YOUNG SHOWJUMPER PROFILE

PHILIP BOTES

Interview | Rhiannon Cecil

Despite being focused on his Matric this year, Philip Botes has continued to make strides in the showjumping world and is now a staple in the open classes with his giant steed, Kojac Van De Kornelishoeve. Coached by recent Derby winner Dominey Alexander, Philip is a talented and dedicated young horseman we should definitely keep our eye out for on the podium. He was kind enough to catch up with HQ and give us some juicy details on his career to date and his goals for the future.

HQ: How did you get involved with horses and riding?

Philip: When I was six, my granny worked at the library across the road from Byerley Park Stables. While she was at her book club, my brother and I would go across just to be with the horses and give them a pat. I started riding there, and five years later, in 2015, I moved to Silvertree Stables, where I was coached by Michelle Dawson. One of her clients at the time, Alexander Nel, was selling his pony Smoke. Holy Smoke was fantastic and gave me was fantastic and gave me all the confidence in the world. Those were some of the best years of my life, and in 2016 we ended up making the Gauteng Junior 80cm team.

HQ: Who was your first horse, and what was your journey like together?

Philip: I moved on to horses in 2017 when we bought the gorgeous Callaho For Play from Cameron Dawson. I believe certain horses come into our lives for a reason, and she came in and taught me so much about riding. I never really thought about my seat or balance as a pony rider, but I learned to focus on those things with Play. We didn’t go on and win everything in the ring, but she is, and always will be, ‘my girl.’ The lessons she taught me far outweigh a firstplace rosette. She made me a better rider and helped me mature as a person.

Play is currently being ridden by Kirsty Jutzen and her daughter Kayelynn. I couldn’t be happier seeing Play in Kirsty’s care and the love they both have for her.

HQ: Who coaches you? What do you enjoy most about your lessons and your stableyard?

Philip: I stable at Cellehof stables and am coached there by Dominey Alexander. Dom’s reputation in the industry precedes him, but the main reason I chose Dominey as my coach is the way he treated me when I met him. He took me seriously as a human being and, more importantly, as a rider. He has given me confidence I never knew I had, and he believed in me so much right from the beginning. All I had to do was trust him; the rest is history. Dom has helped mould me into a person I’m genuinely proud of.

Dom’s lessons are never the same, and he has a keen sense of intuition about his riders. You never have to tell him you’re having an off day. He picks it up and adapts. He makes us laugh and tailors his coaching to each individual horse and rider. Each lesson is like a packet of wisdom; you always leave knowing more than you did when you arrived.

Karen, Dom’s wife, runs the stableyard like a well-oiled machine. You can’t find the experience she has in the feeding and care of horses in any textbook, yet she still listens to us as owners if we have opinions about our horses’ care. The grooms at Cellehof are incredibly knowledgeable, caring, and always eager to help. My two grooms, Knowledge and Professor, are the true heroes behind the scenes. The love they have for our horses is truly remarkable.

HQ: What difficulties have you had on your journey to where you are now? Did you ever think of quitting? What kept you going?

Philip: I have 100% thought of quitting. We often see the successes of other riders but not their failures, which can make us feel completely incompetent at times. Our sport is tough; we are dealing with living, breathing animals with their own personalities and quirks. When you get into a rough patch with them, there are bound to be collisions and moments when you feel so overwhelmed you just want to call it quits.

My love for horses and my stubborn streak kept me going. Horses are so intuitive, and the thought of abandoning them when things start getting hard is just not an option. When speaking to other riders, you realise you’re not alone in your riding struggles. Showjumping is a challenge, and not everyone can do well all the time, so don’t stop. You never know when things will start going your way.

HQ: Tell us a bit about your horses.

Philip: I’m currently riding two competition horses - Callaho Odin and Kojac Van De Kornelishoeve. They’re both insanely talented and yet have completely opposite personalities. Odin is exactly like a teddy bear. He loves hugs and even falls asleep in my arms. He is by a Consuelo sire and definitely fits the stereotype of Consuelo offspring. He’s spooky and incredibly quirky, but he has scope for days, is laser-focused, and is always eager to please when we’re in the ring.

