Younger Scottish showjumper Sandy McLean has made an enormous impression this yr, most lately touchdown a hat-trick of grands prix along with his high horse Gino F.
The decided 20-year-old has lengthy impressed along with his nice type within the saddle and a robust aggressive streak, which has introduced nice success via the years as he’s come up via the horse ranks and efficiently on to horses.
Edinburgh-born Sandy is now primarily based close to Carlisle with Jonathan Dixon of QC Sporthorses, the place they’ve a workforce of 30 horses in work.
“I’ve bought 10 horses which can be in my string and which I take to exhibits,” explains Sandy. “I muck out on a morning until about half 9 after which simply attempt to experience as many as I can — I usually attempt to get at the least eight accomplished a day, however ideally I wish to get 13 ridden, relying on the climate in fact.”
Sandy certified for the Voltaire Design under-25 British Championship on the London Worldwide Horse Present in December along with his high horse, the 11-year-old Dutch-bred Gino F, practically a decade after ending second within the present’s 128cm class held at Olympia.
“Rob Murphy beat me that yr!” remembers Sandy. “I all the time actually favored Olympia, it had such an incredible ambiance. However with it being Christmas too, simply provides to it.”
Sandy McLean: ‘Seashore driving has made a large distinction’
Sandy and “Huge G”, Gino F, received three grands prix on dwelling soil within the early a part of the winter season, which he attributes to a brand new health regime.
“Gino is feeling actually good in the meanwhile – the most important change for him has been going to the seaside,” says Sandy. “I take him to the seaside fairly usually and do a little bit of canter work with him to get him actually match. He’s misplaced a little bit of weight and placed on various muscle, and I feel that’s made a large distinction in his leaping.
“I’d checked out him after Enviornment UK in September and mentioned he was simply carrying a bit an excessive amount of weight and wanted to get a bit lighter on his toes. And he’s positively accomplished that!
“He loves going to the seaside, he loves enjoying within the water. He simply loves all the easy issues in life. He’s the nicest, massive dopiest horse you’ve ever met. You’ll be able to exit hacking and also you don’t even want to carry onto the reins with him. However he is aware of when it issues, he is aware of that when he goes into the ring there’s a job to be accomplished.”
An thrilling seven-year-old
Additionally in Sandy’s string is the current seven-year-old champion at Aintree’s younger horse present in December, Katoulon JL, by Echelon.
“Jonathan owns him together with Jacqueline Lammerts in Holland,” he says. “I’ve had him now slightly below a yr as a part of my string and he hadn’t actually accomplished a lot after I first bought him at the beginning of the yr, however he’s actually come on and he’s a bit like Gino – he’s a very nice horse and also you’d by no means know he’s a stallion. He’s essentially the most docile stallion and likes to go to the seaside as effectively. We’re hoping he’s a sensible one for the long run. He jumps lots of clear rounds – he has a bit his personal type of going however so long as he misses the fences, I can take care of that!”
Changing into an expert showjumper has all the time been Sandy’s objective.
“I’ve all the time wished to turn into a high rider ultimately,” he says. “I don’t actually have targets, I simply need to get as far and as excessive as doable and I’ll maintain working until I get there.
“I don’t actually have an Olympics in thoughts, I simply need to rise up there with the highest boys – Scott Brash and Ben Maher – and competing at London is such a terrific alternative for individuals to see you in that form of atmosphere, on that massive stage.”
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