Geordi Byrne first got on a horse because an occupational therapist suggested it. At seven, Geordi was writing from right to left, and riding was meant to help. It did more than that, and there was no turning back.
Callaho Sequoia-Vella arrived by surprise. Geordi was finishing an honours degree and recovering slowly from shoulder surgery, and hadn’t looked closely at that year’s Callaho Auction. Geordi’s parents went along to watch with no plans to buy, and came home with the mare. Known at home as Chicken, she was cleverer and far busier than anything Geordi had ridden before. Theirs is now one of the best partnerships in the sport!
They jumped the Speed Derby in 2023 and finished fourth in the Mini Derby last year. This year brought their first 1.50m Grand Prix classes, a first World Cup Qualifier at 1.55m and, in October, the big Derby itself. Here Geordi talks about a mare with no off switch, why she has stayed barefoot, and how a fear of heights made the bank the scariest obstacle on the course.
HQ: How did you start riding, and when did showjumping become your focus?
Geordi: It was actually recommended by an occupational therapist that I take up horse riding at the age of seven. Being left handed I had a problem with crossing my midline, so when I learnt to write I wrote from right to left and reversed letters and words. It’s quite common amongst left handed children, so sports like horse riding and swimming are really good for full body engagement. From the moment I first sat on a horse though the bug definitely bit and there was no turning back. I started out as an eventer when I was a Pony Rider and only transitioned to showjumping when I was twelve years old and I got on my first Junior Horse. The idea was to continue eventing, but the horse that I was on was better suited for showjumping so I gradually became more invested in it.
HQ: Who has had the biggest influence on your riding? Who do you train with now?
Geordi: Two of my main and current influences in my riding are Maud Scott Barnes and Grant Langley. Maud is my current coach and I’ve worked with her for quite a few years. When Maud went to work in China I was very lucky to be taken in by Grant Langley and the Foresyte team for three or four years.
At Langley there is an incredible team spirit where you have riders that work collectively both in the yard and at the show; everyone is there to see you through all the highs and lows of the sport. Grant has helped me immensely with trusting my instincts as a rider and has helped me not to overthink. I’ve been told a few times in lessons not to think too much. It certainly has been a big help in my confidence, especially when it comes to the bigger fences and needing to make split-second decisions on track.
From the moment I started working with Maud she helped me develop my sense of understanding for the animal and the sport. I find understanding why a horse does something or how they react to an aid helps find the root cause of an area of difficulty or issue. She’s helped me develop a natural feel for a horse and to adapt my riding to benefit both horse and rider. With the balance of both perspectives I believe that Maud and Grant have helped me develop many facets to my riding.
HQ: What does a normal week look like for you? Do you fit riding around work or study?
Geordi: A normal week is non-stop for me. I have five horses at home that I am working with and then I also work as a remedial teacher at a fantastic school called Laddsworth in Hilton. My job requires me to work mainly in the afternoons which is a huge help because it gives me the freedom to ride in the mornings. I am also very fortunate in that the staff at Laddsworth are very understanding of my competition schedule so I’m able to take leave as and when I need to compete. I couldn’t be luckier in terms of the work balance that I have between my riding and teaching. It’s not really a matter of having to fit anything in, more so the pieces of the puzzle have quite literally fallen into place for me.
HQ: How did Callaho Sequoia-Vella come into your life, and what was she like when you first got her?
Geordi: My favourite story to tell! At the time that Chicken came onto auction at Callaho I was a bit lost with my riding; I was finishing off my honours degree and I was trying to bounce back from quite a serious shoulder injury. I had surgery and the rehab process was painfully slow. I was struggling to get back into the swing of things with the horses I already rode and I hadn’t really looked closely at the horses on auction that year. My folks ended up going to the auction to watch with zero intention of buying a horse and subsequently came home with one anyway. I actually thought they were having me on when they told me they bought her.
Chicken was very different to the type of horse I was used to riding at the time. She’s highly intelligent and even higher energy, so it took some time getting used to her. COVID was probably the biggest blessing for us because it really forced me to get to know her and work with her and to simply put the hours in the saddle. After the first time I popped her over a small vertical I was sold.
HQ: What is she like at home, and what is she like at a show? What do people not know about her?
Geordi: Like I said earlier, Chicken is a high energy horse. She’s always got her wits about her but the best part is she really wants to work and she gives 150% no matter what. At home I’ve got to be careful with her workload because she will keep going for hours; she doesn’t give up and there is no off switch there. She walks to the paddock with the same intensity she walks into the ring sometimes, so home is all about relaxation, working to keep her soft and through at all times. At the show she lights up and literally grows a hand or two underneath you. She loves the atmosphere and feeds off it every time, and no matter the show, no matter the venue, she’s game. This helps a lot with my trust in her because I know she wants to get to the other side every time. In the stable and on the ground she’s the easiest horse to handle and just soaks up all the love and attention that comes her way.
