HOW do most good love stories start? A guy, a girl and the exchange of a drink. Throw in the backdrop of a horse show and that’s how one equestrian power couple started their relationship. Craig Elenor and Sara Parrott, one of showing’s most established producing duos, first met at Arena UK some seven years ago while attending the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Summer Championships. It was the show’s annual Saturday-night party held at the venue’s bar where groups of show-goers descended for celebratory – or commiseratory – drinks.
“The week after the BSPS champs we were both back at Arena UK for the Coloured Horse and Pony Society (CHAPS) finals, and conveniently our horses were stabled next to each other,” reminisces Sara, who moved from her home town in Essex to join Craig at his base up north a year later.
“There was a bit of a language barrier at first,” jokes born-and-bred Yorkshireman Craig, who started his professional career showing in-hand ponies under the watchful eye of legendary showman Jerome Harforth. “Jerome was an utter perfectionist in all ways. He taught me the art of how to run lots of horses from the same yard at once. I was lucky to work with him as well as many other great horse people.
“My first big win as a handler was the breeders’ supreme at the Royal Show. I took the lead of my mother’s Welsh section B mare Paddock Picture as Jerome couldn’t attend the show. She was a really quirky pony. She won a hell of a lot in the show ring and taught me how to cope with those bigger characters.”
Denne historien er fra November 12, 2020-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra November 12, 2020-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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