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WEG report Beezie Madden &


Olympian Beezie Madden is both unassuming and humble, despite a record that speaks loudly for itself. She was the FEI World Cup Champion in show jump- ing for 2013, and has won multiple medals at the Pan American, Olympic and World Equestrian Games. During her lengthy jumping career she has also won major grand prix competitions in the United States and abroad, including the CN International $1,000,000 Grand Prix at the Spruce Meadows Masters. Beezie adores each horse that she rides. Each one is


her partner in the quest for show jumping perfection and she holds herself to the highest standards in that quest. This was demonstrated this May when she did not blame Breitling LS (by Quintero and out of Armonia La Silla) for her fall at the Old Salem Grand Prix, despite its severity. Instead, she simply stated afterwards that she did not set Breitling up properly for the liverpool jump and because of his lack of experience at this level, he was unable to correct the situation and so he panicked. Her composure was especially impressive because her spill resulted in a broken collarbone that required surgery and almost ended her hope to qualify for this year’s WEG. In August we caught up with Beezie at her train- ing camp in Holland to discuss her preparation for the Games. Little did we know then that she would rise to be one of a handful of Americans to earn an individual medal there. (She was the only American medalist amongst the dressage, jumper and eventing medal- ists.) Out of 153 starters in the jumpers, Beezie impres- sively earned both the individual bronze and the U.S. team bronze.


18 November/December 2014 In Top Form Cortes ‘C’


This renowned American rider pauses just before the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to discuss how she prepares for such an event.


By Maurine L. Webb WT: What exercises do you do to increase your mental


acuity and concentration for the Games? BM: I do not use any psychological or mental exercis-


es to prepare for the Games. I was blessed with the abil- ity to concentrate on the job at hand, which is to guide the horse in the correct direction, in the best number of strides, over the next jump, and not knock a rail out of the cup, simply by blocking everyone and everything out of my mind. I do not feel that I am the world’s great- est rider, but my concentration is one my best attributes. Sometimes friends will say to me, ‘Did you see how many people were watching you?’ My answer is ‘no!’


WT: How do you to prepare yourself for the grueling five


days next week at the Games? Do you have a specific exer- cise regimen (aerobic or weight bearing)? Do you take vita- min or mineral supplements? Do you follow a specific diet? BM: I do a set of stretching exercises each day. I had a unique situation in that I was recuperating from my broken collarbone. I was working with a physical thera- pist on a daily basis, so we did exercises to strengthen my entire body. Also, I have a workout routine that was created for me by a trainer when I was in Palm Beach, Florida, for the winter, that I did three nights a week and I try to continue that during the summer. I cannot take vitamin and mineral supplements because of the anti- doping rules of the FEI. But I am allowed to take calcium for my bones. I eat a high protein and low carbohydrate diet, with a lot of fish, chicken and vegetables, very little salt and fat. I do not eat much fruit. It is a professional requirement that I keep my weight down, to aid the horse, so that he/ she can achieve maximum jumping performance.


WT: How are you preparing your horses for the


Games? Do you have a specific practice regimen just for the Games? BM: We work our horses six days a week. We try to regulate the horses’ show schedules so they are peak-


PHOTOS (courtesy of Alltech): Beezie and Cortes ‘C’ earn the bronze at the WEG. Cortes ‘C’ also earned the Horse of the Games award.


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