What is your earliest equestrian memory?

My earliest equestrian memory comes from when I was ten years old, and I went to my first show at the Parklands Equestrian Centre. I was competing in a clear round class, and each round cost my father 50p – I think he ended up spending £20 for me to finally get a clear round rosette because my pony kept stopping and I kept on falling off!

What is the proudest moment of your career so far- either in riding, equestrian or breeding?

I have been fortunate to have had some amazing moments in my career thus far. In terms of my riding career, I have a few proudest moments, including winning the Young Riders class at the Horse of the Year Show in 1991 and being part of the Young Rider Team that won gold at the 1992 European Championships in San Remo on Welham.

As an owner, Welham was an amazing horse, after my career with him he went on to compete with John Whitaker and won so many classes. His biggest achievement was winning the Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen. Then as a breeder, it definitely has to be breeding Argento.

How did you get into the breeding side of the sport?

When John [Whitaker] was riding Welham, we were once down at Nick Skeleton’s yard and he suggested that I should get a broodmare and start producing more young horses. I thought this was a great idea, but I did not really act upon the idea until about two-months later when John asked me to go and collect something for his cattle from a local farmer, and I ended up coming back with a two-year-old mare, named Flora May. We bred from her aged three, before we broke her in and it all really started from there. After her first foal we jumped her for a little while before she had her second foal – which ended up being Argento.

Did anyone mentor you on how to breed successfully?

I never really had a mentor – I go mainly off instinct and gut feeling. But now, I spend more time looking at the pedigree of the horses than I used to when I first started.

Is there anything you look for specifically in your mares and sires to ensure you breed the best possible progeny?

Definitely! Actually, I have carried on breeding with the progeny of the first broodmare that I had as she was a great horse. To me she had everything I look for and all of the horses that she has bred have been very correct and that is very important to me. For a mare, I think that it is very important to have a good correct stamp, a good temperament and to be a ‘nice person’. Of course, you also want them to move nicely and jump well. For the stallion, I try to match them up to the mare, for example if the scope needs more scope, then I would choose a scopey stallion. They also need good conformation and temperament.

What are the three fundamental points to breeding a top show jumping?

Firstly, the mare and stallion must have correct conformation. Then, I think that the stallion they must have a good jumping technique and be scopey, and lastly having a good attitude from each side. I wouldn’t want to breed from a horse that was tricky or has a bad temperament, I do not mind them being hot though.  

Has there been a time when you put some pairings together and you didn’t think would produce something special and they’ve ended up giving unexpected results?

When I put Flora May to foal with Arko, we definitely were not expecting to breed Argento. Arko, at the time, was a young stallion and Argento was one of his foals bred in England. I chose Arko because I saw him jumping with Nick [Skelton] when I was travelling around the shows with John and Welham, and I really liked him. Even though he was cheeky, he was a ‘nice person’ and had a huge amount of jump.

The partnership between horse and rider is so important – is that something you look for when you sell to new owners?

Definitely! Malcom Pyrah would say – I nearly vet the person buying my horse, as much as they would want to vet the horse. I do not sell many of my horses, but when I sold Argento to John, I already had a very good relationship with him and trusted him a lot. More recently I sold a horse called Arakan to the United States of America, and if I didn’t like the people, I probably would not have sold him. 

Are there any insights you could give the reader to a day in the life or your facilities?

It is very important that you have access to enough land – so that they [the horses] can live out and be horses – the foals should grow in a natural environment for as long as possible until you start breaking them in. I also think that it is very important to handle the foals correctly from when they are born. We start leading our foals from day one – they will have a headcollar on and are taught to lead in hand from the very first day.

I don’t breed many foals, so I can spend time with them and give them more attention than you could do in a big breeding yard and that is what I enjoy. I love the foals and looking after them. I think you if you are foaling them at them at home you must be committed to being there and watching them through the night – it only takes 10 minutes from something to go wrong. Everything can be alright one minute and then the next you need to be there for the mare and foal.

If you are planning to sell foals, how long do you tend to keep them for?

I have never sold any foals; I always produce them up to competition level. If you were to sell a foal you can sell when it’s on the mare and then around weaning time you would take the foal from there. As well as Show Jumpers, I have bred one horse that went up to intermediate eventing and others that have not been superstars but they have been nice horses.

How many horses do you breed in a normal year?

At one point we had two broodmares, but we now only have one, so we will only breed one foal this year. However, I am thinking that next year I may do an embryo transfer. I plan to keep one embryo and sell one embryo as a mare in foal with the embryo from Betty May [daughter of Flora May]. Betty May is full sister to Argento, and her first foal is by Big Star, this foal will be three next year and we are very excited about her. She is called Stellar; we have not loose jumped her but from seeing her around the field – I think she is one to watch.    

