First-timer tales
“A trip to A&E confirmed that I’d shattered my wrist” Having always loved the thrill of jumping a course of fences, Bex Gotterson felt it was time to tackle her first showjumping competition, but little did she know how her day would end
Jumping a course for the first time
NOT LONG AFTER her move to Scotland, budding showjumper Bex Gotterson met cheeky chappie Loki, a 10-year-old Fjord pony with a huge personality and a penchant for big jumps. For Bex, he was just what she was looking for in her quest to start competing in unaffiliated competitions. “I’ve always found the thrill of going over a jump addictive, but we don’t have a school at home so getting my jumping fix was always tricky. I set out a few jumps in my field to practise over, but I had my eye on a 50cm unaffiliated showjumping course at my local equestrian centre. I decided to go for it. “On the day of my first competition I rode a wonderful clear round. But that was where my luck ended. Fjords are well-known for being characters and Loki doesn’t disappoint. Think of the clumsy kid at school – that’s Loki. “Just before the jump-off, Loki’s naughty side came out and he had a huge tantrum in the form of a bucking display. Luckily, I managed to sit it, but from there, the rest of the day didn’t get much better. “At one of the jumps in the jump-off, Loki decided he was going to take one stride before performing a 90-degree turn back towards the arena entrance. I went flying, and ended up with a lump the size of a golf ball on my wrist. A trip to A&E confirmed that I’d shattered my wrist. Cue one operation, two nights in hospital and a titanium plate with nine screws. “It was eight weeks before I was ready to ride again. Since my fall I’ve only competed a couple of times and while we’ve won no rosettes, I’m not about to give up. When it comes to competing, I’ve learnt you have to take the time to settle yourself and your horse. If I’m doing clear rounds then I’ll do a 30cm course of crosspoles to build my confidence before tackling the bigger fences. Even after my fall, I still love flying over a jump as much as ever.”