“You’ll be wanting to know what I had for breakfast next!”
A fun interview with our committee members to find out some cheeky details about them.
CHRIS KNELLER, vice chair of the Riding Club.
Q- How long have you been riding?
A- Too long! I refuse to tell you because then you’ll know my age! Ok ok 60yrs.
Q- When did you join ESRC?
A- 1978…somewhere around there. With my fabulous mare Colleen.
Q- Who inspires you in the equine world?
A- Nobody really. Maybe Lucinda Prior-Palmer (Lucinda Green today)
Q- What’s your favourite horse discipline?
A- Cross Country when my husband allows me to do it.
Q- If you could own any horse past or present who would it be?
A- Stroller. He was a 14.2 jumping pony who competed against everyone and always won at Hickstead.
Q- What’s your silliest horse related injury?
A- Leaning over to put a cup on a post in Gymkhana games and falling out the side door and landing on my hip in a soft ménage breaking it.
Q- TB or Cob?
A- Cob definitely
Q- HOYS or Olympia?
A- Olympia
Q- Mare or Gelding?
A- Mare every time! All my best horses were mares. If you get the right one they’ll do anything for you.
Q- What’s your horsey pet hate?
A- I could name a million…leaving string lying about and not putting muck on the top of the muck heap! Dumping your barrow at the bottom and not chucking your muck up-that drives me insane!
Thanks Chris.
A- Too long! I refuse to tell you because then you’ll know my age! Ok ok 60yrs.
Q- When did you join ESRC?
A- 1978…somewhere around there. With my fabulous mare Colleen.
Q- Who inspires you in the equine world?
A- Nobody really. Maybe Lucinda Prior-Palmer (Lucinda Green today)
Q- What’s your favourite horse discipline?
A- Cross Country when my husband allows me to do it.
Q- If you could own any horse past or present who would it be?
A- Stroller. He was a 14.2 jumping pony who competed against everyone and always won at Hickstead.
Q- What’s your silliest horse related injury?
A- Leaning over to put a cup on a post in Gymkhana games and falling out the side door and landing on my hip in a soft ménage breaking it.
Q- TB or Cob?
A- Cob definitely
Q- HOYS or Olympia?
A- Olympia
Q- Mare or Gelding?
A- Mare every time! All my best horses were mares. If you get the right one they’ll do anything for you.
Q- What’s your horsey pet hate?
A- I could name a million…leaving string lying about and not putting muck on the top of the muck heap! Dumping your barrow at the bottom and not chucking your muck up-that drives me insane!
Thanks Chris.
BEV HIGGS, ex-chair of the Riding Club.
Q- How long have you been riding?
A- 56yrs!!
Q- When did you join ESRC?
A- 1995…I think?!
Q- Who inspires you in the equine world?
A- Liz Taylor in the film National Velvet.
Q- What’s your favourite horse discipline?
A- Riding through the countryside with panoramic views!
Q- If you could own any horse past or present who would it be?
A- My late palomino Zafaran.
Q- What’s your silliest horse related injury?
A- Falling from my horse Fly in canter. I broke my right wrist and pulled my left shoulder so I couldn’t even get my phone out of my pocket to phone for help!
Q- TB or Cob?
A- Thoroughbred
Q- Hoys or Olympia?
A- Olympia, although now it’s at Excel in London
Q- Mare or Gelding?
A- Gelding, although I have both!
Q- What’s your horsey pet hate?
A- Filling hay nets!
Thanks Bev.
A- 56yrs!!
Q- When did you join ESRC?
A- 1995…I think?!
Q- Who inspires you in the equine world?
A- Liz Taylor in the film National Velvet.
Q- What’s your favourite horse discipline?
A- Riding through the countryside with panoramic views!
Q- If you could own any horse past or present who would it be?
A- My late palomino Zafaran.
Q- What’s your silliest horse related injury?
A- Falling from my horse Fly in canter. I broke my right wrist and pulled my left shoulder so I couldn’t even get my phone out of my pocket to phone for help!
Q- TB or Cob?
A- Thoroughbred
Q- Hoys or Olympia?
A- Olympia, although now it’s at Excel in London
Q- Mare or Gelding?
A- Gelding, although I have both!
Q- What’s your horsey pet hate?
A- Filling hay nets!
Thanks Bev.
PATSY PYKE, Chair of the Riding Club.
Q- How long have you been riding?
A- Since I was 2months old.
Q- When did you join ESRC?
A- 5 years ago.
