Garrett


knew I was going to get instruction, and at the other I knew I was just working to see what others were doing. It’s key to know who you’re going to ride with, and know exactly what you’re going to get.”


Success Story But grand prix rider and three-time


World Cup Finalist Mandy Porter, Encinitas, CA, had no idea what she was going to get when she headed to Switzerland for two weeks in 1992. Those two weeks turned into a seven-year stay, living and riding in Switzerland and Italy. While riding at Gerhard Etter’s


and a certain focus is required. “I went into it with the attitude


that I was going to work harder than they thought I could,” says Mandy. “In those days, Americans were viewed as lazier than Europeans, and I was out to prove them wrong. I was serious and I was ready to work. But most important of all, I wasn’t wearing rose-colored glasses. I knew it would be hard, and I didn’t expect to be handed a string of go- ing horses.” Once she returned home to the


large dealing barn in Switzerland, Mandy was exposed to countless horses of all ages and abilities. After being given the opportunity to show,


Mandy Porter


United States, Mandy was able to springboard from her years in Eu- rope and open a highly successful training business. Today she’s a suc- cessful grand prix rider with a string of high quality grand prix mounts. Mandy’s work ethic and talent paid


off in the way that every rider hopes it will. Garrett Warner is still hop- ing that his chance is out there. In 2003, the 26-year-old rider spent 11 months at sale barns in Germany. Now he is planning a return trip in a different capacity.


He Who Works Smartest With a solid riding background


first at small one-day competitions and later in international level Na- tions Cups, Mandy learned to take any ride and make it a success. “I wanted to do my best, of course,


and horse-savvy parents, Garrett, of Healdsburg, CA, wanted to further his career and knew he’d be exposed to a lot in Europe. He connected with Gilbert Bachman in Lastrup, Germany and Stal Sarrenkopf, near Frankfurt, spending 5 to 6 months riding at each dealing barn. “I knew it wasn’t going to be all


really progress there, you’ve got to work for a good chunk of time,” he admits.


in California for the past two years, Garrett is looking into ways to re- turn to Europe – but this time on his own terms. “I want to go back to Europe,


After working for John French


but I want to go back with the abil- ity to buy a few young horses, and take the time to develop them while I’m there,” he explains. “It’s so much easier, and less expensive, to go to lots of shows all over Europe and get miles for me and my horses. And that’s what I need – more


which meant working harder than I’d ever worked in my life!” she says. “But I was able to gain the confi- dence to get on any horse, any time and be able to ride it well.” After riding in Switzerland for five


easy and fun,” he says. “They know there are ten other people behind you waiting to take your job, and they work you really hard. They’re not very concerned about days off or things like that, and the day-to-day of it was tough. After cleaning the boxes, feeding and sweeping, getting on the horse was like a reward.” After a year of hard work that


years, Mandy took a job as a private trainer in Italy. During her long stint abroad, she had to deal with home- sickness and assimilation into new cultures as she tried to improve her riding and learn European training methods. She attests that the hours and workload are not for everyone,


he felt was largely thankless, Gar- rett returned home to California. It was then that he realized what he’d gained. He had a stronger sense of the horse and improved flatwork techniques. And once he was home, Garrett realized that he might have gotten farther along if he’d commit- ted to spend several years there. “To


miles,” he continues. “You can ride all the horses you want, but until you’re in the show ring, you don’t re- ally go anywhere. Even if I go over for six months, if I have a few hors- es of my own I’ll be able to do more and spend less than if I brought them back home to train them. I don’t know when it will happen, but I like my new plan.” Garrett plans to sell the young


horse he has now, and return to Eu- rope when he’s able to support him- self.


Europe was that it’s not who works hardest, it’s who works smartest,” he says. “Looking back now, I would never go back and get a job in a big barn. But I will go back with a better plan.”


sistant trainers, their trials and rewards, and what it means to be “Second to One.” Comments? Contact Erin Gilmore at www.erin-gilmore.com.


This column explores the lives of as- “The biggest thing I learned in


49


Photo © Gail Morey


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