Husband and wife duo set to compete against each other at the upcoming 2017 Nissan Easter Festival
JOBURG – Wife issues first salvo as couple is set to compete against each other in the Nissan Easter Festival at the Kyalami Equestrian Park.
“My advice to my better half ahead of the upcoming Nissan Easter Festival is ‘Watch out, I’m coming for you’!”
These were the words of Lorette Knowles-Taylor ahead of the epic clash between herself and her husband, Barry Taylor, the accomplished Team Nissan showjumper who was ranked 2nd in South Africa at the end of 2016.
Lorette was ranked 4th but after many years of marriage, they both admit that they’re fired up for the festival, where they’ll compete against each other.
“My trainer is my husband Barry – who’s put up with me for 21 years and knows me better than anyone,” smiled Lor – as she’s affectionately known.
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She will be riding Nissan Catwalk 22 in the Nissan Grand Prix which takes place on 17 April at 2pm at Kyalami Equestrian Park. “Catwalk definitely has the most character of all my horses – he is scared of his own shadow and has X-ray eyes but face him at a scary jump and he is the bravest horse on four legs,” she said.
“In terms of my show preparations, I am still slogging away – it’s been a slow comeback after my shoulder surgery at the end of September last year. But by the week of the show, all the serious grafting should be complete and we give them an easier time just before we start, as we want them to be fresh and happy and give of their best at the show.”
BJ, as Barry is known, hopes to qualify for the Nissan Grand Prix on Counter Attack and said that the big grey is a Houdini at getting out of any stable but is also a gentle giant. “When jumping he is very feisty and takes quite a lot of skill to ride, but he’s my top horse for the Nissan Grand Prix and I’ve had fantastic preparation going into this show,” he said.
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“I first need to focus on qualifying then I plan on going for the win! I’ll have a big jump two or three days before the show, and a light lunge the day before the first qualifier. My biggest challenge is to not knock the jumps down and be consistent with what I have trained at home.
“My wife and I definitely help each other – as long as one of us wins we’re happy. I don’t get nervous when she competes, but I am anxious for her to do well! Lorette certainly gives me advice but generally, I go with my gut feeling and 40 years of learning by knocking my own head!”
