Earlier in the year, three lucky Horse&Rider readers won a 12-month training bursary from Dengie. As part of their prize, they won lessons with Dengie ambassadors, Hannah Esberger-Hancock and Lucy Jackson. Their horses were also given a nutritional consultation with Dengie’s Performance Horse Nutritionist, Claire Akers. We catch up with one of the lucky winners, Natalie Muirhead on how her winter and competition preparation has gone with Charlie, her nine-year-old Irish Sports Horse gelding.
I’ve got one New Year’s resolution this year and I’m firmly set out to tackle it head on:
1. Get Charlie fit and ready to compete again and step up to 1m20 by the end of the year!
We’ve had some real ups and downs since our training day in September. We’ve been working on our schooling homework from Hannah and Charlie is definitely straighter and more supple.
We’ve also been competing; our first competition went brilliantly, we had a fantastic round putting everything Lucy taught us into action. It was very clean and fast, but I let him get a bit long to fence 11 and we tipped it, incurring 4 faults, a good lesson learnt!
Similarly, our next competition went just as well, until I forgot the course (always walk your course!) and sailed past fence seven, oops! We picked up 14 time faults for that, but he jumped clear otherwise and I went home happy.
Third time lucky…or not. Charlie reared before going into the arena. He then launched me into the first fence despite my best efforts at a good canter. Rearing is always a sign that Charlie’s hurting somewhere, so he has had some quiet time and (another) vet visit including more hock injections and acupuncture. Fingers crossed he comes back fighting fit in the next couple of months.
We have also been trialling a TENS machine, doing lots of carrot stretches and moved to a yard with an arena so we can focus on schooling, especially pole exercises to engage the hocks and the back. He does seem to be improving but I am cautious, so fingers crossed. At least his Dengie diet means he is happy, healthy and shiny inside and out!
Earlier in the year, three lucky Horse&Rider readers won a 12-month training bursary from Dengie. As part of their prize, they won lessons with Dengie ambassadors, Hannah Esberger-Hancock and Lucy Jackson. Their horses were also given a nutritional consultation with Dengie’s Performance Horse Nutritionist, Claire Akers. We catch up with one of the lucky winners, Libby Gill on how her winter and competition preparation has gone with Sherbert, her 12-year-old, Thoroughbred X Welsh Section D gelding.
After a successful year, our season finished with a busy October. We competed at the Quest Regional finals where we qualified for the My Quest Championships at Bury Farm and was delighted to finish 5th in the Novice. We also competed at the Area Festival Finals and we won our Novice class giving us a direct qualification to the Area Festival Championships in April! Camping at a show in October in the middle of a storm is not recommended!
October also saw me taking a trip to Aston-Le Walls for my Dengie competition winners day. I had fabulous lessons with both Hannah and Lucy who are both amazing trainers and gave me plenty to take home and work on to help me with competition season ahead. Sherbert had his nutritional assessment with Claire Akers from Dengie and a new diet plan which he loves.
Sherbert had November off and came back into work at the beginning of December with a fresh clip, lots of hacking and a trip to the beach which he really enjoyed! Sherb had his jabs, teeth done and a massage to ensure he was in top health to start our competition preparation. I was all set for our first dressage training session of the year and Sherbert went lame! Typical! With a few days rest he was sound again, so let the training commence!
I find it very difficult to ride on week days during the winter due to the limited daylight hours and am really looking forward to the spring! The dark evenings have given me ideal time to start planning my season ahead with shows I hope to attend to get my qualifications at Novice and Elementary. I also mapped out a training schedule working up to the Petplan Championships in April so although I haven’t competed through the winter months, I have been busy planning for 2018.
Sherbert is looking and feeling fantastic all thanks to his Dengie diet and I am really looking forward to the season ahead.
Earlier in the year, three lucky Horse & Rider readers won a 12-month training bursary from Dengie. As part of their prize, they won lessons with Dengie ambassadors, Hannah Esberger-Hancock and Lucy Jackson. Their horses were also given a nutritional consultation with Dengie’s Performance Horse Nutritionist, Claire Akers. Horse & Rider caught up with the winners to hear all about this amazing experience.
Libby Gill has owned Sherbert, a 12-year-old, Thoroughbred X Welsh Section D gelding, for 10 years. They compete at dressage and affiliated for the first time last year.
