derby horses over the years, if you could choose one horse to jump the track on, who would it be and why? 

Gonda owned a brilliant mare called Honey Girl back in the 80’s. I would’ve been too big for her but she was arguably the best Derby horse I’d ever seen. Barry Taylor had a wonderful horse called Powerforce and he would have to be second choice. More recently I’d say Gold Rush ridden by Shaun Neil would be another horse I’d loved to have ridden.

Describe your Derby routine on the day of the event (for yourself and your horse). 

I’ve only done one Derby, so that day I spent nearly an hour just chatting to my amazing horse Chilliwack where I told him about the course and what to expect from each jump. Then about an hour before I chatted to my wonderful wife and spoke about what a big day it was and how much fun it was going to be to ride my first big Derby. Lastly I then sat in my truck just before we walked the course to calm and slow my mind down and focussed on slowing my breathing. It was a good first attempt so I think it worked well in the end.

Do you think attitude is a factor in winning?

Attitude is everything! Never mind winning, just to compete at this level you have to ONLY have positive thoughts! To trust and believe in yourself, to imagine yourself riding and going around the course, and to believe that you and your horse together can take on the challenge as a team.

What do you think makes Derby such a magical event? 

The tradition and history of Derby is unique, it seems to be the one event anyone who dreams of riding at the top level strives to do, at least once. It takes a very special, brave and strong horse to be willing to go over some of the more intimidating and scary obstacles. If your horse is brave, it helps the rider to be brave. And then there is the fact that even getting around the whole course is an unbelievable experience, doesn’t matter how many faults you have, as the crowd  support combined with the overall Bob Charter experience is just wonderful. The horses seem to rise to the occasion and they seem to enjoy the excitement just as much as the riders.

If this is the answer, what’s the question?

So for example I say 5am in the morning, and you say ‘My least favourite time of day’! 

Flatwork: Critical to successful show jumping!

Oxer: Nothing feels better than flying over a big fence. 

Something I’d never do: Olympics XC!

The Water: Once your horse has jumped it, stop practicing it. 

That is my dream: To win the Derby.