George Sanna on what it takes to compete with the world’s best

Australian Jumping

It’s hard to overstate the influence of George Sanna on Jumping in our country. An Olympian who has coached and mentored generations of riders, his view of the sport is shaped by decades in the ring and on the road. When we spoke on the ‘All Clear’ podcast, George was frank, thoughtful and generous with his insights.

“Our breeders are doing a good job,” George said straight away. “Because we were fundamentally a thoroughbred country until the nineties, we did well, especially in Eventing, but there were some very good jumpers among them too. Now, with the science of breeding, access to semen from the best stallions, and mares able to produce multiple foals and still compete, we’ve developed a strong collection of young horses coming through every year. It’s no longer a must to go overseas to find a nice horse.”

Riders, he believes, have lifted just as clearly. “Compared to 20 years ago, the standard of riding is infinitesimally better. Everywhere you go, people understand why it’s necessary to train on the flat and do the preparatory work. Management in terms of health and horse care is generally quite good. Where we sometimes fall short is managing a horse’s career. A few horses fall through the cracks because of that.”

On shows, George could not be more positive about how far we’ve come. “When I first started, the only competitions were agricultural shows. The arenas could be hard or soft, the jumps were substandard, course building was often not great, and the stables were non-existent or dangerous. I’m not saying for a moment that agricultural shows don’t still have an important part for people in rural areas. We certainly produced horses to go to the Olympics out of agricultural shows.” Now we have enough good quality shows run by jump clubs and state committees that you can compete as much as you want without going too far. The major shows are excellent.”

Coaching, in his view, is another bright spot. “There’s a great selection of good coaches now. The message is consistent and oriented to the new demographic in riding, which is generally people around the major cities who haven’t grown up with horses. The level of coaching, matching riders with the right horses at the right time and managing careers, has improved a lot in the last 15 to 20 years.”

So what challenges may be holding us back from regular championship results?

“It depends on what you call a challenge,” George said. “If you’re talking about running our sport here from grassroots to elite, that challenge is being met pretty well. The grading system tweaks allow more flexibility, which means lovely, well-produced horses can find homes with Juniors and Amateurs. The system is better geared to promote progress at all levels.”

The step from winning at home to delivering at championships is different. “To warrant selection for a major championship, a horse that wins World Cups here probably needs to go to Europe and jump four and five stars. The jumps use the same tape measure, but it is another level. That requires money. There isn’t much financing for Jumping. It’s basically self-funded. That’s a severe challenge. You might only see one horse in Australia each year that looks right for an upcoming Olympics or world championship, and that’s not enough to make a team. Then you look to riders based overseas, but even there it’s hard to get into the shows and get the mileage. It’s not unheard of to pay 20 or 30 thousand euros just to start in a five star.”

If there’s a lever we can pull at home, George thinks it’s standards. “Make our shows as good as they can be. Get the very best course builders. We have several excellent course builders here, but bringing in high-level internationals is important too. The cost is huge and it sits with organising committees. Even so, at our major World Cups, especially outdoors, I think they need to be built at least to four-star European level. Keep the standard strong and don’t pander to entries that probably shouldn’t be there.”

George had just watched Anderson Lima design at Waratah Showjumping and appreciated the craft. “Nothing really stood out, and that was the point. It was subtle. Distances and placements that just took a bit of jumping. Plenty of room to ride forward, consistent from day to day, and the time allowed tightened as the show went on so it became a factor by the last day. Our better course builders do that too, but the internationals can be a little more adventurous.”

On the perennial question of time allowed overseas, he urged balance. “Yes, time can catch you out. Lines today are already a touch longer, which creates more pace. But if you’re new to Europe and your horse is thinking this is pretty big, chasing time is dumb. First, get the jumps done. Once the horse is comfortable and you’re jumping clear regularly, then be two or three seconds quicker.”

The conversation turned to the Olympics, with Los Angeles on the horizon in 2028 and memories of Los Angeles 1984 still vivid. “Going to the Olympics is a thrill and an honor,” he said. “I had a rough lead-up in ’84 and ended up riding my greener horse, but the Games experience was fantastic. The security was heavy in those days. The sport itself was great. Santa Anita worked well. If you look back, LA was considered the first of the modern Olympics. Before that, courses were gut-busting. In LA the gear was lighter, but when I look at photos, the treble was still massive. Today’s courses are delicate and light. You wonder how any horse jumps clear, but they’re not being busted like that. Horse welfare, surfaces and course design have all advanced.”

For riders with big goals, his advice is simple and hard in equal measure. “Become the best rider you can. Don’t be a hindrance to your horse. Be an asset. Learn to be competitive and do it well. Then find the best horses you can. If you’re truly talented, opportunities will come, but you might have to put up with situations you don’t love for a while. The first step is riding extremely well.”

What separates the very best from the very good? “At the top of any sport, the supremely successful have something born in them. Capacity for risk. The ability to overcome adversity. You can acquire skill, and you must, but the really special ones have a little bit of X factor.”

George’s last word was as steady as his first. “I’m always happy to talk about show jumping. Keep lifting the standard here, keep riding well, and pick the right moments to stretch overseas. That’s how we move forward.”

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