HQ: Back in 2023 she was barefoot, and you said grass worried you until you rode it. Is she still barefoot? What did you learn from that?
Geordi: She is still barefoot and really I don’t give it a second thought. Barefoot works for some horses, maybe not all but it’s not something I feel unsure about anymore. The biggest lesson I’ve taken out of it is not to overcomplicate things, less is often more and pay attention to what works for you and your horse and what benefits both you and the horse.
HQ: When did you first think you’d do the big Derby this year?
Geordi: I’ve always admired the riders who competed in Derby and I’ve always thought to myself if I get the opportunity I’ll take it. Last year we finished fourth in the Mini Derby, we felt really confident on track and the plan was to aim for the big class come the new year.
HQ: You jumped the Speed Derby in 2023 and the 1.40m classes since. How did those classes prepare you both for the big one?
Geordi: The Speed Derby is always an exciting class. When I did it in 2023 Kevin Spratley was the course designer and he had such an interesting take on the course in that he gave us options which really made the rider think. For example, you had to think which line was quicker and which element was easier to clear. It really took the pressure off the class because you could have a lot of fun with it and find a strategy that worked best for you, so really it was a round that gave you confidence because you were encouraged to attack each fence. In the Mini Derby last year you still had to ride each fence with confidence but it also required you to be more accurate to ensure that you cleared each fence. Kevin also designed the course in such a way that you were able to get a feel for certain lines that you would have in the main Derby. So for me I guess you could say each year has been a stepping stone towards the big one.
HQ: How did you prepare for the Derby in particular: fitness, grass work, banks and ditches, practising over natural fences?
Geordi: This year the calendar has been quite jam-packed with shows; don’t get me wrong I’m not complaining but it just made it difficult to prepare for the Derby specifically. I haven’t had much experience jumping 1.50m so when we felt ready, we started stepping up into the 1.50m Grand Prix classes. In June we took a big leap and did our first World Cup Qualifier class at 1.55m, with the idea to get comfortable with the height. I haven’t ever had to worry about Derby elements with Chicken; she’s so brave and I have so much confidence in her so that hasn’t been an issue for us, but fitness was always in the back of my mind. We are quite fortunate with our property in that we have an 800m track and we started every week with a track session. If I got the opportunity, I’d also take Chicken out to the grass and school her there just to get a feel for it and when the opportunity came we would jump out in the Derby arena we have at home. I’ve also been mindful of my own fitness this year making sure that I am strong enough in my own body to get round the track, handle the bigger fences and still be able to be strong and balanced in the saddle. Keegan Ritchie has been instrumental in making sure that I’ve stayed on my A game in terms of my own fitness.
HQ: Which fence or part of the course worried you most?
Geordi: I was definitely most worried about the bank. It sounds ridiculous but I’m actually quite scared of heights so the thought of sliding down there was quite daunting for me.
HQ: The Derby asks a lot of a horse: stamina, a long course, grass, and the heat in October. How do you manage her feeding and condition through a build-up like that?
Geordi: Chicken is on the Spurwing maintenance meal which is really beneficial as it is a slow energy-release meal. This works well for her because she is such a lively character, I can ensure that she’s getting all the necessities but without her getting too hot. Spurwing’s electrolytes are also super helpful on those hotter days when you need to make sure that your horse stays hydrated.
HQ: Take us round the course. What was going through your head from the start to the last fence?
Geordi: Derby day is certainly like no other; it gives off an incredible vibe and creates such an atmosphere. It is so alive with people and horses, and the whole show ground literally buzzes. My strategy for the day was to ride each fence confidently and take it one step at a time, staying in the moment and focused on what was in front of us, not to over think it. It was almost like ticking a box as we went around, jump one good canter into the upright, jump two keep momentum up the hill and so on. The advice that Dominey gave us as we walked the course was take each fence as it comes and I really took that to heart.
HQ: What did it feel like to finish your first Derby?
Geordi: Finishing your first Derby and cantering through the finish line as the crowd roars is euphoric; there is no feeling like it. You might not hear it on the stands but in the arena it literally booms as the realisation of what’s just happened slowly begins to take effect. There’s so much build-up on the day and you’re literally in the zone for hours that the round itself goes so quickly. I guess you could say disbelief was the initial emotion followed by such gratitude for the team that got you there and most importantly the horse that trusted you the whole way.
HQ: What’s next for you and Sequoia-Vella? Will you try the big Derby again next year?
Geordi: Looking ahead, we’ve decided to give Chicken some time off for the rest of the year. There has been a lot of travelling and she is such a fighter, she deserves the opportunity to recover fully before taking on another year. Looking back we’ve done three Grand Prix classes, two World Cup Qualifiers, our first SA Showjumping Champs and now the Toyota SA Derby. I would like to have another year competing up in the higher grades with Chicken and another shot at the Derby so for now we rest and get ready to tackle another year.
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