Podcast # 129 – An Interview With Horse Trainer Geoff Teall
Published on June 12, 2024
Geoff Teall, a seasoned horse trainer with an impressive 60 years of experience, has been a client of mine for over half of that time. His expertise is widely recognized in the show jumping community, and if you’re not familiar with him, you should be. This discussion is not about the sport of jumping horses but about horsemanship, training, philosophy, and the crucial aspect of feeding horses (hint – he soaks the pony hay for 12 hours).
One thing I know about Geoff is that he genuinely advocates for the horse above all else.
There are several reasons why Geoff joined me for a discussion on horses. In no particular order:
- Placing the horse’s health is a primary focus of owning and training horses.
- Competing with horses should be fun, not an obsession with winning.
- Hard work and discipline are the only ways to succeed.
- Mastering the fundamentals is required before advancing.
- Become confident through mastering the basic skills.
- Sugar creates problems in horses, especially ponies.
- Keep things simple in training and caring for horses.
The following are his credentials:
- United States Huter Jumper Association (USHJA) Board of Directors
- USHJA Judges Committee Chairman
- USHJA Officials Education Committee Chairman
- USHJA Trainer’s Committee Co-Chairman
- USHJA Trainer’s Certification Committee Member
- American Hunter Jumper Foundation President and C0-Founder
He is an R-rated judge for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), judging for prestigious events, including the Pony Finals, the Pony Medal Finals, the National Horse Show (N.J.), and the Washington International Horse Show (D.C.).
The horses Geoff has trained have achieved remarkable success, winning championships at all the major horse shows. He has shared his knowledge through clinics and judged horse shows both domestically and internationally. Despite his achievements, he remains humble, a quality that is truly admirable.
Geoff is also the author of “Geoff Teall On Riding Hunters, Jumpers And Equitation: Develop A Winning Style.”
Responses