Name: – OLIVER JAMES LAZARUS

Date of Birth: – 26 October 1987

Place of Birth: – Swaziland

Citizenship: – South African with British passport

Education: - MATRIC. Attended Somerset College, Somerset West. Completed his final year at Somerset West Private School, Somerset West, Cape Town.

Address: - La Cache Farm, Erf 234, Raithby, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa

Postal Address: - P O Box 5488, Helderberg, Cape Town 7135

Email: - Click here

Other interest: - Golf, snow boarding, travelling and wildlife.

Other achievements : - Climbed Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Hiked and lived in the bush for a month on a trip from Somerset West to East Coast, Swellendam.

Occupation: - Professional Show jumper

EARLY YEARS

I was almost born in the saddle and from just a few weeks old would be taken on my mother’s back while she rode around our farm in Malkerns, Swaziland.  Since then I have been riding daily and there have always been horses at home and have been involved in all aspects of riding.  Ihave been a member of the Cape Hunt and ridden in drag hunts from six years of age and participated in all pony club activities. 

 I started on lead rein with my first pony, FIZZPOP, whom m mum and I broke in ourselves and progressed through various ponies, which I had to train and take up the grades myself, such as BRANDY SNAP on whom I won the Victor Ludorum in the International Show in Johannesburg when I was eight years old in JB show jumping. 

 My great show pony, FORSYTE WARRIOR SONG, won every showing title in the Western Cape, was awarded the FEI Children’s Dressage Championship in George in 2000 as well as competing in SAPPI eventing at Open level and being placed.  I moved on to bigger ponies and brought on a very spirited youngster, ZINGOSY, to CA show jumping and Open eventing.

I won both the Natal Derby, and a few weeks later the SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDRENS DERBY in Johannesburg in 2000 on my wonderful CA pony, WALT DISNEY KISSAMMEE.       

 Due to our partnership being so consistent, I received my SANEF South African Children’s colours both in 2000 and again in 2001.  I also won the FEI Championship class on KISS in my final year of Children’s.  I represented Western Proince (WP), and as a result received his WP colours, for five years in showing, equitation, dressage and showjumping.

 In 2002 I started my Junior career and was awarded my WP colours for showjumping on DECIMAL DOLLAR on whom carried my team through. I then had an opportunity to train in England for two English summers, which allowed e to experience and compete on the British circuit as well as county shows. I gained much from the experience the least of which was excellent results and plenty of tickets. 

 I won the under-16 British show jumping STAR OF THE FUTURE Championship held in Staffordshire at the end of August on my horse, FREDERIK, and had the chance to ride in such prestigious shows as Windsor and the Festival of Show Jumping at Arena UK.  On my return to SA I won the JB Championships at the BOE Cape Horse Show in Constantia, Cape Town, on my very quirky and difficult horse NORTHLANDS WILLOW with a blistering double clear.

 In 2003 I managed to defend my under-16 British show jumping STAR OF THE FUTURE title, this time on my inexperienced horse, ADDY THE EAGLE. I followed this fantastic win with a 3^rd as the sole South African representative in an International Young Riders Show, against 93 competitors from various other nations, in Reims, France.  I once again competed at prestigious shows such as Windsor and Arena UK. 

 In South Africa I received his SANEF South African Junior colours and represented South Africa against Australia and other nations in an international show. I had the honour of being the only competitor to have four clear rounds in the competition.  I came 2^nd in the SA Derby on my fantastic A grade horse, MANIOLIA, as well as a 3^rd with DECIMAL DOLLAR. 

 In the BOE Cape Horse Show in Constantia, Cape Town, I won the B/JA Accumulator on MANIOLIA and represented THS in their Junior showjumping team at the National Championships at the end of the year in Shongweni and we took gold.

 In 2004 I took FREDERIK with my trainer, David McPherson, to the Spanish Sunshine Circuit www.sunshinetour.net  where we won two Small Tour Grand Prix Classes and numerous other classes. David very kindly let me ride his young seven-year-old, CASSIANO Z, who was also placed in all his classes, and this proved to be a wonderful experience for both me and GOOFY as Cassiano Z is affectionately known. 

