Horse_amp_amp_Hound__06_February_2018

EXTRAORDINARY AMATEURS
Cora Kwiatkowski and dressage horse Troy
Sharon Polding gets up at the crack of dawn to ride her event horse, Findonfirecracker
work because I know I only have so much time.
Switching off completely [with horses] is good
for your brain; the effects of fresh air and sport
are well documented.”
Lauren Innes admits that she only works
to afford her horses — advanced eventer
Monarchs Larko and promising eight-year-old
Fision M.
“I put off being an adult for so long, but
I needed some real income to have the right
training and support,” says Lauren, who
recently started as a trainee auditor at KPMG
in Reading. “I’m still feeling my way, but I hope
to make it work. This will be a key season.”
Lauren, who is also studying for
accountancy exams, plans to be on the gallops
in summer before she starts work at 9am. It
helps that her horses are based at home.
“Skipping them out at 10pm makes
morning mucking-out easier,” she explains.
“I save time with rubber matting and autowaterers,
and cereal bars that I eat in the
car for breakfast.”
Day-to-day management is one thing, but
how easy is it for an amateur to switch into
competition mode?
“Once I’m at a show, it’s all I’m thinking
about,” says Claudia Rees, who is jumping
1.35m tracks with Renkum Knopfler when
not working as operations director at stem
cell company Cells4Life. “But showjumping
against professionals who ride a lot of horses
every day can be difficult. When I start again
after a winter break, I’ll feel a bit more rusty
than I did in October.”
Despite a lot of juggling, Claudia values all
aspects of her busy life.
“I never wanted to turn pro and was always
keen to have a job,” she says. “Doing horses
full-time is a different type of hard work,
but I enjoy the more intellectually rigorous
side of things.
“Time management is key — and being
prepared to get up early,” adds Claudia, who
is also bringing Ashbank Arabella through
Foxhunters. “At first, I paid someone to
do the yard so that I could have a lie-in, but
I couldn’t justify the cost. Now I set the alarm
and get on with it.” H&H
‘I’m knackered most of the time,’ says
Sharon. ‘Horses are how I de-stress’
RALLYING SUPPORT
GOING it alone can be tough. Two years ago,
Emily Green set up a networking group of
like-minded horsey friends.
“I’d met a few girls through groups
such as the London Riding Club and
#twittereventing — lawyers, consultants and
accountants who were working in the City
and competing,” she says. “We’d get together
occasionally to discuss how ridiculously
busy our lifestyles were. Now there are
50 or 60 in the group and we meet for drinks
once a month.
“It’s amazing to learn from these
girls — many of whom have been through
Pony Club, unlike me — and reassuring to
have someone to text the night before if
I have a big deadline and can’t do the horses.
We synchronise competitions and discuss
issues that often arise when you move
somewhere new: a nice yard, someone
to train with and the best vets or equine
dentists. It’s a massive source of support.”
‘Paying for the horses
and planning the next
competition is what
motivates me,’ says
Emily Green
Picture by Lucy Merrell
34 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018