TAMAR GLIKSMAN ON THE TOYOTA FORTUNER CHALLENGE

She’s jumped some of the most demanding showjumping courses, coached a generation of young riders, and this year she added a new accolade to her CV: winning the Toyota Fortuner Challenge. We sat down with Tamar Gliksman to find out what happens when a showjumper goes head-to-head with a Dakar racer, a rugby player and a soccer star.

HQ: How did you get involved in the Fortuner Challenge?

TG: I got a phone call saying I’d been shortlisted as the equestrian representative, and would I be available if I was picked. I said yes immediately; it felt completely up my alley. A few weeks later, they confirmed I’d been selected and asked me to come to Cape Town for interviews and photo shoots. At the same time, all the heroes were given a Toyota Fortuner to drive for the duration of the challenge, which was already a treat in itself.

We weren’t told anything about what the challenge would actually involve, so I did my own research. This is the 10th year Toyota have run it, so I went back and tried to find out about previous editions. I also asked Nicole Horwood, who took part last year. In her year, the heroes mainly supported their athletes, so I assumed it wouldn’t be too physical on my side. I was very wrong.

HQ: What was the format of the event?

TG: We arrived at the Asara Estate on the Monday morning, got changed and went to a welcome event with the other sponsors: Oakley, Thule and Salomon. They really spoilt us. Salomon gave us running shoes, trail shoes and all the kit we’d need. Thule gave us beautiful backpacks. Oakley gave us sunglasses that I’m now jumping in. And then we went to lunch, and it just started.

We each picked a ball from a bag to select our contestant. I drew Stephan Jacobs, and as luck would have it, he’s ridden before and loves horses, so we clicked immediately. He’s a great athlete, and we’re both very serious competitors, so we got down to business straight away: talking strategy, figuring out our strengths, and deciding we’d take each challenge as it came, because we genuinely had no idea what was ahead.

HQ: The driving challenge sounds like it was a highlight…

TG: We’d been a little worried about the driving challenges. I mean, we expected the Dakar racer to be untouchable. But Stephan and I absolutely beat him and his partner. I think years of reversing a horsebox and doing the school run at speed gave me more transferable skills than anyone anticipated. It was one of the moments I was most proud of.

HQ: Tell us about the final challenge.

TG: That was the one that mattered most: it was worth double points, so whoever won it would almost certainly take the whole competition. Up to that point, the standings had been very close, and nobody was ever told where they were on the leaderboard. You just had to give everything in every single challenge.

The final event had four phases. In the first, Stephan was blindfolded, and I had to shout him through a maze to collect three blocks of our colour. We were the first team out. I think being the only woman helped here; I have a loud coaching voice, and Stephan could hear me clearly over three other men shouting simultaneously.

The second phase involved a leopard crawl through a web of strings to retrieve puzzle pieces. Being small was a genuine advantage; I nipped through far more easily than the rugby player and soccer player, bruised knees and all.

Third was a precision challenge: lifting a block through a tower using tongs without touching the sides. We finished that first, too. And the final phase was a balance and dominoes challenge, stacking blocks on a ledge controlled by a rope, then toppling them like dominoes. The first to finish won. We finished first.

We were so excited, but they still wouldn’t tell us whether we’d actually won the competition overall. On the night, they announced that Stephan had taken the title. He was given the keys to a Toyota Fortuner. He has a young family, and they needed a car, and I can’t tell you how much happiness that brought me.

HQ: How did your showjumping background prepare you for all of this?

TG: More than I expected. The biggest thing was our mentality when we fell behind. A lot of teams got disheartened when they couldn’t crack a challenge and started to give up. Stephan and I never did. Not once. That’s pure showjumping conditioning: you lose more than you win in this sport. It teaches you a very specific kind of determination.

There’s also the mindset that it’s not over until it’s actually over. People win major competitions on four faults. You learn to look forward, only forward, and never back.

And then there’s the teamwork. In showjumping, you’re always working within a team: your farrier, your vets, your grooms, your physios… You have to communicate clearly, motivate, and manage the moments when things go wrong. All of that made it very natural for me to work with Stephan. I knew how to explain what I needed, how to keep him from getting despondent, and when to bring out the coach in me.

HQ: You were the only woman in the group. Did that play on your mind?

TG: Not particularly. We do compete against men in showjumping, so I’m used to that dynamic. The physical size of a rugby player did cross my mind initially, and yes, someone did ask if I was fully grown. But honestly, it didn’t worry me. I loved learning about their sports, and I think they were quite surprised by what showjumping actually demands.

HQ: And the Fortuner itself, having driven it for six months?

TG: It’s an exceptional car. Before the challenge I did a 4×4 course, just in case that came up, and what that car can do on difficult terrain is incredible. We were reversing up 45-degree gradients, essentially on two wheels at certain points. I’ve had a lot of fun in my life, but that 4×4 course ranked right up there at the top – only topped by riding, obviously. obviously.

For everyday use it’s just as good. The cameras and parking sensors make hitching a box very straightforward. It’s smooth, it’s a seven-seater, and it tows excellently. It genuinely does everything: it’s a proper family car that can also do serious work when you need it to.

HQ: Capital Kronos is jumping the World Cup Qualifiers this year. What does the Toyota programme mean for riders at your level?

TG: We’re all incredibly grateful to Toyota for the level of sponsorship they bring into the sport. It gives riders something meaningful to work towards, with a proper goal at the end of the season. Kronos will jump the Toyota WCQ at KPC in May and I’m hoping to do SA Champs as well. The focus for him this year is the World Cup Qualifier legs and Champs; I’m keeping his programme tight to make sure he peaks at the right moments.

HQ: And what about the young horses?

TG: I’m producing a lot of exciting young horses for Capital Stud at the moment, and the main goal this year is to get them started and going properly. They are genuinely remarkable to ride; the best horses I’ve ever sat on. I’m deeply grateful to Capital Stud and Henning for trusting me with them.

HQ: Farnham starts riders at the very beginning of their journey. Do events like this one inspire young people?

TG: I hope so. A lot of the kids at Farnham followed the challenge and were wonderfully supportive. What I love about that grassroots level is that it reminds everyone the sport is accessible; it’s for anybody who loves horses. Events like the Fortuner Challenge add another dimension to that story. When young people see showjumping alongside rugby, soccer and Dakar Racing, it reframes what equestrian sport is. And I hope it leads to more sponsorships and more people wanting to get involved.

HQ: Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

TG: Absolutely. The sponsors of the challenge itself, Toyota, as well as the other sponsors: Salomon, Thule, Asara and Oakley who were all incredibly generous. And the team at Farnham, especially Lara, who kept everything running and Lauren and Prince who kept my horses fit and in work while I was away. They were amazing.

And my own sponsors: Western Shoppe, Equifeeds, Max Gut Health, Garmin and Winx. They always show up for me, and this was no exception.

The Toyota Fortuner Challenge is in its 10th year. Visit fortunerchallenge.co.za to find out more.