Broken ribs don’t stop Gliksman from riding glory

Johannesburg horse rider Tamar Gliksman, 44, broke her ribs on the morning of the 2025 Toyota International Federation for Equestrian Sports World Cup Qualifier in Midrand, Gauteng, last month, but still managed to win with her horse, Farnham’s Capital Kronos.

It was Gliksman’s first ever victory in a World Cup-like international standard-track tournament. She won in the 1.5m class, a top level of show jumping that Gliksman has dreamed of competing in all her life.

“I’ve wanted to win a competition like this since I was 10 years old, so it was a cool feeling,” said Gliksman, who won her first South African title during the South African Indoor Grand Prix with Kronos in Mooi River in January.

Having now won the first out of six World Cup qualifiers, her aim is to win the competition overall. “The overall winner on the points system goes on to ride in the World Cup final overseas,” she said. The riders competing in the final of the Equestrian World Cup, which began with show jumping in 1978, will have finished first in the qualifying leagues for their respective equestrian disciplines around the world.

Gliksman broke her ribs on another horse. “Initially, we weren’t sure if they were broken,” she said. “I really wanted to ride, so I rode in World Cup qualifier one and then spent my evening in the emergency room at Sunninghill Hospital. It was daunting to be mentally fit to go in and ride, knowing that I wasn’t feeling my best, but I also knew I had such an amazing horse that he would look after me.”

She competed against all the top South African show jumpers from different provinces. “The riders came from Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, and Polokwane. We compete together over these six qualifiers. The youngest rider was 24, and the oldest in his late 50s.”

Thirty-three riders started the first qualifier. “An overseas course builder called Frank Rothenberger built the track,” Gliksman said. “You’ve got to jump clear, and then the top 25% go through to a second round. My horse went clear, and recorded the fastest time, which is why I won the competition.”

Gliksman’s horse, Kronos, was bred in Belgium and brought as a foal into South Africa by Capital Stud, founded by Henning Pretorius. “Kronos is 15 years old. He was owned by Capital Stud and produced by Nicole Horwood, an unbelievable rider. I bought him last year in April, and we’ve developed the most beautiful partnership.”

In March, Gliksman won the President’s Cup Grand Prix class with Kronos on the last day of the show. “Kronos has now won three really big competitions, which is amazing. You have to be so grateful to have a horse like that because you can’t do this without your horse. You can be the best rider in the world, but you need to have the tools.”

Gliksman and Kronos now lead the standings for the 2025 South African Show Jumping adult show jumper of the year.

Recalling how she took up horse riding, Gliksman said, “A friend took me when I was 10 years old to a birthday party, and I just loved it. I was hooked. I landed up pursuing a career in horse riding after school.”

She runs a big riding school, Farnham Riding School, in Kyalami “where we teach kids of all ages and all levels. I have about 74 horses. We look after horses for people, we give riding lessons, and we teach competitive riders.”

Gliksman, who keeps Kronos at the riding school, has earned her stripes as a riding coach. “I did an equine science behavioural course, South African coach qualifications, and FEI [International Federation for Equestrian Sports] qualifications. I started my little riding school, and it just grew. We’ve got about 200 pupils. The school is popular in Johannesburg.”

Gliksman described horse riding as a sport in which you never stop learning.

“You can always be better,” she said. “Every horse is a different challenge and teaches you a new skill. Horse riding is the most unbelievable sport. You never get bored. You can do it in your late 60s. It’s a lifestyle more than a sport. You need to ride and look after horses 24 hours a day.”

Gliksman aspires to compete in the World Cup qualifier overseas. “Depending on how that goes, I would love to take part in more competitions overseas.

“I had a good horse about 10 years ago called Toko, and he won a competition in which he jumped 1.78 metres. That was a highlight. He was also placed in World Cup qualifiers, and the outdoor Grand Prix, but I have never won anything like I have with Kronos. This horse has helped me achieve goals I only dreamed of.”