Training Goal: Encourage Sherbert to soften in canter
Hannah’s solution: “When Sherbert gets strong, use plenty of half-halts and transitions to encourage him to listen and lighten in your hands.”
Feeding goal: Help manage a stressy horse
Claire’s solution: “Research has shown that a fibre-based diet produces calmer, more consistent behaviour. Feed him Dengie Alfa-A Molasses Free, soaked Alfa-Beet and a performance balancer.”
“I had a fabulous time and since the training day we’ve come fifth at the My Quest Open Novice finals. Sherbert loves his new Dengie diet, he licks the bowl clean every time.”
Aspiring showjumper Natalie Muirhead owns Charlie, a nine-year-old Irish Sports Horse gelding. They’re hoping the bursary can help them move towards their goal of competing in Foxhunter classes.
Training goal: Create a strong jumping canter
Lucy’s solution: “Practise pushing Charlie on, then slowing down, but maintaining the power and positivity, so he’s on the bridle, able to jump well and leave the fences up.”
Feeding goal: Help manage an ulcer-prone horse
Claire’s solution: “Alfalfa acts as a buffer and helps to maintain a healthy stomach. Feed him Dengie Alfa-A Molasses Free, soaked Alfa-Beet and a performance balancer.”
“I hugely enjoyed the day and now have plenty of homework. Charlie looks and feels amazing – he’s maintaining his weight really well on his new diet.”
Heather Finlay owns Ferruccio II (also known as Taz), a seven-year-old KWPN gelding. They compete at Medium level dressage, but are aiming to reach Grand Prix in the future.
Training goal: improve Taz’s straightness and evenness
Hannah’s solution: “Practise riding shoulder-in away from the track. You can also try some body-bending exercises, including travers and half-pass, to improve suppleness.”
Feeding goal: Increase energy
Claire’s solution: “Taz’s diet needs more quality protein, so feed him Dengie Alfa-A Lite, Alfa-Beet and a performance balancer. Oats could be fed alongside for instant energy – start with a handful and slowly increase the quantity as needed.”
“Taz has got so much more energy and sparkle now. We’re using Hannah’s advice in our schooling at home, ready for the summer qualifiers.”
The British Dressage Pony Prime and Progress Training Sessions at Olney Equestrian Centre took place on a chilly and damp weekend prior to Christmas.
Parents, supporters and young riders had training sessions with Dan Sherriff and Clive Halsall alongside meetings with selectors, goal setting with Jill Day plus pilates and an equine nutritional assessment from Dengie.
We caught up with Progress Squad rider Olivia Langley and Albert following her lesson with Dan. “Dan got me working on Albert’s trot and canter having more suspension and air time whilst keeping him round in his frame. Compressing the trot to working a little bit more forward and then back within the pace, using half-halts to control the power. I really love training with Dan and Clive, being on Progress is a great opportunity to learn and improve your riding; hopefully I’ll be able to do it again next year. For 2018 I’d like to be able to go out and compete Albert a bit more, improve my scores for the FEI Team test and learn the individual test as well with the ultimate aim to be selected for the Prime Squad.”
Dengie Performance Horse Nutritionist, Claire Akers, MSc, carried out diet assessments for all of the ponies. “When training and competing at this level it’s important that our four-legged athletes are getting a balance diet and the right nutrients to help keep them healthy and performing at their very best. When I weighed Albert back in October he weighed 337kg and was carrying a little too much weight. Albert is a very good doer so to help him lose weight we needed to reduce the calories he is receiving whilst meeting his nutrient requirements. I recommended weighing his hay, restricting his grass and a change to his diet, Dengie Alfa-A Lite with a vitamin and mineral supplement. Olivia, Dad Andy, in conjunction with their yard manager, have done a great job. He now weighs 327kg and has lost 3% of his bodyweight, his condition score has also improved – they still have a little way to go with his weight loss but this is definitely a step in the right direction”.
Olivia said, “Albert is definitely a little slimmer – it’s been tricky as he just loves food! I knew he would love the minty Alfa-A Lite, as he has lost weight his energy has improved for training and competing. It’ll be interesting to see how much he weighs at the Progess Camp in March.”
The day is finally here, British Dressage is pleased to announce the launch of the rebranded Under 25s programme, BD Youth!
