Back in 1986, Joan Gilchrist, Kiwi equestrian journalist extraordinaire, filed this story on the great eventing coach and medal winner, Jack Le Goff. He died in 2009…

What do you look for in a rider?

“The qualities are very similar to those you look for in horses! First, conformation, like you pick a horse. You look at how the horse is built. So, you look at how the rider is built. But we all know there are plenty exceptions and very good ones. Basically, a rider should be not too big, not too small.”

“The factors are conformation – and maybe it will offend people to make the comparison with an animal, but I don’t mind – and temperament, as with a horse. I look for somebody who has the determination, but also is pretty good under pressure and has the guts. A good event rider, like a horse, should be bold. If they are not bold, they are not going to win.”

“A good disposition, temperament, in that they are determined but cool, calm under pressure.”

Walking the course with the American team

“I’ve had many riders who are terrific at home, but fall apart under competition, because they can’t control their nerves; and others, who are not good at home, but wake up in competition.”

“So you have conformation and temperament in the rider. Obviously they have to have good reflexes, be a bit athletic, be sharp. When you have those qualities from there on you can teach them – if they are teachable – and you can train them.”

Mark Todd and Broadcast News at Burghley

“Obviously some have more feelings and I think that is the next thing I like in a rider. Feelings are very important to me – if I was asked what I liked best about Mark Todd, I would say ‘feelings’. He is very sympathetic with horses because he ‘feels’ the horse and gets along with all types of horses. And there you go – he is very tall but he can ride a small horse because somehow he finds his place on the horse and is very sympathetic, so he has the right temperament, he is determined, knows what he wants, he is very calm – I like him a lot.”

Mark at the Sydney 2000 Olympics with Eyespy

“Actually, if you compare the rider with the horse you are going to have a lot of similarities. Is he the type that can do it? What kind of temperament? Is he athletic, a good jumper and mover? Is he bold? You have thousands of horses that are excellent jumpers but are chicken and they’ll never make it. I think it’s the same with riders. They may have a lot of talent, but are a bit chicken, they’ll never make it. But if they are bold, we can polish them. If they are good listeners and good students, you can educate that boldness and they will use and refine it. Make them realise that it is not a poker game, a win-or-lose type cross country ride. They will be bold, but will use it smartly to make it work, won’t take unnecessary risks.”

At Aachen in 2017 with Leonidas

“There is a difference to me between being bold and being cuckoo!”

In teaching riders, he spends ‘an awful lot of time’ on the basics, on ‘teaching the rider how to ride properly.’ Le Goff also emphasises teaching a rider to ‘think, to be accurate, organized, methodical.”

https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2018/08/jack-le-goff-moulder-of-eventing-champions/