Unusual routes to jumping success

Contrary to popular belief, it's not all silver spoons and Olympic parentage in the showjumping world. Jennifer Donald discovers some successful riders with an unusual career path

- Jennifer Donald

2023 SHOWJUMPING SPECIAL

WHILE we are enjoying an incredible era of second-or even third-generation showjumpers making a name for themselves, the sport has always attracted a rich assortment of characters and backgrounds, who prove that having non-horsey parents or an urban upbringing are no barrier to success.

One of the most popular riders of the 1980s and 90s was Joe Túri, who landed the 1990 Hickstead Derby, represented Great Britain at the 1988 Olympics and won team gold at the European Championships. But this distinguished rider was actually born Jozsef Túri in Nagykőrös, Hungary, and the horse-mad youngster defied his father’s wishes that he learn a trade and instead joined the Czikos troupe of trick riders.

Nearing the end of a tour of England, a 16-year-old Joe and a co-performer seized an opportunity to defect by jumping off the lorry when it stopped at traffic lights.

The pair sought political asylum and, despite speaking very little English, Joe bagged a job at a riding school. Fate soon led him to showjumping owner Michael Bullman, who bought Joe some hugely successful horses including Vital and Kruger. In the early days, however, he used his acrobatic skills to gain show entry.

“People can’t understand how I get a horse to lie down and let me play with their legs in the air. It’s the trust,” he once said.

“All the trick riding helped me with my balance, made me good with my legs and light with my hands. But it never helped me clear the fences. That’s up to the horses. But I never dreamt it was possible when I came here that I would one day ride for the British Olympic team.”

John Whitaker remembers his teammate fondly.