Introduce
yourself
I am a kid who grew up on a farm in
the Australian countryside who just loves horses and riding. I am lucky to be
able to do for a living what I enjoy most – riding horses. In 39 years of
international competition the horses have taken me around the world to the most
outstanding places and I have been fortunate to meet the most wonderful people.
Where are
you based? Tell us a little about your yard location and facilities.
I’m based at Somerby Stables,
Somerby in Leicestershire. I run my own training facility with the capacity for
up to 28 horses – some of them are my competition horses and some of them are
ridden by students who are training with me. We are lucky to have fantastic
facilities, including indoor and outdoor arenas.
What is
your main competition discipline and at which level(s) are you involved?
Eventing, at Top International
Level and I’ve competed at seven Olympic Games.
Tell us a
little about your top horses
Rutherglen is a fantastic
athlete and at the same time one of my best friends. I bought him as a 4 year
old stallion in Germany, so we have come a long way together and got to know
one another very well. Within my team of horses he is the absolute
perfectionist; he loves to be out and busy and wants to do everything right. He
is a real overachiever and at the same time a very sensitive character. He is a
‘people´s person‘ –very observant, loves attention, is a very kind personality
and enjoys his competitions. Just a real
pleasure to have around!
The Blue Frontier joined the Hoy Team in March 2015, coming from World Champion Sandra
Auffarth´s yard in Ganderkesee, Germany.
Blue is a real character and a wonderful horse and I since starting to work with him I have grown very fond of him! His ability to move and jump is enormous and after getting to know one another, we can´t wait to get out there and compete!
Blue is a real character and a wonderful horse and I since starting to work with him I have grown very fond of him! His ability to move and jump is enormous and after getting to know one another, we can´t wait to get out there and compete!
Cheeky Calimbo is Cheeky
by name and by nature. He has been with me since 2009 and I am convinced he can
read and write! He is one of the most extraordinary and talented horses I have
ever ridden, a huge character, enormously intelligent and ‘secret favourite‘ of
my girlfriend. Although one of the smallest horses on the yard, he is the most
dominant in a very clever way – and clearly
‘The Boss‘ at Somerby Stables.
When I saw Composer for the first time at the Holsteiner
Elite auction in Germany in 2008 he immediately caught my eye - he is such a
beautiful and elegant tall horse with outstanding movements and a jaw-dropping
scope in his jump. Although one of the tallest horses on the yard he is also
one of the shy characters – but a true competitor. He is enormously talented so
has found it easy to come up through the grades – I believe he is going to be a
‘big time‘ horse and I am very much looking forward to this season with him!
What have
been the highlights of the current season so far?
They are still to come, hopefully!
What other
major successes have you enjoyed in your equine career to date?
Three Olympic Team Gold Medals, one
Olympic Individual Silver Medal and wins of CCI4*s at Burghley, Badminton,
Kentucky & Luhmühlen
With whom do
you train regularly?
Gareth Hughes & Beatrice
Bürchler-Keller (former Olympic Judge) in the Dressage and Ros Morgan in the
Showjumping
Which three
tasks do you carry out EVERY day on the yard?
Briefing for the day with my team,
checking all my horses’ legs and entering all details of the training of the
horses into a diary
How do your
horses benefit from the use of ArcEquine’s microcurrent technology and why you
feel it is an important element in your success?
“If you are standing still – you are moving
backwards. I have been competing at international level for 39 years and
continually strive to improve not only the horses’ training but all daily
measurements around the management of my horses. They are top athletes and it
is imperative to me that no stone is left unturned to support their health and
wellbeing. Since experiencing positive results during a trial period, all of
the horses in my care receive treatments with ArcEquine – whether it is in a
period of recovery after hard work, coming back from an injury or just to
maintain their wellbeing. I believe in the product and am proud to stand for it
as an Ambassador.”
What
happens next?
The World Equestrian Games (WEG) in
2018 and theTokyo Olympics in 2020.
What is
your favourite meal?
Grilled seabass and salad
What are your
most worn items of clothing?
Jeans
Snow or
beach holiday?
Snow
Cats or Dogs?
And finally
– Tea or Coffee?
Coffee