The launch incorporates a shiny new name, logo and breakdown of age groups for riders under the age of 25. For our young members in the regions, it’s the same great offering for training and competition but the rebrand gives us a chance to better target our programmes, squads, competitions, camps, national teams and communications.
Celebrating the occasion BD Youth Director Claire Moir commented, “Welcome to BD Youth! There are lots of things to look forward to in the new U25 section of BD. The BD Youth commitee, regional representatives and I are looking forward to bringing you exciting new Foundation Academies, which will lead up to a National Academy, a new B+ Squad and a new Young Horse A squad rider test at Keysoe. Plus, the redeveloped Young Professionals Programme is already underway and has just taken on its first recruits – all exciting stuff.”
“Information about all of these initiatives will be in the BD Youth Bulletins online and you can find out more from your Regional BD Youth Representative and RDO. We welcome your views and feedback, so let your BD Youth Rep know if you have any queries or ides.”
Here’s a brief overview of the new categories:
Under 12s – for riders aged between the ages of 6 and 12
Under 14s – for riders aged between 12 and 14
Under 16s – for riders aged between 14 and 16
Under 18s – for riders aged between 16 and 18
Under 21s – for riders aged between 18 and 21
Under 25s – for riders aged between 21 and 25
There are lots of exciting plans in the pipeline for BD Youth moving into 2018 so watch this space for further updates.
To mark the event on social media we’ve launched a new BD Youth Facebook page where news will be posted about everything from BD Youth Inter Regionals to European Championships for Children, Ponies, Juniors and Young Riders. Head over to the rebranded Facebook page by clicking this link, don’t forget to give the page a like and keep up to date with all things Under 25s related.
Branded clothing is also still available from Tylers, complete with the new logo. Click here to order your hoodies, saddle pads and coats ready for the 2018 season – they make ideal Christmas gifts for any young dressage rider!
The 2017 Pony Club Winter Show Jumping and Dressage Championships, generously sponsored by Dengie Horse Feeds Ltd, returned to Addington Manor Equestrian Centre, Buckinghamshire, on 01-02 April 2017
The hotly contested Championships acted as the pinnacle of the Dengie Winter League for Pony Club competitors, who have taken part in qualifiers during the winter months.
Saturday kicked off with Dengie Winter League Dressage and the Tubtrugs Dressage to Music classes, which saw pairs and individuals strutting their stuff to their favourite tunes.
Anna Ridge (15) from the Pembrokeshire Hunt took the top spot in the Novice Dressage riding Coombe Park Sailors Star to a score of 70.90%; narrowly pipping VWH Hunt’s Jaymee Savill (12) and Knockmullen Flyer who finished in second position with a score of 70.70%. A delighted Anna and Coombe Park Sailors Star also finished 3rd in the Dengie Open Grand Prix Show Jumping, making the long journey from Haverfordwest worthwhile.
At Intermediate level Olivia Hoyland (15) took the win for the Ridgeway Branch, riding Mis Fantastic to clinch the win with 77.90%. Anna Czylok (16) and Curolea Mika came second for the Cambridgeshire Hunt with a score of 74.19%.
The Open Championships were equally competitive, but it was Garth Hunt’s Annabella Pidgley (12) who finished on a score of 73.38% riding Farbenfroh to clinch the win. Rosie Boulton (20) and Dino 391 took the runner-up spot with a score of 73.16%. Annabella said: “It feels really good to win as all of our hard work has paid off.”
The Open Individual Freestyle Dressage to Music class was won by a surprised Katie Branley (19) with an impressive score of 74.11%. Katie and her horse Buntino finished just ahead of Anna Bates (14) who rode Jolianna to second place for the Braes of Derwent South Branch, finishing on 73.21%.
Cambridge University student Katie hadn’t been able to practice as much as she had hoped, but she arrived at the competition thinking ‘just go and make it happen’ and this positive attitude certainly successful.
It was a 1st and 2nd for the Meynell Hunt in the Intermediate Individual Freestyle Dressage to Music competition. The win went to a surprised and delighted Chloe Naylor (13) who scored 76.67% riding Tulira Swallow. Chloe pipped Holly Clarke (13) who finished 2nd on 70.83% with Newoak Truffel.
