Chartwell’s Lorette Knowles-Taylor jumps into second place in showjumping rankings
CHARTWELL - IF ONE has had the privilege of watching Lorette Knowles-Taylor's calm, collected demeanor as she tackles fences in the showjumping ring, one wouldn't expect the talented rider to shed a tear at a win.
But the country’s second-place ranked rider admits that winning the fourth leg of the FEI World Cup Qualifier at Maple Ridge Equestrian Farm in October on her stallion Nissan Titanic did just that as her team congratulated her.
“I was very chuffed with my stallion, Nissan Titanic, when he jumped clear in the jump-off, and I actually shed a tear when I realised I had won. It was awesome as all our Team Nissan and Farnham Stables’ grooms had watched the class and they all gathered before the prize-giving ceremony to hug and congratulate me. I was so touched,” she exclaimed.
The win cements Chartwell’s Knowles-Taylor at number two position in the showjumping rankings and follows her placings in the second and third legs of the FEI World Cup Qualifiers before winning the Equipe Selleria FEI World Cup Qualifier at Maple Ridge Equestrian Farm.
As she gears up for the fifth and final World Cup Qualifier, which will be held at the new indoor Equidome in Kyalami from 25 to 29 November, Knowles-Taylor knows that stiff competition lies ahead. “I am still quite a few points behind Lisa Williams who is in top spot though. I would probably need another win to be able to win the series overall – which is quite a tall order.”
Knowles-Taylor’s ranking comes in the saddle of the 15-year-old, imported KWPN stallion, Nissan Titanic, who she has been riding on and off for the past three years. “He was jumping in the 1.3m when we bought a share in him for my birthday in 2012. He is a very big, brave stallion, but can be quite difficult – he is a very willful and is physically very strong. He can also be a little difficult to handle on the ground because of his sheer physical strength. Barry [Taylor] rode him most of last year and I took him over again full time in May as I didn’t have a world cup horse. I do have a partnership now with him – I trust him implicitly when I’m riding him – he is super, super brave and there is no fence too big. I have a healthy respect when I handle him though! It has been a tough past three years with lots of hard work and lots of tears too.”
Describing this year as a good year for her and her horses, she recognised her success as a team effort, paying tribute to her husband, South African showjumping legend Barry Taylor, and his “never wavering support – on and off my horses”. She also thanked her ‘super’ owners and horses and headline sponsor, Nissan South Africa, without whom she said her continued career would not be possible. “I also have an amazing support team which includes family, amazing owners in family Jansen and the Callaho Warmblood Stud, Team Nissan riders and my groomsmen as well as a bunch of smaller sponsors (but not less important) that I also couldn’t do without. Success must be attributed to the whole team not just the individual – there is a load of teamwork that needs to come together.”
As she rides out a successful year, Knowles-Taylor is looking forward to next year as she said she has ‘super’ up-and-coming horses, including The Jansen’s Catwalk 22 on whom she will start competing at the 1.50m level next year and two ‘very exciting’ young stallions from Callaho Warmblood Stud.
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