TO have represented your country by the age of 21 can symbolise one of two things. It is either the pinnacle – in ambition and achievement – of a sporting career, or a staging-post on the way to bigger things, and over the years plenty of riders in all three main disciplines have fallen into either category.
Whatever the future holds, those who wear that British flag will have demonstrated ability, focus, dedication and a tremendous work ethic. They will also have been riding the right horse. But what is the right horse for an ultra-ambitious teenager, and does it differ between eventing, dressage and showjumping?
Gill Watson trained the young rider eventing team for 30 years and has seen considerable changes in the type of horse required over that time.
“The young rider Europeans used to be at what is now CCI4*-L level and their big trial was Bramham, and the juniors were at CCI3*-L level and did Windsor,” she says.
Now young riders compete at CCI3*-L level and juniors at CCI2*-L.
“But the technicality is greater than it was. I’ve seen all shapes and sizes of horses do well, but you need a genuine horse with adequate – not necessarily extreme – paces. They have got to have jumping ability and be careful, and bold enough across country.
“Soundness has always been very important, but possibly the crucial thing is temperament. They must have a willingness to oblige.”
Gill, in common with all the trainers H&H spoke to, emphasised that the key element is in the rider building a partnership with their horse.
Esta historia es de la edición May 21, 2020 de Horse & Hound.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 21, 2020 de Horse & Hound.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Super subs
Can a huntsman take on a different pack of hounds for a day and produce good sport? It can indeed happen,as Andrew Sallis explains
Welsh star is on the dot
A delightful Welsh section A leadrein contender is the best of a super-strong novice supreme on his winter championships debut
Edwards' remarkable home-soil hat-trick
The Welsh wonder Mark Edwards dazzles on home soil and a syndicate horse does his owners proud
The King retains his crown
Global superstar King Edward joins the ranks of such legends as Milton and Shutterfly as a back-to-back World Cup winner
Kittel takes thriller
Patrik Kittel becomes the second Swedish rider to win a World Cup Final, while the British favourite is eliminated
The start of something special
Royal Windsor is often a show horse's first experience of an electric atmosphere. Alex Robinson learns how the pros use the prestigious fixture to see if an animal has what it takes for the big league
Sore jaws
True pathology of the temporomandibular joint is an uncommon cause of a number of relatively common signs. Robyn Graham MRCVS explains how the problem is identified and treated
Safari guide
Natalie McComb owns Nile Horseback Safaris, leading expeditions through the Ugandan wilderness
Access all areas Tim and Jonelle Price
New Zealand's premier eventing couple are in their second season based at the impressive Chedington Estate. Pippa Roome finds out how they work together and their plans for this Olympic year
Running at a loss, even if you win
Jodie Hall McAteer weighs up the pros and cons of jumping abroad