BELLA INNES KER has numerous claims on her attention – not least an impending debut at one of eventing’s toughest tracks – but an unexpected call from an eager journalist barely breaks her stride.
“This sounds great – please do ping me an email,” she says in cheerful reply to my ill-timed interview request, “only I’m out with four horses at the moment and it’s just me on my own this week”.
And so I type a message to Bella’s address that contains the name of her business: Roxburghe Eventing. The name is in homage to the young rider’s heritage; Bella’s is an ancient family, bearing the title of Roxburghe in some form since 1600. The ancestral seat has been Floors Castle in the Scottish Borders since the 18th century.
When we resume our conversation the following week, I ask whether coming from a titled family means navigating any difficult preconceptions about her.
“It’s not always straightforward,” she says. “I’ve been lucky with my upbringing, and you’ve got to be proud of who you are. Equally, I’m on the cautious side, because I don’t want people to judge me for it.
“Running a business is tough on your own. Horses are hard. It doesn’t matter who you are or how you do it. It’s tricky, and you need a big team around you to be successful.”
Bella’s professional brand reflects her late father Guy Innes Ker, the 10th Duke of Roxburghe. The Duke was a prolific breeder of thoroughbreds at Floors Stud, and Flat racing one of his great loves. He died following a recurrence of cancer of the oesophagus in 2019.
While Bella enjoys watching the breeding programme from afar, her eventing career hasn’t permitted her the time to be hands-on.
“It was my dad and my brother’s thing,” she says. “He and my mum still run a small section of it – I love that it’s part of my dad’s legacy.”
AS one of five chidren, Bella paints a picture of an outdoorsy childhood spent playing “every sport under the sun”.
Denne historien er fra August 29, 2024-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra August 29, 2024-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.
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'Sorry, but I wasn't feeling it'
Fresh from the opening meet, Tessa Waugh hasn't quite yet been bitten by the hunting bug. Without the crisp autumnal air and cheek-pinching cold she hoped for, it's a sluggish start
New pair pull off a win
A former European Championships pony is on form with his new rider, while elsewhere former showjumpers and eventers take ribbons
Lording it over the rest
Horses who have returned from injury, a second generation homebred and a long format specialist score on the final weekend of the British season
Smith hits flying form
A \"her way or no way\" mare helps Zoe Smith to an impressive ribbon haul and a rider beats his own boss to the top spot
Jankorado hits the jackpot
Paul Sims is triumphant despite his interrupted jump-off preparation and a borrowed horse comes up trumps
Peanut
From \"dangerous, scary\" to hedge-hopping brilliance, hunting has been the making of this unstable but very lovable equine character
She's a corker
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Access all areas Cavalier Centre
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'Use it or lose it'
Not everyone wants to reach for the pipe and slippers at a certain age. Becky Murray speaks to some veteran horse-and-rider combos for their secrets of human and equine longevity
A new way forward
Worm control in horses is vital, but established methods will not remain effective for much longer. Tim Mair FRCVS explains why and how we need to change
