Karl Cook
The West Coast’s Hottest Young Rider Gains Momentum
by Erin Gilmore |
Sidelines Magazine, October 2008
There couldn’t possibly have been a better outcome for Zone 10 at this year’s North American Young Riders Championships, held the first weekend of August at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker City, Colorado. Placing first in team competition and claiming all three individual medals, the West Coast Young Riders simply dominated competition from beginning to end. Among the four person team was last year’s defending individual gold medal winner and arguably the team anchor, 17 year old Karl Cook. The native Californian with surfer-boy blond hair and steady nerves traded the top two spots with his teammates throughout the competition. On the last round of the final day, he stepped to silver as teammate Hannah Selleck edged him out by a four fault difference.
“It was pretty sweet sweeping the medals,” says Karl. “It was a different feeling this year. Three years ago I was really nervous. I was 15 and it was my first year (at Young Riders.) Last year was a different team; this year we were more confident, more experienced.”
That confidence showed in Karl’s winning speed round on the first day of competition, which he completed a full four seconds faster than the second place rider. It showed on the final day, as he jumped a clean round over a shortened course with wider oxers and tighter turns than he’d previously faced. And it shows in his record prior to and since NAYRC. Guided by his coaches at Willow Tree Farm in Woodside, California, Karl’s growth in confidence and skill has followed a steady path.
He had the advantage of consistency at Young Riders, as chef d’ equipe Butch Thomas has also been Karl’s trainer since the beginning of his riding career. Karl’s mother, Signe Ostby, rode with Butch and Lu Thomas’ Willow Tree Farm in the 1980s, and when Karl and his younger sister Annie Laurie Cook were old enough, Signe placed their riding education in the capable hands of Butch, Lu and their son, Olympian Guy Thomas.
“At Willow Tree they teach you without saying too much,” explains Karl. “You will go around the course and do things right, and make your mistakes, and they’ll say ‘You should have sat up there.’ They guide you in the direction you’re supposed to go in a way that makes you learn it on your own. Some people don’t like that, and like to be told how to do the turn from fence five to six, but they just tell you to go from five to six and you learn how to do the turn on your own. It makes us stronger riders.”
Without a break in momentum, the Wednesday after Young Riders Karl was back in the ring at the Menlo Charity Horse Show, the centerpiece of the Northern California show circuit. Karl placed first in the $10,000 Maple Leaf Farm Memorial speed class, rode two of his horses to top ten finishes in the $40,000 Grand Prix, and was reserve champion in Level 7 jumpers.
“I don’t really get tired,” says Karl. “At Spruce Meadows (in June) I rode every single day for three weeks, and after a week off I went back and worked the horses. Sometimes it’s nice to have a break, but now we’re looking forward to World Cup season.”
Last fall Karl rode in his first World Cup qualifying class at Del Mar after receiving special permission from the stewards. Karl has a December birthday and was just 16 when he placed fifth in that W.C. class. USEF rules state that a rider competes as the age they turn that year, which in Karl’s case, was 17. But the FEI didn’t agree, as under their rules a rider younger than 18, age being counted as the year they turn 18, cannot compete in a senior event. The FEI disqualified Karl’s ride, took back his points and prize money and fined the stewards responsible for the error. It was a disappointing setback for Karl, but if anything he is more driven this year towards competing for World Cup points. “Hopefully, the best case scenario we go to Vegas next year,” he says.
His record of success insofar places that goal within reach. He remarks without hesitation that his biggest goal is to try out for the 2010 Olympics in London, but his tone is cautiously optimistic and it’s clear that goals and plans are two entirely different elements for him. While his goal is to compete at an Olympic level in four years, the nature and uncertainty of horses stops him short of counting on a plan.
His competitors should be relieved that he’s only counting on ‘hopefully.’ With cautious optimism he’s proven his domination over his own age group and has demonstrated capability among the pros. As this young man’s confidence and skill grow, international rings will ‘hopefully’ stand squarely in his sights.
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