Equestrian Life April 2018 Issue

LEFT, FROM TOP: Their last 4 star event together - Caroline and Don
Giovanni at Burghley in 2007; Now owner and trainer, Caroline with Ros
Canter at Badminton 2017; Coaching potential members of the GB Junior
2018 team at Vale View in March. Photos courtesy of Frances McKim
I’ve learnt masses on the way, and every day I learn something new
that works for someone else. A big passion of mine is coaching
other coaches; however it’s not my favourite. My favourite is
definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, preparing riders for
championships. It’s brilliant fun.”
This year the plan is to take a group of six riders out to the Junior
European Championships to be in Fontainebleau, France. Four
riders will be in the team and two will compete as individuals. In
the past riders would be told after the first trot up whether they
would be representing GB as part of the team, or as an individual.
However, that strategy has now changed, with juniors being told
before they go out whether they are in the team – yet selectors
can still swap riders around until an hour after the last horse has
trotted up. “It’s harder to get a medal as an individual, so therefore
the riders all want to be in the team.”
WATCHING HER OWN HORSE COMPETE
Before becoming the Junior GB squad coach, Caroline had just
started to compete a five year old gelding she bought from Vere and
Clea Phillipps – All Star B – known as Alby at home. Picked entirely
upon scope and spring off the ground, Caroline rode him to novice
level before passing the ride to Ros Canter. “If I hadn’t got the
coach’s job I would have definitely carried on riding him – I had to
give the ride up because I’m a great believer that if you’re going
to do something, you have to do it really well. Had I made one
mistake on that horse in front of all of my junior riders, it wouldn’t
bother me too much, but I don’t think it would be professional.”
Alby and Ros have been a success story. Together they have worked
up through the levels, achieving fifth at the senior Europeans, fifth
at Badminton and fifth in the overall world rankings in 2017. “I
really value Ros as a friend and rider. She is unique, her attention
to detail is phenomenal. I am so proud of them; they have gone
from strength to strength.”
This year the pair is aiming for the World Games, in addition to
Badminton. “I’m not nervous because I have masses of confidence
in them. But the funny thing is they find it easy because they have
such a partnership; he has so much scope and she is very good at
riding him.”
WOULD SHE CHANGE ANYTHING?
“I think I am completely contented in what I do – if someone asked
me if I wanted to take a senior job, then I’d have to think very hard
about it because I love working with the children. It’s so satisfying,
because they’re so thirsty, and uneducated to a certain degree –
meaning you can really push knowledge into them. Nothing gets
better than seeing them have that ‘light bulb’ moment.”
With only two days off between January and March, Caroline’s
diary is completely booked-up as riders prepare for the coming
season. Caroline explains that she feels she has a really good
balance between her work and home life now, often taking a few
weeks off to go diving with her partner, Greg.
However, in comparison to others, her hours are crazy, and the
work phenomenal. Caroline’s ambition, drive and passion for the
sport is easy to see. It’s hard not to be the best when you work as
hard as she does.