Tatum competes in Germany

TATUM Olivier, a grade 7 learner at Thomas More College, was one of five selected South African young show jumpers to attend the German Friendship’s competition at The Bextor Hof stables in Herford, Germany.

The competition which occurs every two years sees children and junior riders from around the world teamed up with a German riding partner to compete against other teams.

This year, saw 56 countries competing.

Thirteen year old Tatum was the youngest South African and the only KZN representative.

Each international competitor gets drawn a horse which they have twenty minutes to get used to before jumping a 1.1m track. They compete in a class a day over three days of competition. Tatum, riding her borrowed pony, Sunny, achieved two clear rounds and a fence down in one class to finish individually 8th overall. With her German partner, Felix Braun, they finished 22nd as a team.

This was Tatum’s first trip overseas. “It was amazing. The best experience I’ve ever had. Everybody was so friendly and they really get into it. My team mate was very nice and sweet and tried to help me and answered any questions I had,” said Tatum.

A highlight of the trip was the two days of training with the German Olympic team. The most difficult aspect was riding unknown horses.

“It’s difficult because you know how your own horses respond and you don’t know these horses. Luckily, thanks to my coach, Jodi Pieters, I rode quite a few different horses before I left so I got used to riding other horses.”

Now that she is back home, Tatum is concentrating on going Juniors  with her new horses, Alayna and Florain VHK, a Belgium warmblood who is arriving soon. She is hoping to make her way up the Junior Grades and to compete in the Youth Olympic Games in four years time. Her goal is to be jumping 1.30m at the next Junior Champs in December 2014.

“I would like to thank my mom, dad, Jodi and brother for supporting me and helping me get prepared.”