Q- Who inspires you in the equine world?
A- My parents. They are both great all round horse people and super riders.
Q- What’s your favourite horse discipline?
A- Show Jumping, but a quarter of the height to 20yrs ago!
Q- If you could own any horse past or present who would it be?
A- Splodgers…my star!
Q- What’s your silliest horse related injury?
A- Falling off in a bareback Gretna Green Gymkhana competition. The rider behind me pushed me forward up my ponies neck, and I could only get off by sliding down the ponies neck when she dived down to eat some grass! I trapped a nerve in my buttocks when I landed on my friends foot (who also fell off with me!) It was very painful and it took ages to ride again without wincing.
Q- TB or Cob?
A- Silly question-Thoroughbred of course!
Q- Hoys or Olympia?
A- The coach has never broken down going to Hoys!
Q- Mare or Gelding?
A- Gelding.
Q- What’s your horsey pet hate?
A- People who put their riding crop in their boots!
Thanks Patsy.
A- Since I was 2months old.
Q- When did you join ESRC?
A- 5 years ago.
Q- Who inspires you in the equine world?
A- My parents. They are both great all round horse people and super riders.
Q- What’s your favourite horse discipline?
A- Show Jumping, but a quarter of the height to 20yrs ago!
Q- If you could own any horse past or present who would it be?
A- Splodgers…my star!
Q- What’s your silliest horse related injury?
A- Falling off in a bareback Gretna Green Gymkhana competition. The rider behind me pushed me forward up my ponies neck, and I could only get off by sliding down the ponies neck when she dived down to eat some grass! I trapped a nerve in my buttocks when I landed on my friends foot (who also fell off with me!) It was very painful and it took ages to ride again without wincing.
Q- TB or Cob?
A- Silly question-Thoroughbred of course!
Q- Hoys or Olympia?
A- The coach has never broken down going to Hoys!
Q- Mare or Gelding?
A- Gelding.
Q- What’s your horsey pet hate?
A- People who put their riding crop in their boots!
Thanks Patsy.
RACHEAL KNELLER, SJ team manager.
Q- How long have you been riding?
A- Since I could walk! My mom used to pick me up from nursery on her pony Pepper. I’d get straight off the rocking horse onto a real one!
Q- When did you join ESRC?
A- I was a junior member and then rejoined in 2015 after taking time away to concentrate on my career as a jockey.
Q- Who inspires you in the equine world?
A- I have a few. Mark King, Pippa Funnel, Andrew Nicholson & William Fox-Pitt were always plastered all over my bedroom walls, but my mom is my main hero. She is a great horse woman and has the patience of a saint.
Q- What’s your favourite horse discipline?
A- Eventing, or XC in particular.
Q- If you could own any horse past or present who would it be?
A- Nereo. He made Badminton look like a 60cm round of show jumps! Superstar.
Q- What’s your silliest horse related injury?
A- My Shetland pony ran off with me when I was 6 and slammed on at a bin along the railway line to eat the grass. I fell over his head and landed in the bin next to him. He was a nightmare!
Q- TB or Cob?
A- A bit of both would be the perfect match!
Q- HOYS or Olympia?
A- Olympia always gets me in the Xmas spirit.
Q- Mare or Gelding?
A- I have had both and loved both so I’m not really fussed. If you can deal with a mare’s occasional attitude-they try their hearts out for you.
Q- What’s your horsey pet hate?
A- When people blame their horse or pony for their bad riding. And untidy horses-long manes, tails on the floor, mud on their heads when hacking (I’m a tidy freak!)
Thanks Rach.
A- Since I could walk! My mom used to pick me up from nursery on her pony Pepper. I’d get straight off the rocking horse onto a real one!
Q- When did you join ESRC?
A- I was a junior member and then rejoined in 2015 after taking time away to concentrate on my career as a jockey.
Q- Who inspires you in the equine world?
A- I have a few. Mark King, Pippa Funnel, Andrew Nicholson & William Fox-Pitt were always plastered all over my bedroom walls, but my mom is my main hero. She is a great horse woman and has the patience of a saint.
Q- What’s your favourite horse discipline?
A- Eventing, or XC in particular.
Q- If you could own any horse past or present who would it be?
A- Nereo. He made Badminton look like a 60cm round of show jumps! Superstar.
Q- What’s your silliest horse related injury?
A- My Shetland pony ran off with me when I was 6 and slammed on at a bin along the railway line to eat the grass. I fell over his head and landed in the bin next to him. He was a nightmare!
