Horsing Around

Sam ecroyd has always been mad about horses and now this young three-day eventer is living his dream. Martin pilkington went  to meet him at his family’s farm.

- Martin Pilkington

SAM Ecroyd’s family farm at Pentre Halkyn slopes down to the Dee Estuary, the great views across the water matched – bettered perhaps – by the fabulous farmstead reminiscent of a grand French manoir. The young three day-eventer, however, is focussed not on the scenery but on his horses, as he has been for at least half of his 20 years on this earth.

Sam, a former pupil at The King’s School, Chester, said: ‘My parents rode, not to a particularly high standard, they just enjoyed horses, and I have an older sister and a brother who both rode too, so it was just natural that I got into it,’ he says.

For Sam’s family riding was a pastime, but for Sam eventing has become his passion and profession. He has numerous successes against his name already, including victory aged 13 in the Under 16 National Championships, and four youth medals at the European Championships.