Jessica de Lucy (12) won the Novice Individual Freestyle Dressage to Music riding Anri Sandstorm for the Tickham Hunt, finishing on a score of 74.69%. Runner-up was Suzannah Offley (15) and Cliffhollins Mystery came second for the Burton Cheshire Forest Hunt on 72.50%. A shocked Jessica, who was competing in Pony Club Dressage to Music for the first time, said: “To win feels unreal; I can’t believe it!”
Holly Clarke was back on the podium after winning the Pairs Freestyle Dressage to Music competition riding Gingerbread VI alongside fellow Meynell Hunt Member Lucy Robinson (18). Lucy rode Johnson Jazz and together they finished on 78.44% – over ten marks clear of East Cheshire’s Mary Goodridge (16) riding Annaghmore Gwenievere and Ciara McLellan (17) riding Ballstra Van De Cumul who took the runner-up spot with 68.13%. Holly and Lucy were amazed to have won. They said: “We’re a new pair as we’ve never competed together, so to come first is such as surprise!”
Paul Thompson’s testing Open Grand Prix course asked all the right questions, and after two rounds just eight riders went through to the jump-off. Victory went to an ecstatic Frankie Carr (16) and Pipsqueek T riding for the West Lancashire County, who was over three seconds faster in the jump off than Katie Waldock-Smith (16) who took 2nd place riding Milo for the Enfield Chace Hunt Branch. Frankie is now aiming to qualify for the Open Show Jumping and Novice Eventing at The Pony Club Championships.
Day two of the Dengie Winter Championships welcomed sunny skies and riders taking part in the Debut and Winter Series Show Jumping classes.
New for 2017, the Debut level proved popular with 55 entrants tackling courses of 80cm in height. Taking the top spot was Fran Lupoli (13) riding Benny’s Boy for the Mid Surrey Branch. Nothing could separate Saskia Moha (13, Bicester & Warden Hill Hunt) and Holly Clayden (15, York & Ainsty South Hunt) who finished joint 2nd riding Tiperonic and Jewel.
Fran, who has only had Benny’s Boy, or Ben, for three months, said: “It feels amazing to have won; I didn’t think we would even get to The Championships let alone win them!” Fran’s next aim is to be competing with Ben at 1.10m by the end of the year, and qualify for the Dengie Open Grand Prix Championships next year.
Alice Burden (15) clinched the top spot in the Winter Series Show Jumping Championships for the East Hertfordshire Hunt. Alice and Neebro Moonshine went clear in the first round and rode a speedy, clear jump-off to finish in 26.00; just two seconds ahead of Royal Artillery Hunt (S.P.)’s Imogen Crossman (13) who was runner up riding Mac.
“To win feels amazing!” said Alice, “all my hard work has paid off and it was extra special for me because my pony had colitis a year and half ago and has been recovering ever since.”
“I am very excited for a Beach Ride with my Pony Cub later this Spring, as my pony was too ill to go last year,” continued Alice.
Lisa Wilson, Marketing Manager for Dengie, said: “Dengie is extremely proud to have supported The Pony Club Winter Championships for over 20 years. The standard of riding this year was outstanding, and the new Debut Show Jumping class gave less experienced riders a chance to get a taste of competing at a Championship. It was a pleasure to meet the winners, competitors, their families and of course the horses and ponies at the Dengie stand when they came to collect their goody bags or brought their horse or pony over for a nutritional assessment.” Lisa continued to say that Dengie are already looking forward to the 2018 Championships.
Full results for the Dengie Debut, Winter Series and Open Grand Prix Show Jumping can be found HERE
Full results for the Dengie Winter League Dressage and Tubtrugs Dressage to Music can be found HERE
The Hannah Francis Award for Talent, Courage and Inspiration was created to honour Hannah for the bravery she showed throughout her battle with cancer, during which time she founded the Willberry Wonder Pony charity to raise money for bone cancer research and to grant equine wishes to seriously ill people.
Nominations have now opened for the 2016 Award, which will be presented annually to an inspirational and talented Pony Club Member who has overcome adversity or carried out an act to help others.
An active and popular Member of the Wylye Valley Pony Club, the Award was presented in December 2015 to Hannah who humbly thanked those involved including her Pony Club Area Representative Louly Thornycroft.
Speaking about the Award Louly said: “The Hannah Francis Award for Talent, Courage and Inspiration is a fitting tribute to her, and just one of many ways Hannah’s legacy will be remembered by those within The Pony Club. Hannah’s courage was utterly amazing. She showed bravery and focus in setting up the Willberry Wonder Pony charity for the benefit of others, despite facing her own enormous, unimaginable challenges.”
