Riding high
Marcus is passionate about Show Jumping and has high hopes for a future doing what he loves best in the world.
"The adrenalin and the power build-up when you're coming into a jump. The missing of heartbeats when soaring over and the extreme satisfaction and amazement in knowing that you've completed and achieved something when you land on the other side.
Show Jumping, in my opinion: the best sport in the world.
It all started when I was just seven years old with riding lessons. Touching the side of the horse with your legs makes it go faster and pulling of reigns makes it turn or stop. After I learnt the basic commands I just got better and better. After three years of lessons I finally got my own horse, Ebony. Then soon after, my brother had a pony.
Four years later we got a miniature Shetland pony and a show jumper, Poppy. How amazing she was, and still is. She can jump six foot with an experienced rider, whereas I can only jump five foot on her but my confidence and jumping ability have built up over the last year. I enjoy Show Jumping far more than ordinary riding, it's more exciting and controlled.
I practice every weekend to get better and also to keep Poppy fit because I want to get to the stage of professional Show Jumping. I won't block everything else out of my life but being a Show Jumper would be a fantastic bonus."
Marcus Thomas
