Canada Equine ...On-Line News: Nick Dello Joio a 'Chip off the old Block'

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Nick Dello Joio a 'Chip off the old Block'

Jean Llewellyn (Phelps Media Group, Inc.)

June 9, 2006

Calgary, Alberta, CAN --- From the outset, the dark curls escaping the baseball hat and the chiseled features certainly identify 17-year-old Nick as the son of veteran U.S. horseman Norman Dello Joio. Unlike many 'family businesses', however, Nick Dello Joio adopted a less than orthodox route for following in his dad's footsteps. Whereas Rodrigo Pessoa, son of the legendary Nelson Pessoa, recalls riding before he could even walk and has spent most of his life in the saddle ever since, Nick's riding resumé surprisingly began at the age of 15, and one year later he made his Spruce Meadows debut which was a remarkable accomplishment by any standards.

Unlike the majority of horse-crazy kids who follow a well-planned and measured course towards a sporting goal, Nick started half way up the progression ladder and has crammed virtually 10 years of riding experience into just two-and-a-half years. "I started in children's jumpers where most kids start in hunters or ponies, then the following year moved up to high juniors, 1m40, and that's about it so far, although I do a lot of riding at home." In fact, Nick gratefully attributes the speed of his riding development from neophyte to extremely capable show jumper "to having the opportunity of riding so many different types of horses at home."

Nick's philosophy has never been to determinedly avoid his dad's career, although no one would have blamed him if that had been the case given Norman Dello Joio's history-making contributions to U.S. show jumping. "My dad just never pushed me to ride because he wanted me to experience other things, and this is why I've done a lot of other sports," including a six-year hockey career alongside other typical high school activities such as "lacrosse, football, soccer ...," and he's admittedly no mean golfer and "currently a member of my high school golf team." Being Florida based, the beach is also an undeniable attraction for Nick, especially for exploiting his interests in surfing and fishing.

Given his mom and dad's personal and long-term involvement with the equestrian industry, isolating himself from horses was never an option, but the defining moment that heralded Nick's decision to become a show jumper occurred when he started traveling with his dad to more shows three summers ago. "We were traveling in Europe and it was a fun time. I wasn't riding or anything, just tagging along, so I spent a lot of time at shows doing nothing. Then there was a couple of horses dad let me ride who I really liked, so I just carried on when we got home and now I really love it."

Naturally, having a pro dad as a teacher and mentor - especially one carrying the nickname Stormin' Norman because of his energetic riding style - is not always a recipe for success. "It's maybe not always the best situation to have your parents

teaching you because you know them too well, but I've been pretty happy with the past couple of years and it's great riding with my dad," Nick said proudly. "We're like a team and I can ask him anything at any time." He continued, "I also started doing Equitation about a year ago, but just on and off. Jumpers have always been first, while the Equitation classes are good for the discipline and I don't really worry about winning." Nick was quick to applaud the efforts of other trainers who have been contributing to his success: "Missy Clark has been teaching me and she's the best. Darragh Kerrins also helps me a lot, and when my dad's away my mom takes over and she's tougher with me," he laughed.

Despite his new-found love of riding and obvious talent, Nick is keeping his possible career options open for the time being and hasn't yet decided whether he'll become a full-time show jumper following college: "Maybe," he offers cautiously, "but at the moment I'm not even allowed to ride unless I continue school, and I have another year of high school in any case." In terms of his college ambitions, his considers business as a good option. "I always want to ride in the future, but I don't know if I want to do it in the same way as my dad: go to shows, be at the barn, talk to clients, buy and sell horses ... Or, be a successful businessman and then ride when I have the time and do it for fun." It's obviously something he's considered because he acknowledges "the problem with that is never having the opportunity to be the best because time is an obstacle." Nick did candidly admit that "of course" he would aspire to be the best if that was his chosen path. "I really have no idea right now if I will even study business, but" he grinned, "it's what most teens say because it's always a good option."

For the time being, a typical day for Nick is rising at 6:30 a.m. and making the 45-minute drive from his home in Wellington to Boca Raton where he attends St. Andrews High School, one of the better private schools in south Florida. "I always have my breeches in the car so usually drive from school straight to the barn, fit in two horses, or maybe one if I'm schooling, then drive home and do homework. It's tough because of the drive to and from school. I ride as much as I can but," he adds philosophically, "if I have a maths test, for instance, its extra hard because I have to fit in time to study."

This year Nick has three horses with whom he's competing at Spruce Meadows: Ralma, a seven-year-old Dutch warmblood mare, Kenzo, an eight-year-old Selle Français gelding, and the 10-year-old gray Cyril du Lys. The latter, like Nick himself, comes with a pure show jumping pedigree as his sire, Champion du Lys has, for many years, been one of German international Ludger Beerbaum's top horses. Having said that, Cyril has not been the most cooperative horse at the 'National' tournament till now, exhibiting temperamental refusals and an apparent dislike for one particular end of Spruce Meadows' All Canada Ring.

When Nick's competing he believes that it's his mom, Geannie, who gets the most nervous. "She helps me and yells at me in the schooling area, so when I get in the ring I think she's the one who gets really nervous. My dad watches, but I don't know that he gets nervous. He's never really said." One might also imagine that Nick would feel anxious knowing that his dad's breathing down his neck from the sidelines, but his nerves are self-generated, "I usually get nervous before I go in the ring, but after I've jumped the first fence it's fine." Nick also doesn't beat himself up comparing himself to his dad, "No, not at all, although I'm obviously aware of when I could have done something better, especially ..." he laughs "... if I have the first fence down."

Such is the nature of show jumping and the multitude of mistakes that can occur in the arena, and one incident that occurred involving Nick's dad on the opening day of the Spruce Meadows 'National' is one he'd prefer not to emulate, when Norman landed bottoms-up on the turf in a dramatic-looking tumble. Fortunately no more serious than a couple of bruises, but as Norman - who will celebrate his 50th birthday in Calgary on June 12 - will attest, you don't bounce so well as you get older.

Having a famous dad may not always be a godsend, but if a professional show jumping career figures in Nick's destiny there's no doubt that it'll be a proud day for father and son if they ever have the good fortune of winding up on the same U.S. Nations' Cup team.

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