There are many pathways to the top of our sport. There is no clear path to the top managed by a peak body such as in tennis, swimming or football, for example. In fact, there are as many paths as there are top riders. Some go to Europe, some stay home and some go to America. Scott Keach is a rider who has blazed his own path.

From Pony Club in the Adelaide Hills to representing Australia as a 21-year-old at the World Eventing Championships at Gawler in South Australia, Scott Keach made his mark early in his career, even making the eventing team that placed fifth at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.

He then took a long break from top competition in the 1990s while he went to university, and spent a lot of time surfing. After moving to America, he broke into the Australian show jumping team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. There were 28 years between Olympics. What a remarkable career. And it’s not over yet. Scott is based in Ocala, Florida, where he has a team of horses including Australian owned and bred Wild Thing, out of Seamus Marwood’s top eventer Wild Oats. He also has loyal American owners.

I caught up with Scott at EQUITANA, where he was giving the jumping masterclass with his teammate James Paterson-Robinson. I ask him about his path to the top in show jumping. “It has just happened by luck,” he says. In 2007 there was an outbreak of equine flu in Australia. The whole industry ground to a halt. Scott had luckily already gone to America to sell an eventer. The sale was a success and the horse competed at the Olympic Games in Beijing, 2008.

As nothing was happening in Australia, he stayed in America and moved to Florida in 2008 to coach a young girl. They bought a seven-year-old gelding jumping 1.20m. This talented horse thrived with Scott, competing in the show jumping Grand Prix by eight years old. This was Fedor, Scott’s partner for Rio. This was a wonderful journey for horse, rider and the owners, who have since invested in other horses.

SECRET TO LONGEVITY

What is Scott’s secret for longevity in the sport? “Finding good horses and the means to keep them,” he says. “Horses are getting more and more valuable, so they are harder to keep. There are so many good horses and good riders now.” Scott doesn’t have a fancy philosophy about choosing horses, and he doesn’t have favourite bloodlines: “I just like horses that are good jumpers, that just don’t want to touch a rail.” Scott has had success buying horses already started and jumping about 1.20m and jumping clear rounds at that level, and then taking them further. Owners are important.

“Also, it is important to stay current. Courses are getting more technical, the time allowed is getting tighter,” he offers. Indeed, there was a lot of discussion about this point at the Australian Jumping Championships at Boneo. Quite a few rail-free rounds had time faults, which did affect the placings. Tight times mean shorter lines into the fences, less time to prepare and more emphasis on training so horses can travel evenly to the fences. “You have to have a good team, good staff,” says Scott. “You must be very aware of the horse, not just turn up and get on.” Scott likes his horses to go out in the paddock, but when it’s very hot they might go out at night, rather than in the heat of the day. Horses’ legs are always iced after jumping. A freezer is an essential piece of show equipment.

When I ask him what he thinks about the relationship with the horse, he says, “I just like horses. I am an animal lover, really. I like dogs and horses; they all get spoiled at our place.” He tells me about a horse he is currently campaigning who came to his stable rather sour. “He just always had his ears back. I have been trying to change his attitude. He can really jump, that’s not the problem. I have started to give him treats. I give him a treat when we enter the ring. He is actually starting to like people.” The most impressive thing about this anecdote is the real pleasure that is evident when Scott describes that change in this horse. Of course, readers who follow my articles will recognise that Scott’s use of treats is probably not positive reinforcement, but something else, trying to change the (most likely) negative associations this horse has with people and competing, and building a bank of positive associations.

NON-NEGOTIABLE ESSENTIALS

So, we all need luck, but what are some of the non-negotiable requirements for success as an elite rider? “Firstly, you have to have good balance in the saddle,” explains Scott. “A shorter rider can get away with less balance than a tall rider. If you are tall you really must be balanced, as if you are not you will put your horse out of balance. You must have good position in the saddle. It is very hard to change a fault in your position, but it is easier to do it when there is less pressure, in training.” Good balance is the foundation of Scott’s second non-negotiable quality: “You have to be effective as rider and to have feeling. It is hard to teach feeling, but it can only come if a rider is balanced.” Out of effectiveness and feeling comes the third thing: “You have to be accurate. You have to be flexible. Especially as the sport changes.” Accuracy was a big focus in the masterclass at Equitana. Five strides in a line, then six strides in the same line. Ride the centre of the fence. Be in control of the speed. Stop in a straight line between the fence, with rhythm.

“There are three main reasons why riders fail to make it,” Scott explains. “The first is fear. This can be a big problem for riders who jump. You may want to do it but if you are afraid it is unlikely to work out. Second is lack of skills. If you haven’t got the skills to be effective you can’t ride with feel. Third is not caring enough, not taking responsibility to make the changes they need, or work hard enough. If I am coaching, I will say something once, then the rider must do it, make the changes happen. No excuses.” (I think to myself I am glad he is not my coach as I am grateful for my coach’s patient reminders to sit up, shorten the reins etc., but I see his point!)

Scott and I competed alongside each other at Pony Club, so I can’t resist asking him what he learned at Pony Club that he still uses. “Don’t let your horse stop. I see riders now patting the horse when he stops. He must understand that he must not stop. He must try to jump the fence.” And what things did Scott learn that he doesn’t use? “I believed that you should always undo the leg straps of the rug before the chest buckle – until I had a horse that ran off with the leg straps undone. He tripped over when he stood on the rug. It was a bad accident, but a good lesson.”

So, finally, what is Scott’s advice to young riders who want to get to the top? “Find good mentors who can help you and advise you. You need a lucky break, but it won’t come to your doorstep. You have to be responsible and make it happen. When you get your lucky break, take hold of it.” EQ

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