Savvy Equestrian - Educational Horse Articles

Unbridled: Interview with Susan Kayne
Dublin, Ireland 2005

Beezie Madden is one of America's most decorated Grand Prix riders. I had a chance to catch up with the show jumping star fresh off another victory at the Dublin Horse Show in Ireland.

SK: What does it mean to you to win at Dublin representing the United States?

BZ.: Well, it was a great feeling. I won the first big class on Wednesday and it's always good to come here and know that your horse is comfortable. I think he's a special horse and I always think he deserves to win. So, It's always exciting.

SK: Authentic is an absolutely amazing horse. What is it that makes him so special and gives him the ability to jump so huge?

BZ.: Well, he has a lot of quality and he has a lot of ambition just to go out and do something. He's happy to be busy all the time and so I think somehow he actually enjoys his job and he seems to understand to jump over the fences and he's just enthusiastic and careful and scopey. And he's everything you can ask for.

SK: Beezie continued her winning streak with Judgement to tie for the high jump win in the Six Bar.

BZ.: He's a real powerful jumper. He's actually done the Six Bar once before in Syracuse. So, he had a little practice at it and he just seemed happy in there yesterday.

SK: When you ride through the Six Bar, how is it different for you as a rider?

BZ.: Well, basically it's a big gymnastic exercise, so you want to come in off of a real medium stride with the horse very balanced and then mostly the horse has to help you through the whole thing. The distance was short and then would get shorter and shorter as he went. So, you did have to help him when you landed from one fence, keep your balance and put him back on his hocks to be able to jump the next fence off a short distance. But I have to admit, it's mostly up to the horse in that competition.

SK: How do you keep him fresh? You know, going through the Six Bar? We went in the Grand Prix today. He jumped a spectacular round. One would think he'd be tired after the Six Bar.

BZ: Like I said, he's such a powerful jumper that I think the Six Bar is not that difficult for him. So, luckily, I don't think it took a lot out of him. And today's class, well, it's a new day. He's fit, he's an athlete and he was ready to go.

SK: How is he different than riding Authentic?

BZ: Authentic is a much quicker thinker. So, I always have to try to be thinking ahead us him a little bit because he is such a game little guy. He's going to be ready to take on anything and mostly I have to channel that in the right direction. Judgement has a bigger, slower stride. He's more of a powerhouse jumper and he takes a little more accuracy and placement and balanced and he needs more help that way. Authentic, he's easy for me, basically because I just have to slow his thinking down and slow his brain down a little bit and that is really all there is to it.

SK: Is one more challenging than the other for you to ride in your own personal riding style?

BZ: I'd say when I got Judgement, he was a little more of a challenge for me. I blended naturally with Authentic. But, now I think Judgement's gone a little my way and I've gone a little his way. I've learned how to ride that kind of horse and he's actually pretty easy for me to ride now. He knows the routine. He's an experienced horse now. He's 14 years old. He's been a lot of places and he's just a trooper.

SK: Do you find that there's a difference in how you train and manage a stallion verses a gelding?

BZ.: Well, you definitely have to make sure the stallion stays fresh enough. I was a little worried coming into this tour that he wasn't fresh enough. We didn't originally plan on bringing him. This was supposed to be a little bit of a downtime for him, but because of some circumstances with another horse, he was up again for the tour and he's been great. Like I said, he's great, he's fit. He's the type of horse you have to keep fit anyway. Authentic, you almost have to be careful how fir you keep him. He's always enthusiastic, but you also want to be careful not to erode away at that too. You want to make sure he stays that way. So, it's basically a little the same. They all need some down time. They all need to be as fit as they can to keep them healthy and it's really a lot of the same.

SK: You are please with both of them at this stage in the tour?

BZ: Oh yeah. I'm very pleased. This is Authentic's first big tour here, where he's been over here a consistent amount of time and on Nation's Cup. He's done beautifully so far. And Judgment, like a said, he's done every kind of class there is to do. He's kind of the backup or sometimes I use him as my first horse. When we were in LeBaul, France, he did the Nation's Cup and the Grand Prix. He did the Grand Prix in Rome. At Spruce Meadows he did everything. He did the speeds. He did the big classes and he's just been great in all of them.

SK: Watching you ride, you're such a beautiful rider. What is it like for you to work with George Morris?

BZ: Well, it's been great. What he gives me is a little security that what we're doing is right and also that yes, we can do it as a team. He gives some motivation that we can win and let's go out there and do it. He's terrific at that.

SK: How was riding for a team different from riding individually? Your colleagues are normally competing against each other head to head in Grand Prix at home?

BZ: I have to give all the credit to George for that too. He keeps us together as a team and I think it makes us all want to blend as a team as well. I think everybody's on the same page with that. Both tours I've done have been great in that way. It makes it more fun. You have more people to root for and also a little more pressure. When it comes time for the Nation's Cup, it's fun to root for other people and feel like you can be a success through them also.

SK: Do you find, in a stressful situation, does that pressure help you get more in the zone?

BZ: I would say definitely it does. I've been the last rider two times here and also at the Olympics. Especially at the Olympics. I have to say that when I went in for the last round at first I was thinking my round wasn't going to mean much. But, when I got to the gate I found out that if I went clear we were going to jump off for the silver medal. It actually excited me that I could do something and help the team and that my round was going to mean something and we had a chance to medal. So, it definitely motivates you.

SK: Well, you certainly mean a lot to America and we're so thrilled that you're representing us. One thing that I noticed repeatedly and it's so special to me as a horse lover; I always see you patting your horse when the round is done in the most kind and affectionate way no matter what goes on in the ring. Of all the horses you've had, who's the most special to you and why?

BZ: You know, when you really think about it, they're all special for what we ask them to do. I mean they do amazing things from competing in the ring to traveling on airplanes to being a pet to some child that comes to pet them. I think everything that they do is special. But, Authentic's probably the best horse I've ever had. He has an unbelievably funny personality. I'd say he's probably my favorite. Partly because we have him now and partly because I think he's maybe one of those once-in-a-lifetime horses.

SK: Throughout your career, who has influenced you the most and why?

BZ: I think I've taken influence from a lot of people. When I rode with Katie Monahan she really got me started in jumpers. So, I have to say she had a huge influence. My husband John, we've been together now since 1988. Basically building the whole program. Finding the horses, developing the relationship with owners, the sponsors throughout the year. He does most all of that and I can be able to concentrate on the riding. I learn something everyday from George. I learn something everyday from Johan Heins, our partner here in Europe. We get all our horses through him. The horses go to his place in between shows in Europe and he's been a great influence. There have been so many people. I'd say that those are the biggest.

SK: Well, you are a great inspiration to many young people in the United States that aspire to ride like you. What advice would you give to young people?

BZ: You have to try to get with good people that are at the top of the game in their sport at whatever level you're at and do whatever they ask you to do. Then somebody will notice you and you can work your way up no matter what.

SK: And one last questions. What can we expect to see from you over the next decade?

BZ: Decade!?

SK: Decade. We're planning ahead.

BZ: Well, obviously, my goals would be the World Championships next year and hopefully the Olympics to follow and we're really concentrating on bringing along young horses at the same time so that we can always be in this position. We have a beautiful string of horses now and you don't want to just rest on your laurels and not have anything coming up. So, we have a big push for that too. And I think we have some nice young ones at home. So the plan is just to continue what we're doing.

Related Links: [ Unbridled Website ]