MARGARET HOPKINS, STABLE MANAGER
MARGARET’S role as stud groom at Badminton encapsulates anything equestrian that happens on the estate, which means she is stable manager during the event.
“We have 110 stables spread over various yards, and as soon as hunting finishes all the boxes are cleaned out, pressure-washed and disinfected, and any maintenance done,” says Margaret, who has been at Badminton since 2009. “The competitors start arriving from Monday. We supply straw and shavings – if riders want anything else, they can order it through me and we will try to supply anything within reason.”
Margaret does the stabling plan, and tries to accommodate everyone’s wishes.
“The Club Yard is the furthest away, and therefore the quietest. The main yard, where the stable manager’s office is located, is very busy,” she says.
“The stables are the hub of everything and I enjoy the interaction with the competitors and grooms. The horses come in all shapes and sizes, and every year I learn something new.”
She and her team do their best to ensure that everything runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible – but not everything always goes to plan.
“I remember one year a Spanish rider had a stallion who was very good at letting himself out, despite us using all sorts of different clips to keep his door bolted,” she says. “We found him in the indoor school, admiring himself in the mirrors – and visibly excited by how handsome he looked!”
SUE ANSELL, EVENT ADMINISTRATOR
This story is from the May 07, 2020 edition of Horse & Hound.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 07, 2020 edition of Horse & Hound.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
I've ever 'He's the best ridden'
Dannie Morgan wins three national titles and the next generation of dressage stars rise to the occasion as one title goes down to the wire
I Am Maximus hailed hero
The Grand National produces a triumph of sporting brilliance, with several fairy-tale endings
Evergreen mare takes top spot
Familiar faces take top honours, as eventers impress and new combinations win championship titles for the first time
A match made in Paradise
The 1,000 supreme titles are netted by a much-admired 138cm show pony and a consistent heavyweight hunter
McLean's dash north pays dividends
The Scottish rider picks up a raft of Highland qualifiers and there's an unusual jumping test in Somerset
Buy Some Time finds the winning factor
A six-yearold makes a welcome return to form and some unexpected fast ground produces an epic clash
A sash, at last!
Sarah Moy fulfils a lifelong ambition, a spooky superstar” retains a title and polocrosse provides a winning formula
A win for Cesar and Claire
The VWHs Claire King battles demanding going to take the Wynnstay hunt ride on honest and clever” Cesar Et Rosalie, reports Catherine Austen
Cognac
This \"Jekyll and Hyde\" ex-racehorse never said no to a fence and had a definite sense of humour
We've got each other's backs
As part of H&H's 140th anniversary this year, we are celebrating Britain's great horsey families with a series of interviews. In our second instalment, we speak to multi-medallist Gareth Hughes, his wife Rebecca and their daughter Ruby