Tristan Thomas is one of our World Cup showjumpers carving his way to the top of his discipline. But how many people knew that he honed his craft in the Show Hunter ring? Tristan has a story to tell as we celebrate 40 years since Show Hunter was introduced in New Zealand.
Tristan Thomas rides Matai Zarité. Copyright Photo: KAMPIC / Kerry Marshall
“Show Hunter isn’t just a stepping stone”
Tristan Thomas (Rotorua)
Tell us about your first Pony
It all began with a pony I had called “Libby Pop’s Gift”. Her paddock name was Libby, and she was given to us by our “Pop”. She was a pony who had never done any showing, and I was about 12 at the time. We went down to the Foxton Pony Club teams event. We did a little bit of Show Hunter and then ended up winning the championship.
What do you remember about back then?
I just absolutely loved it from the get-go. For me, in everything, horse riding was important. I did a little bit of barrel racing and a little bit of rodeo style, and then Show Hunter itself. But the Show Hunter for me, it was the culture of it. Growing up alongside all our peers – Ollie Croucher, the Herberts—Mikayla, the Garwoods, all the families from around the Rotorua region. It was about the sport, but it was also about the community of it all as well.
Any “eureka” moments?
Not really single moments, as I enjoyed it all because I had a pony that was really good at it. And I was fortunate to ride some really great horses after that. Honestly, it produced our best family memories, especially as my parents aren’t horsey at all! We just had a small float, a horse each. We travelled every weekend, we did it for fun and we got to sightsee the country at the same time.
Tristan Thomas and Matai Zarité. Copyright Photo: Libby Law Photography
What has Show Hunter given you that you value most every time you walk into a big ring?
Show Hunter has the fundamentals needed in any sort of riding. I still ride my showjumping courses exactly like I do in the Show Hunter ring. It’s about entering the ring and picking up a good quality canter. It’s balance. It’s riding correct corners, correct lines, and maintaining that rhythm around the track. And I guess the striding and everything like that as well. My World Cup horse (Matai Zarité) is quite small, which means that riding a rhythm is exceptionally important. Show Hunter can be considered quite basic, but it’s also quite complicated. And doing that perfect round can be quite complicated too. So, in that way, the sports of Show Hunter and showjumping are much the same.
How important do you think the grassroots New Zealand system is for developing riders for international sport?
Obviously, it’s really important to have a good system to feed into. And what I like about Show Hunter is that there are no boundaries—it’s an opportunity for everyone to take part. And what I mean by that is you don’t necessarily need to have the most money. You don’t necessarily have to be from a horsey background. Like, for us, we weren’t horsey and we also didn’t have lots of money to spend on flash ponies or horses. But it’s a sport that comes down to a high work ethic and then focusing on the fundamentals and just doing them well.
For young Kiwi riders watching you today, what advice would you give them about building a pathway from Show Hunter to World Cup level?
I think some people overlook Show Hunter a little bit and think it’s easy. Zari started in the show ring at 4 to 6 years old. She did quite a bit of Show Hunter. We would alternate between Show Hunter and the odd showjumping start. I was still doing Show Hunter on her up until last year. So, last season for an example, at the Gisborne Show I went double clear in the 1.40m and we ended up winning that class. The next day I did the Open Hunter 1.15m High Points and then on the Sunday I did the Grand Prix. You know, they’re very different. It’s not about the heights necessarily; it’s about riding that perfect round. And that’s why I think Show Hunter isn’t just a stepping stone, I think it is something that is an equivalent sport to showjumping. It’s not necessarily up or below it; it’s just something that’s kind of across from it.