The Pony Club is now looking for nominations for the 2016 Award which will be presented at the Dengie Winter Championships in April. The recipient will be presented with a statue of a Thoroughbred horse head which was chosen because of its meaningful expression; gazing, ears pricked, into the future.
Nominations for The Hannah Francis Award for Talent, Courage and Inspiration are welcomed from Pony Club Branch or Centre Officials who have a Member showing willingness to learn and develop, through The Pony Club, into a talented horseperson and fitting one or more of the criteria listed below:
– The Member may have gone above and beyond the normal duty of a Member
– The Member may have overcome adversity
– The Member may have organised an activity for the benefit of others, not just within The Pony Club
– The Member may be an inspiration and/or role model to others
Nominations should arrive no later than 17 March 2017 and be addressed to Sarah Baker, The Pony Club, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2RW. Posthumous nominations are welcomed.
As was Hannah’s wish, The Willberry Wonder Pony charity continues to raise money for the vital research of osteosarcoma; a comparatively rare and low profile form of bone cancer which attracts little funding for research. Funds raised also grant ‘Willberry’s Wishes’ giving seriously ill people and their families unique and memorable equine experiences; an initiative developed due to the inspiration Hannah drew from riding and being around horses throughout her treatment.
Miles Toulson-Clarke, DC of the Wylye Valley Branch and a trustee of Hannah’s charity, said: “Hannah was a quite extraordinary person. Not only was she an exceptionally talented and dedicated rider, she was an equally skilled coach and had started to teach a number of our Members. She showed the same aptitude at conveying her knowledge to others as she demonstrated when in the saddle. Hannah’s talent, courage and inspiration were most evidenced during her battle with this terrible disease. Her creation of Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony charity says everything about Hannah herself – she was always thinking about others. We’re determined to fulfil her legacy and have been amazed by the response from the equestrian community, having raised over £500,000 in under a year. This and our future fundraising efforts will reinforce Hannah’s determination that others contracting osteosarcoma can face a much brighter future.”
Louly Thornycroft, commenting on Hannah’s talent as a rider which saw her represent the Wylye Valley Branch at The Pony Club Championships in 2014, said: “Shortly before her diagnosis, Hannah’s talent and ability to progress was recognised by a selection panel which chose her from a number of applicants for a place in the Pony Club Rider Development Pathway Squad.”
Chairman of The Pony Club Training Committee William Blane was a member of the selection panel. He described Hannah as being ‘extraordinarily talented’ and remarked that she attended the event where the final trial was held on crutches; an example of her willpower and determination.
To read Hannah’s story and find out more about the Willberry Wonder Pony charity please visit https://www.willberrywonderpony.org/
We would like to introduce our two newest recruits to the Dengie Team.
Claire Ward has joined us as the South Central Region Area Sales Manager and Adam Ford as Scotland, Cumbria and Northumberland Area Sales Manager.
Claire joins the team from Countrywide Farmers where she worked as their Equine Sales Manager for South West England.
Claire has always been a passionate equestrian. She is a BHSAI and has taught riding for more than twenty years. She currently owns two dressage horses and bred Dartmoor ponies for ten years. Along with her daughter, who is an International dressage rider they have qualified over forty horses and ponies for HOYS.
“I’m really excited for this new challenge. Dengie has an exceptional product range and the Dengie story is one I’m very comfortable with and proud to represent.” says Claire.
Adam Ford joins Dengie from Russell’s County Store and had a good previous knowledge of Dengie from his experience there. He is an AMTRA qualified animal health advisor for equine and companion animals for worming. A keen equestrian enthusiast he had previously worked at Kingsfield Equestrian Centre for three years.
Adam has a lovely horse at home which he enjoys schooling and hacking when time permits.
“I am proud to be part of Team Dengie and truly believe in their products. This is the perfect position for me to combine my passion for equine and the sales industry. I am excited to have this new role in a great area.” says Adam.
“Dengie are thrilled to have Adam and Claire on board. They bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise from their previous positions and will be great assets to our team.” says Laura Dolphin, National Sales Manager.
