Edward Bullock Equestrian History
My lifelong passion for riding horses started at the age of six.
The opportunities provided by New Zealand Pony Club gave me an excellent start within the sport.
At this stage I had little regard for the finer points of horsemanship. To me riding was for fun.
To get from one place to another in the shortest possible time was my goal.
Who needed style?
It was only after going to my first few events and getting sick of being slaughtered by the dressage judges that realised the importance of the basics although it took me many years to truly appreciate its importance.
Dressage was the necessary evil before the cross country and showjumping phases.
During my late teens my focus was heading towards a career in Horse Trials, where I competed up to “Intermediate level” and also completed several novice three-day events on three different horses.
Two of which were trained by myself.
I would regularly perform well in the jumping phases, but unfortunately failed dismally in the other.
Dressage!
Despite my intense efforts and countless lessons with dressage coaches, I couldn't get the required marks from the judges.
In spite of my frustrations, I managed to gain significant understanding of the basics in dressage training.
When I started training my promising young (at the time) horse Melanion, it became evident that his future was going to be in showjumping.
After competing at a few shows I started to feel that was where my future lay as well.
My initial successes were winning the Whangarei Grand Prix and placed third in the young rider of the year (Horse of the Year Show at Karaka) in 1992.
After graduating from university with a Bachelor of Science Degree I began my first equestrian job at the Isola Equestrian Centre. From May 1993 to June 1995, I worked for Bruce Wakeling and Jill Withel near Helensville.
Under Bruce's tutorage I acquired some invaluable horsemanship skills.
I received indispensable experience with breaking-in and training young horses to sell or else for clients.
With my science education still fresh in my memory I began to do countless experiments in basic flatwork.
Still frustrated from my lack of success in dressage I embarked on a search for a new and more effective way to train horses on the flat.
This trial and error approach not only revolutionised the way I rode and trained my horses but also changed my whole approach.
I now believe that the approach is far more important than doing what is right and what is wrong.
The principles I learnt from these experiments have become the base behind the training approach that I adopt today.
It is an approach that works on horses that others would deem untrainable.
It is unfortunately something that many did not agree with.
Due to my self-doubt I would often drop this method many times and try more orthodox methods.
Only to lose every thing.
The problem with these methods is not what is done but the negative attitude.
It is about not making mistakes and working on what is wrong and what not to do.
When I rode with negative intent my horses would naturally respond negatively.
Even methods that advocate kindness can put more hardship on a horse if their rider remains negative.
This method of mine would be revisited many times only to be mothballed by self-doubt.
An employment opportunity to work for David Goodin gave my showjumping career a real boost.
Under his coaching I started competing at World-Cup level and with reasonable success.
The season highlight was winning the inaugural Kelly Park Grand Prix during March 1997.
Later that year I embarked on my OE (overseas experience) to the United Kingdom.
On the way I competed at Hong Kong on borrowed horses and won the Halewinner Cup.
I worked two months for Cyril Light at Pyecombe (Sussex) and four months for the British Showjumping professional Robert Smith.
Upon returning home, I started self-employment as a riding instructor and horse trainer while continuing to compete in the NZ League World Cup Qualifier circuit on Melanion.
My biggest success was the forth placing at the 1998 Australasian (New Zealand and Australia) Volvo World Cup finals held at the Ti Papa and 1st in the Waitemata World cup qualifier.
For the last few years I have also been employed fulltime as a shift worker.
Around my work I continue to teach, train horses and compete on New Zealand’s showjumping circuit.
I now have two highly promising horses, Kahurangi Vin Rouge and Wesserwolfe Tane.
Kahurangi Vin Rouge who was bred by current owner Gael Schultz has a spectacular jump and is competing in NZ's One Star Grand Prix Series.
The Giant Wesserwolfe Tane who was once deemed untrainable by some is now jumping in New Zealand’s World Cup Qualifiers.
This website was designed and developed by Edward Bullock, director of E Bullock Equestrian Ltd. Email: ebullock@clear.net.nz