You may never aspire to make the Canadian team or tackle Rolex’s formidable four-star course. But whether you gallop around entry level at local horse trials or compete at the higher levels, knowing how to minimize refusals long before you get to an event is a must-have skill if you want to be successful.
When Jessica Phoenix acquired an eight-year-old off-the-track bay Thoroughbred gelding called Tucker as an eventing prospect in 2005, there were some issues. During their first training session, it took her two hours to convince the horse to walk over a single pole on the ground.
Just a few short years later, the horse – now with the show name Exponential – is “an inbelievably careful and brave jumper” successfully completing some of the biggest courses in the world without faults. With Exponential, Jessica finished seventh at the 2011 Rolex CCI4* and was the top-placed Canadian (22nd) at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England.