WHAT does it take to reach the top? A good rider and good horses, of course. But what else does a young rider need to become one of those at the elite levels of our sport?
“There’s so much more to the job than just being a good rider,” says Pippa Funnell. “You could go and get the best trainer in the world and spend a fortune on lessons, but it’s not just about being in the saddle; it’s about all-round horsemanship and learning how to climb into a horse’s mind to work out how the individual ticks. Horses are not tools for a trade, they need to be your best buddy so that the partnership is absolutely harmonious.”
This is what Pippa is working hard towards with the Windrush Equestrian Foundation, which supports young event riders. It aims to help provide the best possible all-round grounding, taking in management, working with owners, equine soundness, feeding – “living and breathing” the job, Pippa says.
They also have sessions with the likes of course-designer Eric Winter and sports psychologist Poppy Blandford, business advice from Sarah Armstrong, media training with Alice Plunkett and a talk from champion jockey AP McCoy, who is inspirational on the value of hard graft and staying humble.
“For sure, it helps if you are a young rider who comes from a knowledgeable, experienced horsey background,” says Pippa. “For those who don’t, it is imperative to seek advice or spend time in a top yard. How else do you learn things such as checking horses’ teeth or whether that leg is a tendon injury or a little skin infection?
この記事は Horse & Hound の February 11, 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は Horse & Hound の February 11, 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
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