Making it all work

She has a career outside of show jumping, is a mother to two boys and is a Nissan South Africa Outdoor Grand Prix champion. “I’ve won the Triple Crown derby, the South African Championship and the Outdoor Grand Prix,” she said. “I believe in a healthy balance, as long as you can share your time correctly, anything is possible.”

She starts her day with a 5.30am horse ride. She then prepares her boys for school and goes off to work. After an eight-hour work day it is back to mother duties and family time, a task that would be easier for Horwood if her boys shared her passion. “They don’t share my passion, thankfully, because it is an expensive sport,” said Horwood.

She admits that following her passion was not always sunshine and roses. She literally had to pull herself up by the boot straps.

Although she never competed at a junior level due to financial constraints, Horwood did not give up on her dream. Having started riding at the age of six years old, at 18 she left her home province of KwaZulu-Natal to find gold in Gauteng.

“I started working for Gonda Beatrix, a legend in my field,” she said. After matriculating, she worked for Beatrix for a couple of years and then left for a steadier job. “I left the industry for about five years, I couldn’t stay away,” she said.

Luckily for her after her five-year hiatus having tried running and cycling, she formed a relationship with the horse breeding farm Capital Stud which has been ongoing for 10 years. “They gave me all these horses that I’ve been successful on,” she said.

Horwood will be competing in the Nissan Easter Festival with her Capital Stud horses, Mark White Nissan Capital Hitoshi in the 1.35m classes, Mark White Nissan Capital Look At Me in the 1.40m classes, and Mark White Nissan Capital Don Cumarco in the 1.50m classes.

She aims to retain her current title as the winner of the 1.50m South African Outdoor Grand Prix. She said she was prepared for the competition. “We have just finished with The Presidents Cup so the horses will have an easy next few days and then its straight back into their routine training.

“I like to just take one class at a time. I try to just focus on what questions the course builder is asking and how my horse feels on the day. I try not to get too distracted and just have a calm relaxed warm up,” she said of her training routine.

She said she had no favourite horses, but Mark White Nissan Capital Don Cumarco held a special place in her heart. “He has helped me realise all my dreams and more. He loves his job and thrives under pressure,” she said.

Horwood said young riders with the passion and talent always have opportunities available to them, despite not having the finances. The key, she said, lies in being prepared to work hard.

Filler: Please share your photos of you and your family at the Nissan Easter Festival with @midrandreporter on twitter.