Recently, I was lucky enough to interview the gorgeous, and incredibly talented up-and-coming showjumping rider Nicole Bruggemann.
Nicole is the daughter of two very successful parents. Her mum, Leanne, as a well performed World Cup rider, and her father, Richard is well known as one of the toughest course designers in Australia. They are a lovely family, who have dedicated their lives to the world of horses.
Nicole shares the ups-and-downs, tears and reality of having an incredibly involved family so close to the sport, in this candid interview.
Nicole is an ideal role model for any younger riders looking up to her: not just as a pretty picture, but realistic, hard working, dedicated and above all an exceptional rider. Hers is a career I much look forward to following…
I started by asking about her ride on Marine in the big Young Riders class at SIEC on the weekend of World Cups…
“He was really good considering we have been changing bits around, he actually jumped quite well coming from Part Two at Sydney Royal a week and a half ago. We had a bit of an unlucky rail in the Jump off, we had a go and it didn’t work out, but that happens.”
It does, your Mum was a very successful showjumping rider, what sort of influence has she had in your career?
“She’s definitely had a very big influence on my career and I certainly wouldn’t be where I am without her. She has helped me every day to train hard, you know there’s been a lot of tears, a lot of arguments, but at the end of the day she knows best how I ride, and we know each other really well, and we work well as a team.”
“I’ve had Jamie Coman, your Dad, as my coach, and also George Sanna, but she has really been my main influence throughout my entire life. She taught me to ride when I was little and she’s still bossing me around every day; and I couldn’t think of a better way for her to be.”
And your dad, Richard, is perhaps best known for his technicality and building quite scary tracks, which I have experienced first hand, does he build as tough for you at home as he does at shows?
“Well, he doesn’t build for me at home, I don’t let him, I just like to play around with a few things. But he has given me quite a good eye for things to notice when I’m walking the course, distances and how course designers set the jumps, surroundings, and just points that wouldn’t always stand out. It’s good to have a course designer as a dad because it definitely makes it easy when I’m riding to think about any advice he has given, especially more recently around the World Cup Tracks, that’s for sure.”
Absolutely, and having two parents in Showjumping, I’m well aware of the behind-the-scenes attitude and fights and everything that can come as a result. Are you generally well balanced with both of your parents, or is there one who you look towards more than the other? And is it all a happy family affair?
“I probably look to Mum a little more than Dad. I mean Dad drives me around more, because Mum needs to look after my brother, he has got to stay at home, go to school and play footy, and be a boy. I mean it is quite balanced, we all have our moments and living in the truck can get a bit frustrating, because you’re in such a confined environment, but we all get along reasonably well, we have our days just like every family; but when it comes down to it we all see the bigger picture.”
The Team: Nicole, Richard and Leanne
Let’s talk horses, your main team at the moment, and the ones you have high expectations for in the future?
“I had five horses, and have just sold one, and another Twins Zenith is in the paddock having a bit of a holiday. So I’ve just got the three at the moment. My old horse Bluesta, who has been absolutely fantastic to me, he has gone beyond expectations for me, taken me to World Cups and is now even a bit more competitive after the 12 months on the World Cup circuit. I took him to NZ last year, which was a great experience.”
Bluesta
“I’ve also got Marine, who’s jumping Young Riders, but mainly Mini Prix now, starting to step him up so that eventually he will World Cup. Then I have my big expectations with my beautiful mare, Lux Like Cavalier. She just stepped up to her first big class at Sydney Royal in the 2* and jumped fantastic, and had her first World Cup at SIEC…”
“She’s by Cavalier Royale who has actually been dead for about 17 years, so we were lucky that they collected semen from him before he died; and she is out of a Lux Z mare. Her breeding lines are quite good, and as a result she has turned out fantastic. I had a few choices but I am really glad I picked her.”
Lux Like Cavalier
And you spent a bit of time at Edwina Alexander’s?
“Yes I did, I spent three months there last year, and it was absolutely fantastic, I only rode horses at home, did a lot of training, and a lot of flat work which was awesome. I work really hard on my flatwork and it’s good to bring that into the showjumping as it is definitely something that helps you to become a better rider. Seeing the show circuit was very much an eye opener, it’s a totally different ball game over there. I was very happy to sit back and watch, and really take it all in. You also learn a lot about what you have got to do to get into the shows, management and just being able to see those spectacular riders was fantastic.”
Okay and last but not least, plans for the future; Australia, Europe?
“Definitely I would like to take the mare over to Europe. I mean, this year was always going to be spent at home, experimenting with her, and stepping her up here and really getting her prepared to make sure she can handle the bigger tracks: to take her to Europe is not a cheap exercise. So I really want to make sure we were both as prepared as possible. I would love for Rio to potentially be an option, but if not there is always plenty of time.”
Marine
Fantastic and thank you Nicole, any one you wish to thank whilst given the opportunity?
“Definitely a big thank you to everyone who supports and sponsors me, including Kingsland Australia, Snaffle-It Australia, Equissage Australia, Hygain Feeds and of course Mum and Dad.”
Hi Nichole,its great to here you are doing so well, with your made looks like cavalier as it is very special to me because my Brother Michael Callery bred they made in Ireland .I am living here in Australia and would love to know how she is doing, and by the way he has they mother of your made in fole again to Cavaleer Royl, so I will keep you posted on what she has ,thanks again Paul Callery.