Q- TB or Cob?
A- A bit of both would be the perfect match!
Q- HOYS or Olympia?
A- Olympia always gets me in the Xmas spirit.
Q- Mare or Gelding?
A- I have had both and loved both so I’m not really fussed. If you can deal with a mare’s occasional attitude-they try their hearts out for you.
Q- What’s your horsey pet hate?
A- When people blame their horse or pony for their bad riding. And untidy horses-long manes, tails on the floor, mud on their heads when hacking (I’m a tidy freak!)
Thanks Rach.
JULIET ESP, Dressage League organiser.
Q- How long have you been riding?
A- since I was age 6!
Q- When did you join ESRC?
A- Last year.
Q- Who inspires you in the equine world?
A- Richard Maxwell.
Q- What’s your favourite horse discipline?
A- Dressage.
Q- If you could own any horse past or present who would it be?
A- Valegro!
Q- What’s your silliest horse related injury?
A- Can’t think of one of the top of my head.
Q- TB or Cob?
A- Love them both but my new favourite is Andalusian x Irish Draught.
Q- HOYS or Olympia?
A- Hoys
Q- Mare or Gelding?
A- I’v always had geldings but I decided I need to be a bit more open minded when looking, and I now have a mare who I love!
Q- What’s your horsey pet hate?
A- Horses and riders not wearing high viz on the road!
Thanks Juliet.
A- since I was age 6!
Q- When did you join ESRC?
A- Last year.
Q- Who inspires you in the equine world?
A- Richard Maxwell.
Q- What’s your favourite horse discipline?
A- Dressage.
Q- If you could own any horse past or present who would it be?
A- Valegro!
Q- What’s your silliest horse related injury?
A- Can’t think of one of the top of my head.
Q- TB or Cob?
A- Love them both but my new favourite is Andalusian x Irish Draught.
Q- HOYS or Olympia?
A- Hoys
Q- Mare or Gelding?
A- I’v always had geldings but I decided I need to be a bit more open minded when looking, and I now have a mare who I love!
Q- What’s your horsey pet hate?
A- Horses and riders not wearing high viz on the road!
Thanks Juliet.
JENNY MILLMAN, Finances & Eventing Team Manager.
Q- How long have you been riding?
A- I started having riding lessons when I was 7 years old after hassling my non horsey parents!
Q- When did you join ESRC?
A- Probably about 25 years ago to attend lessons with my homebred mare Maggie.
Q- Who inspires you in the equine world?
A- The likes of Mark Todd who compete at top level in more than one discipline i.e. Eventing and SJ, plus now training racehorses.
Q- What’s your favourite horse discipline?
A- I like to do a bit of everything: Eventing, Dressage and SJ….although Showing bores me!
Q- If you could own any horse past or present who would it be?
A- I’m happy with all the horses I’ve been lucky enough to own or ride and have fun on. I don’t covert any others.
Q- What’s your silliest horse related injury?
A- A rope burn when I forgot my gloves and hung on for longer than was wise. The silly thing is, I’ve done it more than once!
Q- TB or Cob?
A- Either.
Q- HOYS or Olympia?
A- Olympia, for the fun Christmas atmosphere.
Q- Mare or Gelding?
A- Definitely a mare.
Q- What’s your horsey pet hate?
A- Clipping! (the hair gets everywhere!)
Thanks Jenny.
A- I started having riding lessons when I was 7 years old after hassling my non horsey parents!
Q- When did you join ESRC?
A- Probably about 25 years ago to attend lessons with my homebred mare Maggie.
Q- Who inspires you in the equine world?
A- The likes of Mark Todd who compete at top level in more than one discipline i.e. Eventing and SJ, plus now training racehorses.
Q- What’s your favourite horse discipline?
A- I like to do a bit of everything: Eventing, Dressage and SJ….although Showing bores me!
Q- If you could own any horse past or present who would it be?
A- I’m happy with all the horses I’ve been lucky enough to own or ride and have fun on. I don’t covert any others.
Q- What’s your silliest horse related injury?
A- A rope burn when I forgot my gloves and hung on for longer than was wise. The silly thing is, I’ve done it more than once!
Q- TB or Cob?
A- Either.
Q- HOYS or Olympia?
A- Olympia, for the fun Christmas atmosphere.
Q- Mare or Gelding?
A- Definitely a mare.
Q- What’s your horsey pet hate?
A- Clipping! (the hair gets everywhere!)
Thanks Jenny.