Throughout the summer of 2004 I trained with David and travelled the circuit, attending Valkenswaard Show, www.csivalkenswaard.com  Jan Tops now infamous and incredibly prestigious show, in Holland. I won a first in a speed event with one of David’s borrowed horses which I had never sat on before, CHAKA D and also got a few tickets on another Dutch horse, LIBERATADOR, when I was given the ride.

I placed 2^nd in the final day Championships on a young (quite aptly named!) horse, OLIVIER.

 Back home I won the South African Medium A Championships at the Easter Show 2004, held at THS, Johannesburg, on my great horse, MANIOLIA.  This, coupled with many other successes during the year, resulted in an invite to Mauritius in November as part of the SA team where I was awarded the title of Rider of the Show and at the SA Junior Championships in December I won the award for the Most Stylish Rider of 2004.

 2005 was really a great year for me and my horses. We purchased CROCKET 18, a young grey warmblood with the most incredible jump, and I again attended the Spanish Sunshine Circuit and jumped well in the Big Tour. From there it was on to the Italian Young Riders Grand Prix in Arezzo, www.gfsarezzo.com  Italy.  I was given the ride of mys favourite, CASSIANO Z, for the show and competed him in the Nation’s Cup class along with two other SA team members.

I was awarded his full SOUTH AFRICAN PROTEA (SPRINGBOK) colours in June 2006, an honour not awarded since 1998. This also makes me the youngest ever colour recipient.  My solid rounds kept the team together to come a credible 4^th, and as a result I have subsequently bought GOOFY.  I had the most spectacular win with CROCKET 18 at the show, beating the Italian Champion and taking the title home of Grand Prix winner.

Relaxing at home

During the summer I attended various shows, such as Limburg and Valkenswaard in Holland, Torledo and Barcelona in Spain, and the Friendship Event in Herford, Germany, where I had the privilege of having a lesson with the great Ludger Beerbaum.   Discussions took place with Ludger and I joined him permanently, quite an honour. 

I attended Hickstead www.hickstead.co.uk  and, after a huge qualifying class where I came 2^nd, I took the title of British Young Rider Champion on GOOFY with a calm and as near-perfect round as one could have in the Main Arena. We were all very proud.  We qualified for the Derby Speed Event at Hickstead and had a good round, especially considering as it was our first attempt at  an event with such unusual obstacles and only the very best competing. 

For the rest of the summer I competed locally in UK until I was invited to ride in the Young Riders class at the Horse of the Year Show www.hoys.co.uk  in Birmingham, held in October.  The class came down to a nail-biting jump off between me with GOOFY and Ellen Whitaker and in the blink of an eye I came 2^nd, a great way to finish the season and give my horses a well-earned rest until 2006.

 I returned home to SA to catch up with family and friends. I slotted in a very quick trip to Melbourne, Australia, to compete as one of the SA Young Riders team.  Great fun was had by all and they won the competition.

 Throughout my life he has ridden my own and other peoples horses for them.  I am an extremely focused competitor and with such determination have earned my mother’s full support as well as that of my grandparents.  My groom in South Africa, Dean, has learnt to ride and compete locally and  travelled with me  on  the international circuit in 2006. I gained my full heavy duty licence and have my own five berth truck in Germany  (which Mum had to get a heavy duty license too)!

 Subsequently here is a brief summary of  my career from 2005, the latest shows you can see on the homepage

•  I relocated to Germany end of September 2006 to join Ludger Beerbaum on a two month experience and was delighted when Ludger asked me to stay on permanently as his work rider. 

