HORSE AND RIDER
INTERVIEW: HQ TEAM PHOTOGRAPHY: PIX BY ALEX
Zandi Alcock And Favour the Bold
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e chatted to 16-year-old up and coming rider Zandi Alcock following her phenomenal win in the Puresan 1.30m South African Championship. She rode to the top of the podium in a big class on her Off The Track Thoroughbred, Favour the Bold. HQ: When did you get Bold? Zandi: So Bold was actually a complete surprise. I got him for my 13th birthday when he was eight years old. My mom vetted him in secret after I had tried him out. She then decided to purchase him. He had been bought off the track by Danielle Pearson and was being ridden by Nicola Sime-Riley before I got him. HQ: Did you have much experience before buying Bold? Zandi: Yes, Bold is known for being a bit quirky. He is very hot and has a huge buck! Before I got Bold, I had a pony called Assegai Summer Song, who was definitely no pushbutton pony either. Before Sunny, I had some very tricky ponies, and my very first pony was completely green.
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HQ: Ray (Körber) is a phenomenal rider himself, but what does Ray focus on in his coaching? Zandi: Ray is very strategic in the way he teaches and the exercises he sets up, so he often has a lot of gymnastics set up, and we don’t always do many courses. Most of the jumping exercises we do focus on balance, strength training and rhythm. With Bold, we have been working on the strength in his hindquarters and his technique with his back legs. In particular, we focus on oxers as he sometimes flattens out and takes the back rail down. HQ: Bold seems incredibly honest… Zandi: Yes, Bold is brave, but he can be quite spooky. Whenever there is a water tray at shows, I make sure he has a good few looks at it before we jump it. Having said this, he is the most forgiving horse I have ever ridden, and he will jump from anywhere. I think he might have stopped with me once in the ring over the years, but I may be mistaken.
HQ|156A