MATILDA AND WATCH ME! SELECTED FOR TWO NATIONAL DRESSAGE TRAINING PROGRAMMES
Dengie ambassador Matilda Haley and her dressage “dancing” partner Watch Me! (aka Gari) have been selected to train at not one but two different national training programmes in recent months.
Matilda started competing her 14-year-old KWPN gelding at the beginning of 2016 and it was an incredible year for the dressage duo from Grange in Morayshire. Matilda finished the year having won one title at regional level and four national titles across the BYRDS (British Young Rider Dressage Scheme) and Pony Club National level competitions. This did not escape the eyes of the selectors for both of the training programmes that she applied for.
The first one she attended was the HorseScotland viewing day where she went to East Renfrewshire along with 32 other talented riders of all ages from across Scotland. Matilda had to attend an interview where she had to talk about her sport and her goals, physio assessments and a ridden assessment by the head coaches. She then had to wait two weeks while the selectors chose their final 18 candidates for the two year training programme in Scotland, which is supported by Lottery funding. The news came in an email as she was on her way to another event Matilda said; “I was really excited to be selected for the HorseScotland Development Squad, the support that Gari and I will receive over the next two years is amazing. She went on to say; “We will have access to top specialists in their field such as coaches, physiotherapy, bio-mechanics, marketing and PR and many seminars on helpful topics such as anti-doping both for human and equines.” Fiona Rawson of Horsescotland said; “Matilda is the youngest person to be accepted onto this new intake for 2017-2018.”
Matilda and Gari were then selected from a pool of applications for the BYRDS High Performance Camps which are held each year from December to February. These camps are held in England and dressage riders under the age of 25 who fulfill the criteria, are selected by a panel to attend these. They are designed to sit between regional training that Matilda and Gari attend in Scotland and being invited before the GB Team selectors for the GB Junior Dressage Team. Matilda said; “An invitation to appear before the selectors in September 2017 is our goal, we have a way to go to get there, but we are putting in the training and most nights sees us training under the floodlights in all weathers!”
Photo: Matilda and Watch Me (Gari) training at the Unicorn Training Centre in Gloucestershire at the recent BYRDS High Performance Camp in December 2016. Photo courtesy of Karen Chaplin Photography.
As part of a series of exclusive interviews with equestrian professionals, Dengie catchs up with Alice Collins, Dressage, Products and Breeding Editor at Horse & Hound. Over the past five years she has reported from Olympics, Paralympics and travelled the world, covering World Equestrian Games, Europeans and national championships. Previously, she worked for the Sky TV channel Horse & Country TV, and she is a keen amateur rider, competing her home-produced mare Fab at prix st georges level. Surprisingly, she is also a Londoner.
What has been the most memorable or inspirational experience with your career?
Three moments really stand out over the past six years at H&H.
The first was watching Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro win gold in London. When tickets went on sale I wasn’t yet working for H&H, although I was by the time the Games came. Watching from the stands, I was convinced the judges would penalise Charlotte for the blip on the final centre line, when Valegro popped back into canter accidentally. The rush of elation when her score went up on the board and she’d beaten Adelinde and Parzival to become the Olympic champion, coupled with the noise from the crowd and my unexpected joy tears was awesome.
The London Paralympics soon followed, and I was on the other side of the fence, reporting. Over those humbling days, I spoke to some absolutely incredible human beings, who had overcome challenges in life I could barely imagine.It opened my eyes about disability and the role of determination and mental strength required in para sport. I also had the pleasure of educating The Daily Telegraph’s Marcus Armytage all about dressage, as he was covering it for the paper, and — as a former Grand National winner — knows much more about going fast than going bouncy.
The third is another epic Olympic memory: I was feet away from Nick Skelton when he pulled off the mother of all showjumping rounds to win gold in Rio on Big Star. I was shaking like a leaf (and can’t really read any of my notes from the jump-off as a result) when he had secured a bronze, but when he carried on climbing up the ranks by heart went into over-drive and my colleague Pippa and I squealed and hugged like nine-year-olds. I think you can see from my ‘Skelfie’, taken just minutes later, how I felt about this legendary rider winning gold.
Do you have any funny/embarrassing incidents (horses or humans) that you can share with us?