What is your ambition for breeding horses?

Well, I would say to breed a superstar – but I am very lucky that that has already happened. However, it would be lovely to breed another horse like Argento. They say that you only have one good horse in a lifetime, but I have been so lucky to have had Welham and Argento. I have achieved every Pony Club girl’s dream when I bred Argento. I would however love to breed a coloured horse out of Betty May if I found the right coloured stallion.

Do you have any aspirations away from breeding?

Recently I have started taking on a few clients on my yard that have competition horses. I coach and mentor them. I love being on their journeys and helping them achieve their goals and guiding the management of their horses. I have three main clients, one of which is Evie Toombes, the para-rider, she is such an inspiration and I love being part of her journey. My other two clients are Evie’s mother Caroline and Andrea Lloyd.   

How positive do you think the Rolex Grand Slam has been for the sport?

I think it’s very positive – it is something for the top show jumpers as well as the next generations to aim for. The prize money is incredible and to be able aim for the bonuses give the riders a real drive to succeed.  

Which of the four majors your favourite and why?

I have been incredibly fortunate, and I have been to all of the Majors. I think that they are all amazing shows, but I think that my favourite is Aachen. It has very special memories for me, with John and Welham winning the Grand Prix there in 1997 – it is like winning Wimbledon for tennis. I also love Spruce Meadows, it is such a unique show, especially where it is situated. The Southern Family are so welcoming, they make you feel like part of the family and they will go any lengths to help you out. They have improved it so much and the atmosphere is incredible.

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

My mother; she is my inspiration and has supported me through everything. She worked so hard to help me achieve what I did, and we were very lucky to find Welham together through Nick Saywell. She is amazing and will always have my back.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

I worked for Nick Saywell when I was doing well with Welham; and he told me remember your friends on the way up, because you may need them on the way down. Another piece of advice that I think is very valuable is you should always take advice because you should never stop learning.

What advice would you give a youngster wanting to get into the industry?

I think that you have to go into the industry with a good attitude and be willing to work hard and listen. I think that listening is so important, I lot of people come to me and they don’t listen – I find this very frustrating when you have to constantly tell people what to do. In addition, you have to be ambitious and be willing to work hard for your goals.

What are you goals for the rest of the year?

I’m going to CHI Geneva for the U25 class and then Mechelen in Belgium at the end of year and I am really looking forward to these shows!

What are your plans, dreams and ambitions for 2022?

I have some really lovely horses, but most of them are younger and so they do not have much experience. I was trying to build them up this year, so next year I would like start jumping bigger classes on them. My main aim is to go to the European Championships for Young Riders. This is the last year that I will be eligible to compete, and I would love to go with a strong team and have a chance to win a medal.

You’ve had a great career so far – what has been your proudest moment?

When I was 13-years-old, I won Individual bronze at the Pony European Championships, I was thrilled with this result as it was a big surprise to do so well there. However, I think my proudest moment was winning Team gold at the Junior European Championships in Fontainebleau. It was such a special team because we had all been friends for so long, so to win Team gold together was unbelievable. It is an experience I still think about to this day, and I think I will think about it for a very long time.

How did you deal with the pressure of being on the cusp of those achievements – how do you deal with pressure at such a young age?

I do not really get very nervous, so I don’t find dealing with the pressure too hard. In the moment, I don’t really feel the pressure, but after a big show has finished, I realise the pressure has gone and it is a relief. But the big moments are what we live for in our sport, and we are lucky to be able to compete in championships or Grands Prix, so I think the pressure is a privilege.

Who has inspired you the most throughout your career?

There are so many riders who have inspired me; however, I think the person who has inspired me the most is my father. I have everything to thank him for, he has given me countless opportunities and chances with my ponies and horses. What he built at home and how he has provided horses for me and my four brothers is incredible. Despite always being away at shows, he is also able to keep the stables and business running successfully at home. To be able to be successful in the sport as well as in business is very difficult, so I find this very inspiring and I hope one day I am able to do it myself.

You come from a show jumping dynasty – was there ever a thought that you and your brothers wouldn’t pursue careers in show jumping?

Our parents never really pushed us to have careers with horses. Growing up, we did a variety of sports, such as football, tennis and running. But we were with the horses every day; I think that we were born to do it. We love the horses and have the want to do it every day. I also love the relationships that you can build with the horses.

What keeps you motivated and hungry for success?

