DIVAN BOSMAN – AT THE 2024 FEI JUMPING WORLD CHALLENGE FINAL

Divan Bosman and Victoria Greyvensteyn qualified to compete in the FEI Jumping World Challenge Final 2024 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Divan put in an excellent performance aboard his drawn horse, a spicey Thoroughbred mare called Queen. SA Showjumping caught up with Divan to get to know him a little better and find out more about his experience at the Final.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself.

DB: My name is Divan Bosman. I was born in Centurion and am 18 years old. I have three brothers, and I am the second youngest. We started horse riding as a family in 2010 when I was five years old, and then it eventually evolved into showjumping, with all the brothers starting out. Currently, the three of us compete in showjumping.

Q: Tell us about your current string of horses.

DB: I currently have four horses, namely Zhak, Nobello, Balvenie and Carmen. They all have different personalities. For instance, Zhak is spooky and naughty like a teenager; Nobello is calm, strong and honest; Balvenie has a big heart and just wants to jump; and Carmen is young and playful but also has a big heart for jumping. Carmen is still inexperienced and needs a lot of training.

Q: What would you say are your biggest achievements in the sport so far?

DB: I am most proud of winning the FEI Category A in 2023 and all the legs of the FEI Category A Competitions in 2024. Another highlight was winning the Junior 1.35m SA Champs in 2024 as well as the Micro Adult Derby in 2024. I won all of the above with my magical horse, Cornerstone’s Midgard Zhakiro.

Q: How do you balance your equestrian training and competition with other aspects of your life?

DB: I spend afternoons after school on equestrian training and attend to school work in the evenings.

Q: Do you have any other hobbies outside of riding?

DB: Horse riding is my passion, and, therefore, I do not do other sport. My passion for horse riding is so strong that I do not want to jeopardise my opportunities in the sport. I made the mistake once to play rugby and dislocated my knee. This could have affected my showjumping career negatively. Luckily, we were able to manage the injury so that I could continue to compete, but this made me realise that I have to act responsibly by not competing in other sports and dangerous activities, which could affect my showjumping career negatively.

Q: How do you handle pressure during competitions?

DB: I tend not to be too nervous during competitions and have found that I perform better when I am under more pressure. Due to my bond with my horses, I can trust them fully, which also makes it easier to deal with the pressure.

Q: Describe a challenging situation in your equestrian career and how you overcame it.

DB: During my career I had several ponies and horses where things don’t go according to plan. For instance, not getting around tracks without poles, not getting through combinations, refusals at jumps, etc. I’d persevere by working through these challenges until I achieved success. I owe these achievements to Cornerstone’s Riddle and Cornerstone’s Midgard Zhakiro, who both showed me what can be achieved with perseverance.

Q: What do you consider to be your greatest strength as an athlete?

DB: My greatest strength is not giving up, no matter how big the challenge I am facing.

Q: What keeps you motivated to keep riding?

DB: My biggest motivation is the love of my horses and the competition. I have lots of support from my family and people close to me to keep me going.

Q: Who is your equestrian idol?

DB: Henrik von Eckermann.

Q: Who is your favourite showjumping horse (past or present)?

DB: My one and only Cornerstone’s Midgard Zhakiro.

Q: What is the most important advice your coach, Anthon Hoek, has given you?

DB: Apart from ‘keep the contact’, ‘legs’, ‘sit up straight’ and ‘one jump at a time’, he has taught me to never give up on a horse.

Q: Who is the biggest influence in your career?

DB: My parents and my coach because they make sure I keep riding and do not give up on my career.

Q: Who have been the most important people in your life?

DB: My family, my coach and my girlfriend. I am grateful for all their support.

Q: What are your long-term goals?

DB: It is my dream to compete in five-star Grand Prix’ and the Olympic Games one day.

2024 FEI Jumping World Challenge Final

Q: How did you prepare to compete at the 2024 FEI Jumping World Challenge Final?

DB: I prepared with the help of my trainer, Anthon Hoek. We were able to go to other yards and ride on different types of horses to experience various kinds of rides. There is also a wide range of horses at Cornerstone Equestrian Centre, who I could ride to get exposure to different rides.

Q: What was your first impression on arriving at the 2024 FEI Jumping World Challenge Final?

DB: We felt like celebrities. We were welcomed on a red carpet at the airport and treated like royalty throughout our visit to Uzbekistan. We were really impressed.

Q: What was the best advice Anthon gave you for the 2024 FEI Jumping World Challenge Final competition?

DB: To stay calm and enjoy it no matter what the horse does. He told me to just keep on riding.

Q: How did you handle the pressure of competing at a competition like the final on a borrowed horse?

DB: I was not intimidated by the pressure of riding a borrowed horse. All I knew I had to do was apply my own riding experience to make the best of the competition. I knew I had to give my best, make the best of the circumstances, and enjoy it at the same time.

Q: Tell us a bit about the horse you drew.

DB: I drew a very nice small Thoroughbred mare named Queen. She was a completely different ride from what I am used to. She was very spooky but had an amazing jump and a very sweet personality. We had a little trouble with poles in all our rounds, but we managed to get a clear round on the last day of the competition.

Q: How do you support your fellow SA riders when competing as an individual in a competition like this?

DB: I believe the best way to assist a fellow SA rider if they are struggling is to provide positive encouragement and remind them of their achievements.

Q: What were the other competitors like?

DB: It was interesting to see the age gap between all the competitors. The youngest was 15 years old, and the oldest was 60 years old. I made some friends from Algeria, who I hope to see again at future competitions.

 

Q: Did you meet any well-known riders, coaches or officials?

DB: One of the competitors competed in the Olympic Games 15 years ago and I also met the President of the FEI of Uzbekistan.

Q: What were your personal goals for the 2024 FEI Jumping World Challenge Final, and do you think you achieved them?

DB: My goal was to do my best on the horse I drew, and yes, I think I achieved this goal. Although I did not win, I gave it my all with my horse, Queen. In the end, I achieved third place in the Farewell Competition, for which I received a medal.

Q: Is there one lesson from the FEI World Challenge you will carry forward in your career?

DB: The lesson I learnt was not to give up on the horse I had to compete with. I proved to myself that if you don’t give up, you will achieve success.