‘I worshipped the ground she walked on'

It’s easy to feel isolated in the horseworld, and many pros turn to a mentor for guidance. Kate Johnson speaks to those who have reaped the benefits

- Kate Johnson

ALICE PLUNKETT, racing broadcaster and the only woman to have ridden around Badminton and the Grand National, recalls a moment at the races that summed up the effect of her mentor.

“Clare Balding said to me, ‘Why are you still riding? You should be totally focused now on the broadcasting as there are some great opportunities for you.’ Months later I met her straight after I finished my cross-country round at Badminton and was absolutely buzzing and declared, ‘That is why I am still riding!’ Simon made it possible for me to be riding at that level”.

That was Simon Lawrance, also master of the Heythrop hunt, counsellor for the Samaritans and trainer for event riders. Alice was in her late twenties, knew how easy it is for riders to get “bogged down in the minutiae of managing horses”, and realised she needed help to compete at the highest level. So she began working with Simon, keeping three top horses with him.

“He life-coached me, and supported me psychologically, and with the management of the horses – they looked and felt incredible – and made it possible for me to expand my broadcasting career and work towards the big three events: Badminton, Burghley and Bramham.”

Why did it work so well?

“Simon has a clear way of looking at things, and taught me about playing to my strengths – I could muck out five horses but I can also talk about horse racing, so better to develop that side of it – and covering my weaknesses,” Alice says.