“I ’m a Yorkshireman, I speak my mind, I don’t do politics, I tell it as I see it. Some people agree with me, some people don’t – that’s their choice. My choice is to say what I think.”
Who else would make a statement like that other than one of Showjumping’s great legends – Harvey Smith? In December, he will be 85, yet he is still very active both physically and mentally and is still as passionate as ever about horses and equestrian sports.
“I never retired, I just switched sports,” says Harvey. “We still have a couple of showjumping horses that we keep for fun – my grandson rides them, but mostly we are in jump racing. I still take an interest in showjumping of course, but at the top level I don’t really like what I see.
“I switched from showjumping mostly because there were places and shows that I simply couldn’t get to – it seemed like there was some sort of writing on the wall and that the sport was going in a direction I neither understood nor wanted.
“It used to be that there were plenty of shows to which professionals like myself could go and compete. You went, you paid a small entrance fee and if you had some success, you went home with a bit of extra money and a more experienced horse. All that was starting to change and as we can see, it is nothing like that now.”
HARVEY speaks from long experience and growing up in the sport. He bought his first horse when he was a 15-year-old, whom few had heard of.
Denne historien er fra December 29, 2023-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra December 29, 2023-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
Rider Denies Doping After Team Loses Olympic Placing - Tine Magnus and the Belgian team said they do not know the source of the drug that caused the positive test
Olympic eventer Tine Magnus has denied ever doping after her Paris ride Dia Van Het Lichterveld Z gave a positive test at the Games. This means the Belgian team, which came fourth, has been disqualified. On 4 September, the FEI said the 10-year-old mare, owned by Kris van Vaerenbergh, tested positive for trazodone, which is listed as an antidepressant on the FEI's prohibited substances list.
Michael Eilberg
The top dressage rider talks to Polly Bryan about the special horse with the potential to carry him back onto the British team, how to be a better coach and using his talent for teaching to help the sport
Schooling success
Combining school and riding can be tricky, but horses can benefit a child's education. Lottie Morgan uncovers some options for horse-loving pupils
How to get a job in hunting
The British Hound Sports Association's apprentice scheme is providing young people with excellent all-round training in the skills required - and many others besides, as Tessa Waugh discovers
Burke's Affair to remember
A fast round delights one rider who comes away with a coveted grand prix trophy and a rankings class concludes with an unusual tie
Derby winner returns for further Hickstead glory
After watching wife Pippa compete at Burghley, William Funnell returns to the scene of his Derby triumph to win the All England grand prix
Derby winner returns for further Hickstead glory
After watching wife Pippa compete at Burghley, William Funnell returns to the scene of his Derby triumph to win the All England grand prix
'I'm grateful to have such a wonderful partner'
The brilliant duo of Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei seal back-to-back grands prix after a dramatic turn of events
Hamlett takes centre stage
Two horses round off their competitive careers with victories, a championship specialist earns her fourth title and a pair with a combined age of 105 prove invincible
'This is the ultimate five-star test'
Mark Phillips on Burghley's highs, lows, challenges and champions
