The South African show jumping circuit is one of the most closely contested you’ll find. Anyone can win on competition day so best you bring with you your A-game of upmost confidence, supreme fitness and 100% focus on a podium finish. Team Nissan are confident that they have what it takes to claim the majority of the 2015 season’s winnings.
Starting their season with the Nissan Easter Festival later this month, Team Nissan is a mixed team comprising of industry stalwarts Barry Taylor and wife Lorette Knowles-Taylor as well as four development riders namely 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,” says South Africa’s most accomplished show jumper Barry Taylor.
Moving out of the training season and into the thick of 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 says Lorette Knowles-Taylor;
“Most of the members ride about 5 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 so there’s really no telling who will win come competition day.”
“We would love to encourage the public to come watch us – we assure you show jumping is like no other sport you’ve seen before! With free entrance into this years’ Nissan Easter Festival, why not join us at Kyalami Equestrian Park so that we can show those new to the sport how it all works. The show starts on 28 March with the Nissan Outdoor Grand Prix taking place on 6 April. For more information find us on Facebook at Team Nissan Show jumping.”
