John Whitaker: "We looked at other riders, the young generation looks at their phone..."

John Whitaker: "We looked at other riders, the young generation looks at their phone..."

The equestrian social media is exploding thanks to the wise words of British living legend, John Whitaker! 'When I was young I spent my time at shows watching those in higher classes, watching what they did, how many strides they took, how they warmed up. Now I see the next generations of jumpers spending their down time at shows with their head in their phones, missing out on valuable lessons.'

"I focused on how they warmed up. I notice that with the young generation of show jumpers, their gaze is constantly directed towards the ground, at the screen of their mobile phone. In my opinion, they miss out on many important lessons this way!" the Brit explains. "Success doesn't come to the rider; the rider has to actively seek the path to the top!"


"There are many emerging talents. My advice to them is to learn from the winning combinations. Observe how they warm up horses. See how they ride in the morning and prepare just before the competition. Try to assess their horses and apply the techniques to your own horse!"