Q: What made you pick show jumping? A : My first horse actually turned out to be a very good show jumper. I had
20 QUESTIONS
20 Questions with James Arkins
finally convinced my parents to buy me a horse. My budget was $5,000. I called Colleen Brook who had a few horses that would suit me. Her working pupil rode the horse first and got bucked off. Every time he cantered, he’d buck. I was desperate for a horse, so I said I’d take him. He ended up being World Cup horse Dreamtime Invader.
Q: When did you decide you wanted
One of Australia’s leading show jumping riders, breeders and trainers, James Arkins and his team manage Rosthwaite Farm in the NSW’s Southern Highlands. Their services include professional coaching, horse training, breeding, and sales. Q: It’s been hard to catch up with you,
Q: You grew up in the city, so what
what keeps you so busy? A : My business has three main sides: high performance show jumpers; a riding school that’s fast becoming one of the biggest in the country; and our breeding program, which is in full swing at the moment.
got you into horses? A : My parents would take me to different activities in the holidays, like bowling, ice skating and horse trail riding. I found I loved being around horses, however, Mum and Dad wouldn't pay for me to have lessons. I would volunteer at the local riding school on weekends so I could ride.
Q: How old were you when you started riding?
A : 13
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to be a professional rider?
A : Riding is something I was very passionate and driven about. I asked my parents if I could leave Scots College for boarding school in Bathurst so I could take my horse and train. I was improving, but it wasn’t to the standard I wanted, so I came back to Sydney. I was riding with Julia Hargreaves at the time, she offered me a job half way through Year 12. My school principal said “you don't often see people with this much passion," so he backed me.
Q: Who were your mentors in the early days?
A : I actually haven’t had a lot of coaching, I’m mostly self-taught.
