Young Rider - Clay Simmonds

As seen in the April 2019 issue of Horse Deals magazine.

Age: 18
Lives: Bourke, NSW.
Education/career: Third year apprentice carpenter. 

Family history with horses? Mum and Dad have ridden horses their whole lives and were Australian Champions in the Rodeo circuit. 

What age did you start riding? I was about four years old. 

Tell us about your first pony/horse. A palomino Quarter Horse named Frosty. I couldn’t have had a better horse to start my career with horses.

What was your first showjumping competition? At around seven or eight I started competiting at local shows. My first was Bourke Show where I did the 45cm and I got lost in my first jump off because I didn’t know I had to do a different course.

You only started competing seriously when you were 14. What were the advantages and disadvantages of starting your competition career later than many of your fellow competitors? I guess it helped me push myself to try and reach the same riding level as all of the kids my age. The disadvantage would have been having no experience at all in the showjumping ring. It took me a while to get it all sorted out properly. 

What are some of the highlights of your success? Probably to come second in my first World Cup qualifier at Sale, and being part of the Junior Australian Team that won the Nations Cup in Beijing last year.

What did you learn from competing in Beijing at the Nations Cup? It helped me to become a bit smarter with my riding for team events and to enjoy the moment. 

How did competing overseas help you prepare for your first season competing at World Cup level? It was all run the same as a World Cup class, so it helped me adjust to the type of class they are. 

How did it feel to place second in your first World Cup Qualifier? I couldn’t have been more happy with that result especially for my first time in that class. 

Your star partner is the talented Oaks Castanza. Tell us about this super gelding. I got Sherman when I was just starting to jump up into 1.30. In my first couple of years Sherman helped me make it in showjumping. Thanks to Sherman, he has helped me reach my goals a lot faster than I thought I could have. 

Congratulations on being named Inaugural Australian League FEI Jumping World Cup Rookie of the Year. What went through your mind when you heard that you won this title? I wasn’t even expecting it. I was sitting in the warm-up waiting for presentation, and then the organisers walked up to me and started congratulating me for winning Rookie of the Year. It was all a big shock, but I couldn’t be more happy to win it. 

What has been the most difficult aspect of your journey with Oaks Castanza and how did you over come it? Sherman is super sensitive when I’m riding him, which makes it very difficult to train and compete. We’ve slowly got him better over time with a lot of steady work to help him relax.

How many horses do you have in work at the moment? Four. 

Do you have any young up and coming horses? I have a seven year old gelding Oaks Charlievill (Charlemagne Ego Z x Cassini I mare) currently jumping 1.30 to 1.35. This year I’m riding my sister’s six year old Hillbreeze Charcco Delux (Chacco Blue x Lux Z). He is competing in 1.20. APH Squash, a five year old bred by Carline Barton from APH Sport Horses. A three year old gelding from Oaks Sport Horses, his name is Oaks Codebraker (Contendro I x Rex Z), who is only half way through being broken in. And I have a yearling colt being raised in Europe (Diamant De Semilly x Baloubet Du Rouet).

How do you juggle a carpentry apprenticeship and horses? With a lot of help. I’m very lucky, for my younger sister Sally helps me work horses, especially when we’re away on a show run. She does a super job keeping my horses fit while I have to race back to Dubbo for TAFE after a competition, but I enjoy what I do and it keeps me busy. 

Share a typical day in your life. I wake up early in the mornings and ride three or four horses, and then start work about 9 or 10am. I work until about 4.30 or 5pm and then help finish the horses in the afternoons. 

Who’s your idol? Marcus Ehning, he is unreal to watch ride, especially how still he can stay when competing, and how he gets all his horses working the same way. 

Who is your coach and what are their best words of advice for you? My coach is Gavin Chester and he says “be smooth and don’t over think it.”

How do you manage the highs and lows of the sport? I try not to let the lows or the highs go to my head, because you can easily start to over-think things and just make the situation you’re in worse. I’m very lucky to have a supportive family that help keep my head clear so I can make clear decisions, have good rounds when I’m in my lows and keep a level head when I’m having good results.

What’s next for Clay Simmonds? I would like to be more consistent in the World Cups and Grand Prixs for 2019, and hopefully go overseas when I have some time off from competitions and TAFE. 

What is your advice for young up and coming riders aiming for their first World Cup? To make sure you and your horse are confident at jumping around bigger tracks, and not to change anything. 

What do you like to do outside of horses? I enjoy playing cricket over summer at home in Bourke, and fishing.

Can’t live without? My Landcruiser ute.

3 things we don’t know about Clay Simmonds? 
1. I raced motocross for eight years. 
2. I enjoy hunting and fishing. 
3. I was going to Rodeo and become a Saddle Bronc Rider.

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