Kojac is my big boy and my heart horse. I’ve never bonded with a horse as fast as with Kojac. He’s 17.3hh and loves to buck and play around in lessons, so I admit some people find him a little intimidating. I think it’s his way of showing his passion for what he does. It isn’t easy to put his personality into words because he truly is one of a kind. He is a brilliant teacher and will show you how proud he is of you with a flamboyant buck here and there. When Kojac is in the ring, he puffs out his chest and has the most magnetic presence. He is brave, kind, intelligent and affectionate- if he likes you. I owe him everything, and riding him is the best feeling in the world.

HQ: What are some of the best moments you’ve had in your career?

Philip: Definitely when Kojac and I made the shortlist for the 2022 Youth Equestrian Jumping Challenge in Aachen. It was the first time I had ever competed in the main class of the day, and it was at the Stokkiesdraai Cup, where the top 16 shortlisted riders competed for a spot in the top 8. It was a fantastic experience and, ultimately, the push I needed. Having to go up a level height-wise really pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Another brilliant moment in my career was receiving my honours blazer for being awarded honours in equestrian sport, but some of my best moments aren’t about accolades but about first times - like the first time I rode in the Bob Charter or going to my first inter-provincial in Shongweni.

HQ: Do you get show nerves? How do you stay focused in the Open classes?

Philip: Of course, I get show nerves. I mean, who doesn’t!? I use an amalgamation of techniques to stay calm. First, I always like to ensure I know the course like the back of my hand, so it becomes second nature when I enter the ring. When the bell rings to close the course, I go to a quiet place, sit and close my eyes, and go over the course as if I were riding it. I also like to get on early and walk around in the warmup arena, so I can give my boys a slow, relaxed and stress-free warmup. When I’m in the arena on standby, I make a point of not watching the rider before me. I stay focused on myself and my horse. I use a breathing technique where I inhale for four seconds, hold for four and then exhale for four. I repeat it four times. As soon as my bell rings, I put a smile on my face. I find it tricks my mind into calming down so I can enjoy the round.

HQ: Who are your idols in the sport?

Philip: Internationally, Scott Brash, Pénélope Leprevost, Jessica Springsteen, Georgina Bloomberg, Laura Kraut, Ben Maher and Edwina Tops-Alexander. They have all enjoyed great success, but more importantly I respect them because of their horsemanship and their adaptability when it comes to riding a wide variety of horses.

Locally, Dominey for his all-round embodiment of horsemanship; Lisa Williams for her meticulous care of her horses; and Kelly O’Connor for her position and style, as she always gives her horses every opportunity to put their best hoof forward.

HQ: Who has had the most impact on your journey to the open classes?

Philip: Definitely Dominey. When I arrived at Cellehof, he took me under his wing and became a real mentor to me. It’s hard to think of one instance that’s had a big impact on me; there are small pearls of wisdom in everything Dom says.

One glimpse into the impact he’s had on my journey does come to mind; I was really struggling with one of his exercises and noticed the next lesson waiting, which made me anxious. I was already frustrated, and everyone seemed to be managing it but me. Dom just said, “Hey, Philip, it’s ok. The other riders can wait because we all have those days where we can’t get it right no matter how hard we try. Today you’re struggling, but tomorrow it’s going to be someone else, so relax and come again.”

HQ: What does your training schedule look like in a week?

Philip: If I don’t have a show, my horses jump in lessons with Dom on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I have dressage lessons on Wednesdays with Debi Van Wyk, and on Fridays, I do fieldwork and take them to the track. Saturdays are either flatwork or fieldwork, and on Sundays, I take them for a walk.

HQ: What advice do you have for other young riders who aspire to jump at your level?

Philip: Gosh, I would say that Rome wasn’t built in a day, so don’t rush it. Take your time and solidify your confidence; if you feel like everyone is watching and judging you, they’re not. As soon as the round is over, they’ve already forgotten about it. If horse riding were an easy sport, there would be ten times more people doing it.

Where you can spot Philip in 2023

Philip plans to be a lot more active on the competition circuit once Matric is out of the way. He plans to move to the 1.35m classes with Kojak and then up into the 1.40m classes, at least once, by the end of 2023. Philip plans to take Odin up to the 1.30m classes and work on solidifying his confidence at that height for a while.