Watching the big shows and of course having my brothers and father there makes me highly motivated. These shows always have such special moments and atmospheres, and I would love to be able ride in the Majors one d. All I want to do is to work my hardest to be able to compete at the top level every week, as well as being able to have an incredible relationship and connection with my horses.

Is there a horse that you have had a particularly special relationship with?

When I was 16-years-old, I had a horse called jaimi van dorperheide. She was very special to me, as we bred her ourselves and she was one of the first horses I was able to compete in bigger classes with. She was extremely talented and very fast, but she also had an incredible character – she was so intelligent. We had such a great partnership together and she really was the horse that started everything for me.

Can you tell us a little bit about the horses that you have at the moment?

I have a great string of horses right now, many of them are younger but I have one older horse called Aqaba De Leau, who was third in a 3* class in Italy recently, and she has also jumped in some bigger classes this year. She is a great horse and she always tries her hardest to jump clear – I am very lucky to have her. I have a nine-year-old called Cap Du Marais, who we bought in the middle of the year. He doesn’t have too much experience, but he is now jumping in some bigger ranking classes, and I think he is one for the future. I also have two promising eight-year-olds who I think have a lot of potential.

I am very happy with the horses that I have now. I think they are all very talented and special, but they do need some more time to mature and get more experience. I think that next year is going to be very exciting.

How does it feel to have fans back the shows?

I love having the fans back, they make the sport even better. They create such an amazing atmosphere; it is really not the same without them there. I think that it motivates me to perform better, and some horses definitely love the atmosphere and will rise to the occasion. I prefer riding in front of a crowd, to hear the fans cheering is amazing.

Do you perform better when there is a crowd there?

I am a bit of a showman, so having a crowd at the shows motivates me to do better. I really like it when there is lots of noise and people.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

The best piece of advice I have been given is to never give up. Every rider will experience ups and downs, and this normal. I think you have to keep going and keep trying to improve and get better. You also need to keep believing and trusting in your system of training your horse and yourself, and I think it will work out in the end.

When it is all going well it is easy to be motivated, but it is also easy to be disappointed and struggle when things do not go so well. With horses you have to enjoy and love the moments when it does go well; they are animals, and anything can happen. I think this is the special part of our sport, the relationships and connections that we have with our horses. The horses are our friends, and when you have that connection, they will fight for you. It is incredible when everything comes together in one moment, and you have to remember to cherish those moments.

As a young rider, what does the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping mean to you?

The Rolex Grand Slam has the best shows in the world and I always love going to them to watch my brothers compete. It is my dream, one day, to compete in them myself. Every rider dreams of competing in them and everyone involved with horses wants to be part of it.

Who do you think the next Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping winner will be?

It is very hard to win, so it will take a very special rider. But I think that Ben Maher and Explosion W could win. They are so incredibly talented; their partnership is unbelievable and they have proved they can win on the biggest occasions.

Do you get competitive with your brothers?

Yes! We are very competitive with each other. My dad is actually the most competitive, though! He stopped riding for a while, but now is back competing in the same shows as us. He will tease us when he beats us or goes faster than us. We always want to beat each other, and this motivates us to be better. But we are also always there for each other and we really care for each other – we are really one big team. I learn so much from my brothers and my father through their experience, but of course if we are in the same class we want to beat each other.

How do you decide which horses go to which family member?

This can be tricky because there are five of us [four brothers and a father], but it is actually easier than people think. Often, we decide by who needs the horse and who the horse fits the best. But usually the horse finds the rider. We will also switch horses around between us. So far, we have managed this process very well and I hope it continues in the future.

Do you have any superstitions before you compete?

Not really; however, if a show goes well, I will keep the same tie until a show or class doesn’t go well – then it goes in the laundry. I don’t really have any lucky charms.

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping now includes a new initiative, entitled #MyMajorDream.

The campaign is aimed at anyone who has ever dreamed of taking the trophy at the CHI Geneva or Dutch Masters in front of a cheering crowd, becoming the reigning Pretender after a stunning clear round at the renowned Rolex Grand Prix at the CHIO Aachen, or roaming the Spruce Meadows track - one of the toughest outdoor courses on the planet - in search of victory. The #MyMajorDream campaign invites riders, grooms, horse owners, breeders and show jumping fans to take part, by sharing on social networks which Rolex Grand Slam Major they would dream of winning and why.

Participants must first make sure to subscribe to the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping feed on social networks, tag that account in your post or story and include the hashtag #MyMajorDream, all by Wednesday, December 1.

Winners will receive a Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping cap signed by one of our previous winners, such as Steve Guerdat, Scott Brash, Daniel Deusser or Martin Fuchs.