I grew up with horses and both my parents rode. I was in the Grafton branch of the Pony Club, competed on teams and went to the Pony Club championships, and was master of the Stowe Beagles while at school. I did some novice eventing and a lot of hunting in my youth, as one could at that age without any other responsibilities in life.
My father and I tried to farm pigs for a few years. Then my parents converted the pig buildings into hunter livery stables, which was great fun.
I went to New Zealand on the Inter-Pacific Pony Club exchange, involving teams from the UK, Japan, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong. That was wonderful. When the month was up, I stayed for five more.
We lived in Warwickshire and my father and I would help Noel Palmer build the course at Wellesbourne Horse Trials. When Noel’s job with the British Horse Society changed, the organisers asked me to build. Noel gave my name to many others he’d worked for, so I went from zero to it being a full-time job.
I met designer Colonel Henry Nicoll, who was on the Burghley committee, when I was building the Pony Club championships course at Stoneleigh. Burghley was looking for someone to help Bill Thomson, so I came for a week in 1980, started building in 1981 and gradually took over.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 31, 2023-Ausgabe von Horse & Hound.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 31, 2023-Ausgabe von Horse & Hound.
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Gemirande provides 24-carat magic
Venetia Williams sparkles again in the December Gold Cup and jockey brothers dead-heat
‘Happy hunting, everyone'
“The season for talks, dinners and parties has finally arrived for Tessa Waugh, whose distress about the snags of middle age fades away with some rousing festive spirits
'Monaco deserved this victory
Seemingly destined always to play the bridesmaid’s role, Harrie Smolders’ great partner Monaco finally tops an incidentpacked Rolex grand prix
'It had to end sometime'
The closure of beloved Hampshire saddlery Calcutt Sons is a loss to the hunting and wider equestrian worlds, as Octavia Pollock reports
'You couldn't want for more
The Ludlow's peaceful country makes for a day in \"hunting paradise\"
The greatest gift of all
Christmas is fast approaching and while we all like a bit of tinsel, the festive season is also a perfect time for giving to a horse charity. Niki Hinman finds out some of the options
Winter him well
A horse's winter routine can differ dramatically from his summer structure but what’s the knock-on effect? Ellie Hughes asks vets how to optimise routine management for the season
Neat feet
Excellent hoof care is a year-round concern but the winter months present their own problems. Richard Stephenson MRCVS explains the seasonal challenges afoot and how to stay one step ahead
In bygone days
Modern vets have much scientific knowledge behind them, but what about their forebears? Kieran O’Brien MRCVS opens up the world of Victorian vets in London
'When I joined the Pony Club it was just two boys and 48 girls'
Pepsi Kohler on being delightfully outnumbered by girls in the Pony Club, a leg-up from a royal and the H&H advert that changed his life
