Equestrian Life September 2017 Issue

feature
This
Girl
is on
FIRE
EL Talks to Event
Rider Imogen Murray
Photos by Tim Wilkinson
A
tenth British Eventing
season doesn’t sound like a
particularly long Eventing
career in comparison to
some, but when the athlete in question
is only just 24-years-old, suddenly
it seems an incredible feat. With a
Nations Cup Silver medal and two
CCI**** placings under her belt,
Imogen Murray has had an incredible
career, and it really has only just
begun.
As a former working and show hunter
pony rider, Imogen had a taste of the
equestrian spotlight at a young age,
competing at The Royal International
Horse Show and The Horse Of The
Year Show on a regular basis. The
early days of showing created the team
name – Murray Show Team, as Imogen
competed alongside older brother Ben
Murray. With the showing days long
behind them the name changed to MS
Team Eventing, “which some would
like to think stands for ‘Munchkin
Sized Team’ as neither Mum or I are
very tall” adds Imogen.
It was 10 years ago, in 2007, at just
13-years-old when Imogen took to
the eventing scene with the 14.2hh
Domingo mare Juno II. It was with
this little horse that Imogen went from
Intro (now BE90) to Pony Trials and
Pony**(CCI) within the space of a year.
It didn’t take Imogen long to realise
this was the career she wanted to
follow. The MS Team soon became
the family business in 2010, as Imogen
left school to embark on her eventing
journey. Junior and Young Rider
selections swiftly followed but a series
of unfortunate events ruled her out
contention.
The big break came in 2014, as Imogen
and Wiseguy V competed at the
CCI**** Land Rover Burghley Horse
Trials. Not only did the young pair
complete their first CCI****, but they
were yet again the youngest in the
field. 2015 and 2016 also saw much
success for the MS Team, but 2017
has certainly been a year to remember
thus far.
2017 brought with it the Mitsubishi
Motors Badminton Horse Trials,
Blenheim Palace TOMGAR JESS
and a double clear for Ivar Gooden,
culminating in a 21st place finish and
finishing as the Best Under 25 Rider.
“The best feeling this year has been
knowing that I produced Charles (Ivar
Gooden) from a 4-year-old. It is that
trust and special bond between us
that enabled him to give me his all”
commented Imogen. Ivar Gooden,
didn’t always live up to his name and
was described by many as not an easy
character as a young horse, but the
perseverance certainly seems to have
paid off. “Even mine and Charles’
incredibly supportive owners, Aivar
and Terry Ward, questioned my sanity
in persevering at times but I think
we’re all very glad that I did! He’s
always been exceptionally talented
and he’s a true competitor that shines
on the big occasions. He just wants to
win!”
And shine he did in France recently.
Receiving her first British Team call up,
Imogen and Ivar Gooden recently made
the journey to Le Pin Au Haras, France,
20 September 2017 Equestrian Life