World Champion
What a year that was. Again another season has come to an end, all the turkey and trimmings eaten and time to recap on the stellar year of equestrian adventures I have been lucky enough to enjoy with my team of riders and clients, before the fitness work kicks off in preparation of the new season.
There have been so many highlights, I decided to pick out my most memorable moments in photos from the 2022 season. Here are my picks:
Read MoreIt feels like we had all been looking forward to Pratoni since the curtain came down on Tokyo. The build up as palpable as the previous year and for me personally… The build up had been a little turbulent, with the trip on and off and back in again.
The dust lay around like perfectly sieved black icing sugar, sprinkled across the top of the Pratoni cake… and just about everything and everyone became decorated in it. And it turned out Volcanic dust sticks to everything.
Championships are different gravy; the buzz, the camaraderie in the media centre, the excitement of who will win those coveted medals. It’s so much more important yet so many are just happy to have reached that point. An educated crowd frantically waving their country flags. Anticipation of special moments about to be witnessed first hand.
Read MoreFarewell to a legend…
Some horses just get under your skin and pull at the heart strings and ever since watching a young, relatively unknown rider called Ros Canter, on her gigantic dark bay equine companion, I have been smitten. Who couldn’t be?! For all 17hh of dear Alby were just perfection. And together they conquered the world; quite literally.
Read MoreI have decided to inhale a good dose of optimism and forge onwards with my Tokyo dream…
You wouldn’t want to substitute yourself into the Team GBR selection committee; for they have many endless debates, head scratching and much deliberation ahead of them.
We are in a golden age of Eventing talent, both globally and here in Blighty; which gives us a tricky but fortuitous problem. We have a very long long-list of talent, yet only 3 team places are available and a lucky individual to take on board the plane to Tokyo.
Read More…but I can pick pick my 10 favourites.
Well some few hours later and instead of 10, I had 29 on my ‘shortlist’ - the greats of the sport, some that pull on the heartstrings and some that will just always hold a special place in my heart.
When reading the list below, you will notice a theme, one that could be used to create the ultimate Eventer - powerful, quirky, enthusiastic and brave when going XC, whilst being in true harmony with their human partner. I am a big lover of this great sport and have been lucky enough to watch many who fit the aforementioned description.
Read MoreUltimately Eventers (both competitors and supporters) are a bloody tough breed, we’ve got through previous outbreaks, disasters and wartime; the sport will make it through this. We’ve weathered cancellations and abandonments before, and this time will be no different.
Whether Tokyo comes or is lost, all that matters is everyone is still here when we pick up where the season paused, be that hopefully in a few weeks or we draw stumps and start a fresh next season with renewed energy. As long as the friends I have made on this wonderful journey are here with me, that’s all that ultimately matters.
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