Rod Brown: Top Showjumper Known for Patience and Passion Announced

Rod Brown holds a very special place in the echelons of Australian showjumping.

An Olympian, World Equestrian Games and hugely successful competitor himself, Brown now focuses on coaching with daughter Jess following very firmly in his footsteps.

When Brown speaks, people listen, with some of the very best from both eventing and showjumping train with him.

His masterclass will be something quite special that all grades will be able to learn from. For him, it all starts with the basics, and in particular, flat work.

“I do think it is quite an important part of it all, so I do a lot of flat work and focus on position and getting the horses travelling better,” says Brown, a two time Australian showjumping champion. “That balance is really important the if they travel well, it will improve the horse’s jump. I find most riders just don’t have those basics (flat work) down.”

Every client is different in their strengths and weaknesses, but most of it comes down to patience and knowledge.

He knows his methods work, and has treasured memories from numerous offshore tours.

“The Seoul Olympics was probably one of the special ones for me,” he says, “and my trip to New Zealand with the Australian team before them.”

He speaking of the 1998 tour – he was the captain of the team and in the lead-up had won all but one of the selection events, finishing second in that. So he and Slinky hit New Zealand in flying form. But they didn’t count on the mud.

“We went to Gisborne when the floods were on (Cyclone Bola) and we were beaten there because we just weren’t used to the mud!”

However they won the next two trans Tasman clashes in Hawke’s Bay and Sydney and took the series. He also did well at the Horse of the Year Show, placing in the three big classes.

Brown considers a number of Kiwis good mates and has had the likes of Bruce Goodin, Mandy Illston and more latterly Lily Tootill as working pupils at the stud he shares with wife Cathy.

As a child, Brown used to help his father with racehorses and trotters, and didn’t get his own pony until he was 13 years old. He came through the Pony Club ranks, trying his hand at numerous disciplines.

“Later I rode other people’s horses eventing,” he said. “I got a few placings. I enjoyed it like all young people do with the adrenalin of the cross country but I always felt the showjumping was a bit of a non-event. I always wanted it to be bigger, so I threw it away.”

He can also lay claim to having won the Tasman Dressage Championships, but is quick to add “it’s not quite the Olympics there”.

“Jumping was always my love. There is something about that feeling when a horse jumps well.”

He still gets on a horse occasionally, but it is usually when someone needs that extra hand.

“Every once in a while I miss competing, but not as much as I used to. It is all about (his daughter) Jess now.”

Brown has only ever been once to EQUITANA Melbourne – it was the year his 27-year-old daughter Jess won the big jump. She has also competed at the Nations Cup final a couple of years ago, finishing second equal in the Australian team.

Over the years Brown has been a national coach and selector, but has stepped completely away from that – partly to allow Jess to continue her drive to the top.

He admits too, watching her compete at that top level is far more nerve-wracking than it ever was as the rider.

“But I do get a great amount of pleasure. She rides beautifully and has a nice team of horses.”

Brown continues to train in Japan, where he goes five times a year.

“I like working with the Japanese. They are very good pupils, they try very hard, sit well on a horse and have some nice horses there now. Most are pretty well mounted.”

He has worked with riders from many other countries over the years and continues to mentor some.

He and Cathy have a small breeding operation at their 30-acre home, an hour or so from Sydney.

“It’s never been huge,” he says. “We have five brood mares at the moment and three foals due this year. We don’t want many . . . just for Jess in the future.”

He’s looking forward to EQUITANA Auckland for lots of reasons, but mostly a chance to get back on Kiwi soil and catch up with old friends.

Jumping Masterclass Timetable:
Thursday – Kubota Outdoor Arena at 2:30pm

Friday – Kubota Outdoor Arena at 9:45am