In addition to capping off the season as champion of the Western Talent Squad Final, Jim Ifko’s business saw a change of scenery with the relocation of his base of operations to Bar None Ranches, a breeding, training and rehabilitation facility in Dewinton, AB, which offers among other amenities a water treadmill and hyperbaric oxygen chamber for horses.
Jim got his introduction to horses on his family’s farm, which eventually developed into Paramount Equestrian Centre. His sister, Cecilia, was the first to ride and compete, but he and his brother Joe shortly followed in her footsteps. Jim took his first lesson at 13 and never looked back. “The farm was my father’s vision, which provided us the opportunity to share in his passion for horses,” explains Jim of his father, Joe Sr.’s, imprint on his early development as a rider. “His enthusiasm for horses and the sport of show jumping has been the cornerstone of my riding career and it is my parents who have been my greatest influence. They taught me about hard work, discipline, and instilled in me the desire to succeed. It is because of my parents I became a highly-competitive rider.”
At the beginning of his career, Jim struggled with the high expectations he placed on himself and his mounts, losing sight of the enjoyment of creating a partnership with the horse. “As a young rider, I defined my success as my ability to achieve results – whether in terms of placings, ribbons, or fastest times. My determination was great, but so was the level of stress and pressure I placed on myself. This had a really negative impact on my horses, who I coaxed to compete at a level that matched my high expectations.” With often unrealistic expectations and driven by his competitive nature, competitions became high-pressure and high-stress ordeals, often resulting in a lose-lose situation for Jim and his horses.
A change in his attitude, and ultimately his career, came after watching an interview with Rodrigo Pessoa at the Spruce Meadows Masters. “Rather than speaking about his quest for first place, [Rodrigo] spoke about how his focus was on just trying to ride well, and to the best of his ability. His focus was not so much on his result, regardless of the outcome.”
The concept of being proud of his efforts in the ring, rather than just focusing on the ribbons, was foreign to Jim, but it had a profound impact on his view of horsemanship and competition. “I began to shift my focus from trying so hard to win, to instead leaving the ring happy about the way I rode,” he explains. “I began to define success as riding to the best of my ability. Competitions have become far more enjoyable; not just for myself, but the horses now truly enjoy their job as well. This gave me a renewed love for the sport, and a better understanding of the amazing things that a relationship with the horse has to offer.”
The realization that his horses perform better with a focus on riding well rather than fixating on results was truly a turning point for Jim. “To see how happy my horses have become and to know that now they have the ability to perform at their best was truly an “aha” moment for me. It freed me from the pressure and stress I so often felt in competition. Punishing oneself for failure can, at times, make it really difficult for success.”
Jim hopes to move into the higher-echelon FEI classes in the upcoming season with his top Dutch Warmbloods: Peninsula Vertigo, a 10-year-old stallion owned by Marilyn Dixon, and Sheryl Whyte’s Peninsula Croisette, a nine-year-old mare. With a good support system including his longtime girlfriend, Shannon, and two daughters, Isabella and Sophie, cheering him on, he is looking forward to 2012. “I have been fortunate to have acquired a great group of clients who are talented riders and all truly dedicated to the sport. This (2011) was an exceptional year and my success is not mine alone. Along with the support of the owners and stable facilities, there is a talented group of professionals behind the scenes including grooms, vets, and equine massage therapists who contribute to the overall well-being of the horses.”
And let’s not forget the positive influence of his new attitude.
