7 minute read
Zandi Alcock
by hqmagazine
INTERVIEW: HQ TEAM PHOTOGRAPHY: PIX BY ALEX
And Favour the Bold
We 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. 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.
Callaho Lansink
HQ: It seems like you are jumping in a lot of the adult classes. Why is this? Zandi: I like the adult classes, mainly because there are a lot more riders, which makes the classes more competitive. For me, if I win an adult class with lots of entries, I feel I have achieved more.
HQ: When did you start doing the 1.30s? Zandi: So my first 1.30 was at the beginning of 2019, and soon after we started the 1.30 classes, Bold actually injured himself and was out for a year. My mom and I rehabbed him for that period. At President’s Cup at the end of last year, he came third, and at the Burlington Cup, he came second. At last year’s Youth Champs, he also came second. Youth Champs last year was actually one of our best shows as we went clear in all four classes, and he placed in all of them as well. He has this huge heart and is the sweetest. He is so tricky to stay on in the warm-up, but he is completely focused once he is in the ring. I know him so well; I feel like we are one when we enter the ring. HQ: We heard you had adopted a slightly different strategy with Bold in the last few shows; what is it? Zandi: So with Bold, due to the difficulty of his warm-up, he seems to tire himself out towards the end of the show, especially over three-day shows. At the Reonet Show, we missed the second day of classes due to rain, and he won the Championship Class. At Shongweni, he was quite anxious and tense in the warm-up, and I felt he was tired in the Championship Class. When he is calm, he jumps so much better as he uses his back properly. When he is relaxed, he is also so much more focused. I said to Ray I would like to try skip a day at SA Champs and see if it works, and it clearly did!
HQ: How do you prep for your big shows? Zandi: I like to do a lot of visualisation before my shows. I try to visualise clear, smooth rounds and even visualise my
horses in the championship blankets at prize giving. Before I won Reonet, I said to my Dad, “Send the live stream link to our friends and family - Bold and I are going to win tomorrow!”
It seemed to work, as we did! I also do lots of dressage, pole work and fitness training as I find this really helps to strengthen my horses for jumping.
HQ: Did you feel SA Champs was going to be different? Zandi: I don’t know. It is hard to explain, but in the Championship Class it was the first time he felt like he was fighting to get to the jumps. He was calm, but he was super focused. We have been working with horsemanship trainer Shelley Wolhuter on his anxiety, and it really seems to be paying off. He uses his back so much better when he is calm, and I have his 100% focus.
HQ: Who was your biggest competition for the jump-off round? Zandi: It was definitely Tegan Bruyns and Cerravie. She went early on and set a great time. In the warm-up, it seemed that no one would be able to beat her time. I try not to focus on the other riders too much but try to focus on myself and my horse. I just knew from experience that Cerravie is an incredibly fast horse in the jump-off, so I would have to set a very fast time to beat her.
HQ: What are your tips for a good jump-off round? Zandi: It is obviously important to be quick between the jumps, but I find that smoothness is the most important. A lot of riders seem to do tight turns, but they slow down during the turns, which affects their speed hugely and that often results in them getting too close to the next jump and taking a pole. Ray always talks about keeping the rhythm during the round, and this helps prevent chipping a stride.
HQ: What are your dreams with Bold and your other horse, Callaho Lansink? Zandi: I am just going to keep going up the grades with Bold and see how it goes. I really feel he could be the next Iron Ruler (Daniella Machiné’s much-loved partner). In terms of Lansink, I feel I could go up to the 1.40s at the end of the year, but I know Ray will probably encourage me to stay in the 1.35s to ensure I am completely comfortable with the 1.35s. Ray always makes sure you are completely ready to move up a grade before he lets you move up, which I find has really benefitted my horses and me. HQ: What are your short-term goals? Zandi: Last year, I wanted to go to the Youth Olympics, but due to COVID-19, it was cancelled. They have a new event now called the FEI Youth Jumping Competition, and that will be in Aachen next year. I am on the long list for that and will be doing qualifiers over the next few months to see if I can make it up the list to the last four candidates. The last four candidates will compete at Easter Festival, and they have to swap horses. I would love to represent South Africa at the Youth Jumping Challenge in Germany.
A THANK YOU
A huge part of my success at SA Champs was due to my team that constantly helps and supports me - my coach (Ray Korber), my parents and my sponsors (Calico Socks and Equisense). I am so grateful for everything they do for me.
How many times a week do you see your horse?
Samantha Joubert: Daily
Anita van Eeden: Every evening
Desire Fourie: Everyday
Chenee Seeberath: At least 5 times a week
Wanda le Hanie: Most of the day when I’m home - looking at them through my room window. I feed them myself and groom them twice a day.
Candice Kent: 6 times Erna Hubbard: Ride at least five times, see at least 7 times, sometimes twice per day
Albert Kriel: All day, everyday
Yvonne Lubbe: Every day, twice a day – and sometimes three times depending on the day I am having
Katie Gillespie: 4 times
Alet van Deventer: 1-3 times a week
Nathalie Claire Lugard: As often as possible
