Profiles

Barry Taylor

Barry TaylorBarry was born into an equestrian family and started riding at the age of 4, with a competitive career starting by the time he was 6 years old. At the ripe age of 50, he remains one of South Africa’s top riders and icons. He is happily married to Lorette and they have a beautiful daughter, Ashlee.

 

 

 

Barry has a host of accolades which, to name but a few, includes the following:

  • Springbok Colours Recipient 1985
  • Protea Colours Recipient 2006
  • Winner of the South African Derby 1997, 2000, 2003, 2004
  • South African Showjumping Championship Winner 2000, 2003
  • Ranked No 1 SA Showjumper 1999 – 2002, 2004, 2005
  • South African Outdoor Grand Prix Winner numerous times incl.2005, 2006, 2008
  • FEI World Cup Series Winner 1999, 2004
  • 12 World Cup Qualifiers Wins
  • Show Jumper of the Year (5 times)
  • World Equestrian Games in Aachen 2006
  • Riders Tour Grand Prix Series Winner 2004
  • Grand Prix Rider of the Year 2005
  • Presidents Cup Winner 2001, 2003
  • World Cup – South African League
  • British Gentlemen’s Championship Winner, Royal Windsor Horse Show, UK 1998
  • Placed 11th – All England Jumping Derby, Hickstead, UK, 2005
  • Runner-up at the Presidents Cup 2011
  • Winner of the Adult SA Outdoor Grand Prix and Welcome Stakes 1.5m at Easter Festival 2011
  • Winner of the 1.50m Welcome Stakes at the Durban Winter Classic 2011
  • Winner of the Welcome Stakes 1.50m at the Liberty Port Elizabeth World Cup Qualifier 2011
  • Winner of Mini Derby 2011

Lorette Knowles-Taylor

Lorette Taylor Apart from being a mom to 6 year old Ashlee, Lorette is also in partnership with Evette Gemmil, running Equiproducts, a company that supplies equine therapy products. She started her riding career at the age of seven, and has achieved remarkable successes in her career with the help of her trainer husband.

  • Winner of three World Cup Qualifiers
  • Winner of three Riders Grand Prix competitions
  • Winner of the Battle of the Giants 2007
  • Represented South Africa in the Tri Nations competition (2006, 2007, 2008)
  • Winner of the Avis South African Derby 2007
  • Consistently ranked in the SANEF Top 5, reaching no 1 in 2007, 2010 and now again in 2011
  • Winner of the Nissan Riders Champs 2010
  • Runner up – SA Championships 2010
  • Winner of two 1.40m classes at the Easter Festival 2011
  • Runner-up in Nissan Riders Champs 2011
  • Winner Shongweni Club Winter Classic Durban 2011
  • Winner Land Rover FEI World Cup Qualifier 2011 on Nissan’s Watch Me P

Equestrian Education

  • SANEF Instructors Exam – Level 1
  • FEI Instructors Training Course – Level 1
  • FEI Instructors Training Course – Level 2

Barry & Lorette Taylor

Chris vd Merwe

Chris van der MerweChris is 17 years old and from Jeffrey’s Bay in the EC. Chris started riding at the age of 4 and politely told his mom that he wasn’t going to go to school, so best she find a riding school, which she did. He soon showed an interest in jumping and jumped his first jumps at the age of 6. He went juniors in 2008 and was fortunate to buy Little Big Time. Chris has a talent to bring on young Thoroughbred horses and has produced a number of horses to JB and JA.

 

 

  • 3rd SA Junior Outdoor Grand Prix 2008
  • 3rd SA Junior Champs 2008
  • Winner 1.20 FEI competition riding 2009
  • Winner of all 4 events Easter Festival- JA with Little Big Time and Victor Ludorum 2009
  • Winner Stal van Decraen Young Riders class at Avis Derby 2009
  • Runner-up in Stal van Decraen Series 2009
  • Winner Cape Town World Cup Qualifier Show 1.30m accumulator 2009
  • Runner-up South African Junior Champs Showjumping 2009
  • Winner Easter Festival 1.45m Riders Grand Prix on Little Big Time 2010
  • Winner Royal Show, 1st 1.40m Welcome Stakes 2010
  • Winner Riders Championship of South Africa 1.50m Welcome Stakes and 2nd in 1.50m Riders Champs Final
  • Winner Riders Tour Grand Prix Polokwane 2010