Feb 19, 2021

Featured Clinician: Tim Bourke

Tim Bourke and Quality Time in the CCI4*-S at the 2020 Great Meadow International. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

The Featured Clinician article series is provided through a partnership between STRIDER™ and the USEA.

Named as the traveling reserve for Team Ireland for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, five-star eventer Tim Bourke is a popular clinician whose systematic approach leads to sustainable results for both horse and rider.

Raised in Ireland, Bourke rode in Pony Club and became interested in eventing while studying Equine Studies and Business at Gurteen Agricultural College. Upon graduation, Bourke moved stateside to work for Olympic gold and silver medalist Bruce Davidson. After two years in Davidson’s program, Bourke went on to work for five-star rider Sharon White until he and his wife, Advanced eventer Marley Stone Bourke, opened the doors of their own Stone’s Throw Farm in the heart of Area II.

STRIDER caught up with Bourke between rounds at a schooling show near his winter base in Aiken, South Carolina where he had a group of his veteran competition partners, the young horses in his string, and some students to prepare for the spring season.

Tim Bourke and his wife, Marley Stone Bourke, at the 2020 USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

With a clear and supportive teaching approach for horses and riders at all levels, Bourke is motivated to help his students communicate clearly with their horses and achieve better understanding in the saddle.

“Everyone has different goals - as an instructor you have to understand that," Bourke said. "You can get as much enjoyment teaching a Beginner Novice group as an Advanced group. For me, it’s about when the penny drops for a rider I’m teaching. When someone gets something and has a breakthrough, I feel like it’s been worthwhile. I get a real sense of enjoyment from teaching because of that moment.”

“Clinics for me are different every time. The first thing to understand is that I’m there to help people work through something with their horse. I won’t walk into a clinic with a specific exercise.”

Instead, Bourke takes time to get to know the horses and riders in each lesson group in order to maximize the session for those combinations. “It’s about asking the questions at the beginning of a session; how’s the horse been going? Are there any issues you’ve been working on? How was your last show? That’s how I can get the best idea of whether or not there’s something I can help with.”

“[Teaching clinics] is not about what we’re doing but why we’re doing it . . . My job is to challenge my students, make them a little better, and help with understanding.”

Tim Bourke and Luckaun Quality at the 2018 Kentucky Three-Day Event. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

Bourke points out that he finds group lessons quite constructive for his students and enjoys hearing feedback from riders.

“Learning in a group setting can be more valuable than an individual lesson. Watching someone do something well or make mistakes can be really helpful. I always say [to my students]: if it’s not your turn, make sure you’re close to the center of the ring, near where I’m standing so I can explain what’s happening.”

“Towards the end of a lesson, I like to ask; ‘For my sake, as an instructor, tell me one thing that really made sense to you?’”

USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

To break down ideas that can seem complicated for riders into manageable and systematic concepts is a key feature of Bourke’s teaching style. This logical approach is helpful for a wide range of students.

“I always try to explain a little about my theory behind riding and teaching. You have three basic phases of the ride - once you get those down you can move on to things like timing. The first is the quality of the canter, first and foremost. Is the canter good and forward and does it give you options to jump from? The next is reactions. So, if you slow down to jump a fence your reaction upon landing should be to speed up, if you jump too fast then slow down on your landing. The third phase is straightness and awareness of where you are going in the arena.”

“Once you have those three basic pieces down, we can move on to timing. Knowing your horse, knowing where the jumping power needs to come from, and creating more options through footwork.”

“If you think systematically in that way, you can put the horses in a good place to answer a variety of different questions. They’ll be comfortable and they’ll want to go around a course.”

USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

Bourke is a proponent of positive thinking in the saddle. He encourages students to assess their riding with positive phrases instead of emphasizing what might not have gone perfectly in a given exercise or round.

“I’m always looking for that glimmer of positivity - negativity is a bit of a pet peeve of mine.”

A more positive mindset is ideal for riding progress, which Bourke explains is a great foundation for the sport.

“Always continue to get help. In our sport, you have to keep improving and trying to get better all the time.”

For more on Tim Bourke and his program, visit www.bourkeeventing.com. For upcoming clinic opportunities, visit www.striderpro.com.

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Education Abounds at the 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in St. Louis, MO

The USEA Annual Meeting & Convention is an event that many USEA members look forward to year after year to catch up with their fellow eventing enthusiasts and stay up to date on all the latest work happening on the USEA Committees and Task Forces, but there’s so much more to explore. The educational opportunities offered at this year’s Convention, which takes place on Dec. 7-10 at the Marriott St. Louis Grand hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, are endless and afford members with the opportunity to expand their horizons through a full schedule of seminars and events. Plus, each day of the Convention counts as one ECP Continuing Education credit for those in attendance!

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Meet the Nominees for the USEA Board of Governors

Each year every member of the USEA receives a nomination ballot to submit nominees to the Board of Governors and during the Annual Meeting of Members, all members are invited to vote for those individuals nominated to serve. All members receive a proxy to vote for their chosen representatives for those unable to attend the Annual Meeting of Members. The only restriction for Board membership is that they must be USEA members. There are 10 positions representing each Area of the country and 11 at-large positions with no other restrictions.

Nov 26, 2023 Safety

Rule Refresher: Frangible Essentials for Riders and Jump Judges

Effective Dec. 1, 2023, USEF rule EV145.8 will require, whenever possible, new cross-country obstacles (for which frangible devices are appropriate) to be constructed with FEI approved frangible technology for the Training level and above (previously it was Modified and above).

Nov 25, 2023 Classic Series

Poulos and Flaherty are Grateful for Opportunity to Compete in the USEA Classic Series at Ram Tap

The Ram Tap Horse Park Horse Trials hosted the final USEA Classic Series Event of the year this past weekend in Fresno, California. The event offered three traditional long-format divisions at the Beginner Novice, Novice, and Training levels. Meet the final USEA Classic Series champions of 2024 below.

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