Show jumping ready for Easter

STARTING their season with the Nissan Easter Festival later this month, Team Nissan is a mixed team comprising industry stalwarts Barry Taylor and wife Lorette Knowles-Taylor and four development riders, Vincent Moemise, Oscar Ncube, Zoleka Mosiah and Lexi Stais.

“Show jumping is one of the more challenging sports as you need to communicate and have a relationship with the horse, working together to achieve maximum potential. Our team has been handpicked for the riders’ abilities, their sound understanding of their horses and their desire to win,” said SA’s most accomplished show jumper, Barry Taylor.

“Moving out of the training season and into the thick of the shows, the team will compete in nearly 300 show jumping classes between now and the end of the year, which is tough going on any athlete,” said Knowles-Taylor.

“Most of the members ride about five hours a day, six days a week and all year round. We are extremely fit, on par with the rest of the world, and know what we need to do in order to top the country’s rankings. Several of our riders have represented South Africa and it is the dream of every member to achieve national colours in their career. We’ve trained hard this year, and I believe that we are all ready for one of the biggest shows of the year, however competition is tough.”

Entrance is free at the Nissan Easter Festival at Kyalami Equestrian Park from March 28, with the Nissan Outdoor Grand Prix taking place on April 6.