Young rider living up to her potential

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29: Bermuda has a lot of exceptional young sporting talent and Jaeda Smith, 15, is part of an up-coming strong group of equestrian riders.
Earlier this year the Saltus Grammar School student won a Junior Elite Athlete scholarship and will be using that money to travel to Virginia to train with Teddi Ismond to hone her show jumping skills.
She spoke with Don Burgess about her upcoming camp.

What does it mean for you to train with Teddi?
She is at the top of her game and is very highly rated. It is a pleasure to be able to train with her.

How did you feel when you were told you had won a Junior Elite award?
I was very excited but overwhelmed. There were other people who had applied for it as well and they are just as good as me.

How long have you been doing equestrian?
I started riding when I was nine, but my first ride was at seven. I didn’t start taking it seriously until I was nine.

What’s your horse like?
His name is Starstruck and he is a Holsteiner Warmblood Gelding and he is amazing. He is an amazing jumper.

What was your first chance to represent Bermuda.
Last year we had the Caribbean junior championships. Last year I was picked to go to Trinidad to compete for Bermuda. We placed third, but we wanted to win.

Which equestrian rider do you look up to?
Patrick Nisbett. In my opinion, I think he is the greatest. He sets a high standard for himself and reaches the goals he sets like the Pan Am Games. I just love Patrick and his horses. In 2005 my mom and I went to England and he took us to his farm and showed us his horses.

What sort of advice has he given you about being a show jumper?
He told me to pursue my dreams and keep going. I had a clinic with him when he was here in December and he told me I should be competing at a higher standard. My horse has the potential and I have the potential.

What’s it going to take to reach that potential?
I need to get into shape. My legs need to be stronger and ride at a faster pace and maintain that pace throughout the course. Sometimes I go from one extreme to the other and need to find the one right in the middle.

How much is it going to help you to ride every day at the camp?
I rode with her two summers ago and she takes things very seriously. She is going to help put me at a higher standard mentally, and physically. I know after I come back from the camp I am going to be fitter.