 2007

• 2007 has been a year when I  have had to prove not only my riding skill but also my work ethic and horsemanship and Ludger has assured me that I have  gone beyond meeting every requirement.  Days have been long with no let up but I rode 8+ horses daily plus my own two and preparing youngsters for local shows – I have had good results on both Ludger’s youngsters as well as Marco Kutcher’s. (In Greven I won the Grand Prix on Marco’s mare, QUE SERA) 
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• I have also been riding with Gerry Smit (Italian top show jumper) and Philip Weishaupt (Young top German rider). My first Grand Prix in Balve I had one down with Goofy.  Then in Norten Hartenburg I qualified with Goofy for the Grand Prix but had two down in it.  In  Donaueschingen  http://eventcontent.hippoonline.de  I had one down in the Grand Prix, but were well pleased. 
• I have been building up and preparing my own two horses at national shows and  joined the RIDERS TOUR at PADERBORN  – I have had HUGE success and qualified every time with CROCKET 18 for the GRAND PRIX (minimum height 1.55m) coming 12^th on CROCKET  beating many of the best riders in the world.
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• In HANNOVER (October 2007) I qualified again with Crocket and after the jump off came 6^th – a fantastic result.  While at these shows I take Goofy in the Big classes and is also placed in most events but keeps Crocket for the qualifiers for the Grand Prix. 
• At Oldenburg (8-11 November) I came 9^th with CROCKET in the Grand Prix,( normally there are about 50 to 70 entries). 
• Early December 2007 I took Crocket to the final of the RIDERS TOUR  in Munich and came 14^th in the GRAND PRIX.  Both Ludger and I were very pleased with CROCKET and feel he is reaching his peak   I have shot up the RIDERS TOUR (www.riderstour.de) rankings from 0 to 16 in just three shows.  Speaking to people in Germany they are calling me the ‘wunder boy’ and Ludger is fully behind me trying for the Olympics. www.fei.org

• 2008 has started well with my first show being in Munster and a credible 14^th  place in the Grand Prix with Crocket.  In my first WORLD CUP in Liepsig www.engarde.de  I qualified and came 29^th with Crocket, not a bad start.  Goofy excelled at this show in the Championship and came 11^th and 9^th in the Big Tour.
• FEBRUARY 2008 – I had a big win with Crocket 18 in the Bremen Big Tour with a sizzling jump off.
• MARCH 2008 – The next big show was in Braunschweig in early March where Goofy and I came second in the Final. In Dortmund in mid march we came 13th in the international class.
• APRIL 2008 – Due to the extensive workload Crocket having a well deserved rest  and I tried to catch up on my mail, hah, hah!!!
• In April I took one of Ludger’s young 8 year old mares, Excelle Z and she came 4th in the M class in Bodenhausen. I also took Woytyla (another youngster of Ludger’s and a favourite of mine) and we WON their M class with a super clear round. Ludwig 151 (Marco Kutcher’s youngster) and I came 8th in the M class. In the Grand Prix Cassiano Z did a sizzling jump off and we came 2nd. The next big show was HORSES & DREAMS in Hagen – where Cassiano Z had an incredibly fast jump off but took a pole and was good enough for 8th place in the Grand Prix. In the Youngster Tour Woytyla got a credible 16th place. Sadly Ludwig was sold just after we came 2nd in the Riesenbeck annual Champs – sad to see him go.
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• OCTOBER 2008 – I had a fleeting visit to South Africa at the beginning of October to join up with my friends and celebrate my 21st Birthday.  This was the only gap that I could take in my busy show schedule. 
• DECEMBER 2008 - My first show after a successful shoulder operation was Mechelen at the end of December 2008.  Land Circus and I came a fantastic 6th in the 6 Bar clearing a height of 2.05m

I am very kindly sponsored for his riding attire by EQUILINE, a top Italian equestrian line. www.equiline.it

 CROCKET 18 is very kindly sponsored by EQUIFOX VETERINARY PRODUCTS, a top South African Supplement Producer, for his joints with MSM HA.  www.equifox.co.za

References:-

 David McPherson (UK  former  Trainer) UK 01622 813799

 Damien Stevens (former Cape Trainer) SA 082 807 3393

 Jane Sheppard (Children’s)  SA 021 790 2009

Trevor Lovgren (SA  former  Trainer who put Oliver on map and his Children’s trainer) SA 011 973 1237

Ludger Beerbaum  Germany 00491716221539 website: www.ludger-beerbaum.de