At the Rio Olympics I interviewed the Swedish showjumper Peder Fredricson and wrote a piece about him. I thought it was so endearing that he called his horse Alan at home and we had a laugh during the interview about how it wasn’t the sexiest name for a horse. I published the piece and it wasn’t until a colleague asked me a few days later whether I was sure Peder had said his same was Alan. Yes, I said, I was. “You do realise the horse’s proper name is All In and it was probably just his accent that made you think he was saying Alan?” she asked. I wanted to die and hope I never see the lovely Peder again as I’m sure he thinks I’m a moron.
What is the most valuable thing that working with horses and the media has taught you?
Don’t get cocky or lazy.
Social media makes things much more immediate – how do you see the future of the printed magazine?
There’s still huge appetite among the Horse & Hound audience for the print product. The horse world is an outdoorsy one; smart phones and tablets often don’t fare well in a damp tack room or shared area, but the magazine is passed around at yards and over coffee tables. It’s a proven medium that works and it’s not going anywhere fast. That’s not to say that H&H can’t also provide what people want through social media; they look for a different type of reading experience depending on the platform.
You were lucky enough to be in Rio give us an idea of what it was like behind the scenes.
Aside from the moment a bullet landed while we were working in the press office — which was a bit sketchy — it was a marvellous experience. I’ve lived in South America for a couple of years in the past so I’m familiar and comfortable with the different pace of attitudes there. We were mostly in the Olympic bubble (staying in Olympic accommodation, using Olympic media buses) and so busy we barely had time to eat let alone anything else, but we did have a rest day where we got drunk, watched some hockey and visited Jesus and Copacabana.
For the equestrian media, it was the best set-up I’ve ever seen. So often, the press office and the mix zone, where we interview riders after their tests, are miles apart. It means that at some major events, like the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, we have to choose between watching the action live, or talking to riders in the mix zone. Sometimes there’s a screen in the mix zone, sometimes there isn’t. In Rio, everything was super close together: we could see the arena from the mix zone and there was a screen, plus the whole shebang was only paces from the press office. It meant we could turn out so much content from the Olympics and my Rio stories generated 1.3m hits on the website.
Most riders are good at riding and perhaps don’t interview like a film star/celebrity. How do you manage to get the best out of them and who stands out in your memory as being the nicest rider to interview?
This is a really easy one. Carl Hester is a journalist’s gift. He knows exactly what you need from him in terms of quotes and colour, and he never fails to deliver. He’s such a magnetic character and has a wicked sense of humour coupled with a laugh like a drain. The sport is incredibly lucky to have such a big character.
Some riders are tough to interview — especially up and coming ones — as they’re so conscious of upsetting people. They don’t want to tell you about any bumps in the road in training for fear of losing the ride, or choose not to share their own battles because they don’t want to scare off owners. We have to balance those sensitivities with providing interesting, engaging content that our readers want.
There was only one insurmountable interview. A few years back, I tried to interview a rider who had won a title at the British Dressage winter championships. She kept just saying, “No comment”, so we left her out of the report and just listed her in the results. It was odd.
Do you own a horse and ride/compete? If so how do you manage to juggle the day job and riding?
Yes, I own four horses; two youngsters, a broodmare and my dressage competition horse. The first three are in Devon, but my riding horse, Fab, lives in Hertfordshire and I ride her four times a week. I’ve owned her since she was a foal and produced her myself with a lot of help from the yard owner Keith Robertson. She’s only 15.1hh and much to both mine and Keith’s amazement this season, age nine, she has won her first two prix st georges classes.
Do you aspire to be an elite level rider and does working with the cream of top riders frustrate or inspire you in your own riding career?
I’m very aware of my own limitations as a rider and have no expectations of major success at top level, but I would so love to have a go at big tour with Fab. I’ve also got a very smart three-year-old coming up, who I did the Oldenburg mare performance test with this summer and I’m super excited about her future and next year’s four-year-old classes.
It’s certainly not frustrating working with elite level riders and I’m lucky that while at work I can often take away tips to improve mine and Fab’s performances — especially when we visit riders at home and they talk through trouble-shooting certain problems when we are writing features.
Do you have any tips for budding journalists or bloggers?
Don’t be shy. Have a good CV and get in touch with the people who interest you. If jumping is your sport, get in touch with the showjumping editor of H&H, for example. I’ve heard people complain in the past that there is no way in to equestrian journalism, but then find out that they never contacted anyone about it, even though staff contacts are all in the front of the magazine. And check your grammar before getting in touch! You should also look into becoming a member of the British Equestrian Writers’ Association.