USHJA On Course Episode 37

USHJA: Welcome back to USHJA On Course. We're continuing our Rider to Rider series, connecting rising talent with established professionals for conversations about growth, goals, and life in the sport. In this episode, Brooke Hagerty sits down with John French for a conversation that spans generations of horsemanship.

Brooke has quickly made her mark in the Junior Hunter and Equitation divisions, earning top honors at major championship events, including the USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final–East.

John is one of the most accomplished horsemen in the sport. A two-time winner of the International Hunter Derby Championships, John has represented the United States on the international Jumper stage and is a six-time winner of the WCHR Professional Challenge.

John French: Hi, I am John French.

Brooke Hagerty: And I'm Brooke Hagerty. And we're in Kentucky for the USHJA Championships.

John French: And how did you get started with riding, Brooke?

Brooke Hagerty: My parents were on the cutting side and the western side, and my sister wanted to jump, so I just kind followed in her footsteps.

John French: Who is your favorite horse?

Brooke Hagerty: I would say Cash, or Casino Cash. I've had him for a long time. I got him from you, obviously, so he's just perfect. I love riding him.

John French: What's the biggest advice that really sticks out in your mind that you've learned, you know, riding horses or even recently?

Brooke Hagerty: I think just trusting it and not overcomplicating it and just going and trusting your horse and the practice that you put in and not overcomplicating. Definitely.

John French: Who inspired you the most?

Brooke Hagerty: You definitely. Always. My sister, I look up to.

John French: Awesome. Okay. If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Brooke Hagerty: Yogurt, maybe like any kind. All the flavors or like frozen yogurt.

How'd you get your start as a professional?

John French: I grew up in Maryland. My mother was a horse trainer. She used to take people, you know, to some schooling shows, to fox hunting, eventing. We sort of did everything when I was growing up.

Brooke Hagerty: Who's been your favorite horse of all time?

John French: My favorite horse has probably been Babylon just because I started him as at the end of his 4-year-old career. Normally I don't get to keep horses for that long and see them, you know, progress and go on and to do the juniors. He's just been the most successful, and he just has the best personality. And he almost feels like he's my horse.

Brooke Hagerty: What advice would you give to an up and coming rider?

John French: Riders should, you know, they need to know all the aspects of the horse industry, not just, you know, so many people just want to be riders. Yeah. But to be a great trainer, you need to know the care of the horses. And be involved in really knowing your horses and not just be the show ring rider.

Brooke Hagerty: Yeah. Who inspires you the most?

John French: Well, the person that inspired me the most really was growing up, I think was Charlie Weaver. When I would see Charlie ride, I would go to some big shows, and I didn't get to show there, but would see him riding horses like Super Flash and Luxton and I just knew that I wanted to be a Hunter rider and I wanted to do the Hunters and hope that one day I would be able to ride for people like he did. I think he inspired me.

Brooke Hagerty: If he could have any superpower, what would it be?

John French: I think just that I could fly and just get from show to show just by flying. I could travel around. There's a lot of traveling and it kind of wears on you. It would be nice just to be able to fly.

Brooke Hagerty: What do you like to do for fun outside of riding?

John French: Well, I like dancing. I used to. You know, when I lived in San Francisco, I was kind of a club kid and would go to all the dance clubs, but I don't know, I don't get to dance that much anymore. I've got a hip replacement and other things, so I think I just pretend.

Brooke Hagerty: If you were a horse or pony, would you be a Hunter, Jumper, or Equitation horse?

John French: Probably not Equitation and probably not Hunter. I think I would want to be a Jumper and I would definitely be a pony. Because I think ponies, they kind of have—they're bratty and they have their mind of their own.

And if I was a Jumper, I could have my hair any way I wanted and I could take advantage of the little kid that was riding me, and I think that would be fun.

USHJA: That wraps up this episode of Rider to Rider. To watch their full conversation, visit ushja.org/RiderToRider, and don’t forget to check out the feature story in the latest issue of In Stride magazine.