Make the Most of It

Already it has been a crazy season for my team and I. As I travelled to the first Global Champions Tour of the year in Doha, Qatar I felt very much in a place where I could simply appreciate where I was and grateful for what I was doing with my wonderful horses. Repetition undoubtedly breeds confidence and as I headed into the start of my second season with the New York Empire team it was comforting to have clear expectations of the challenges ahead. Overall it was a fantastic show and winning the final speed class with Kimosa was the icing on the cake. It felt amazing to finally be on top of the roster having come close a few times and to be stood next to Malin Baryard and Henrik Von Eckerman on a podium was surreal.

 I was fortunate enough to be selected to represent Great Britain in the Under 25s classes at the beautiful Saut Hermes show in Paris with my teammate Claudia Moore. Although the team final did not quite go our way I was still delighted to finish out on top in the Grand Prix. I was optimistic when I loaded Kimosa up the two horse truck that I would have an enjoyable weekend jumping without the same level of intensity and pressure that necessarily accompanies the five star classes. Despite being in Paris completely on my own, I never felt so much support around me not only from the other riders but also their grooms and support teams who constantly checked in to see if I needed a helping hand. Both Joe Stockdale and Lily Attwood were also competing in Paris and were simply the best part-time grooms, trainers and cheerleaders heading in and out of the arena I could have wished for! Most of the time showjumping is an individual sport and there is a natural tendency for riders to get very much caught up in their own bubble. I was grateful to them for taking time out of their schedules to support me, it made the weekend so much more fun and truly made me appreciate the values of camaraderie and friendship.

Having returned back to Holland late on Sunday night there was a quick turnaround for the rest of the horses to head to Gorla Minore in Italy, whilst Kimosa enjoyed some well-deserved downtime at home. I had six horses there for two weeks of jumping, so it was a great opportunity to give my young horse experience, get to know some newer additions to the team whilst also being competitive in the three star classes. I love being busy at shows as you always feel productive when you’re constantly on the go! That was one thing I had to get used to these last few years. Normally you can only ride two or three horse at the big events which means there is a lot of time to kill between your rounds. One goal I made for myself this year was to maximise on this downtime to do one cultural thing in every place I visit. On paper I have travelled to many extraordinary places thanks to the lifestyle showjumping provides me. However it is a little embarrassing how little I actually explore the places I visit. Taking timeout to actually visit museums, wander around areas of natural beauty or try the local cuisine make the tedious chores of packing, unpacking, queuing, flying and driving more worthwhile! Between the two weeks of competition in Italy I travelled into Milan to visit the Duomo Cathedral and explored the enchanting towns by Lake Como. In Paris I did not have to travel so far to enjoy the views of the Eiffel Tower and in Doha I broadened my horizons by visiting the Museum of Islamic Art and developed a newfound appreciation for the work of fashion moguls in the ‘Forever Valentino Exhibition’. The ‘3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sport Museum’ was more my scene though.  Following an impressive collection of medals, torches and memorabilia were individual displays of sporting greats both past and present. I was surprised to find the late Danish dressage athlete Lis Hartel amidst it all. When women first won the right to compete in Grand Prix dressage in the 1952 Olympics, Hartel was there with her horse ‘Jubilee’. She won the silver medal and as she was lifted onto the podium the crowds became aware that she was indeed paralysed from her knees down due to polio. Despite her struggles she went on to win further Olympic medals and dedicated her life to promoting the healing power of horses, opening the first therapeutic riding centre in Europe. Her story of resilience, courage and compassion particularly inspired me and had I not made the effort to venture into the city that afternoon, I would not have even known she existed!

At the time of writing I have returned home to visit my family and friends over the Easter break. I finally got to meet our new rescue dog Dinky and even found time to visit the ‘David Hockney Exhibition’ in ‘Lightroom London’ to keep my cultural antics in momentum! Whilst enjoying the downtime it was a pleasant surprise to see that I am currently ranked 7th on the latest ranking list for Great Britain. This means that for the first time in my career I am writing this column as the UK’s leading lady rider. It has been quite the journey these last six years since I first wrote in these pages and I would like to thank those of you who read my column for your support through it all. In order to succeed on a grand scale you have to be willing to fail on a grand scale. As I have reached this milestone in my career it might appear as though it has all been plain-sailing, particularly in an age of curated perfection with Instagram photos and TikTok reels showing me soaring high over jumps taller than I am... I can assure you this has not always been the case and there have been plenty of days where this point felt eons away. These last few months I have come to realise that life is all about finding the balance between making things happen, yet also letting things happen. Just as it is important to let my horses ‘just be horses’ it is also beneficial to make space for me to be everything I am beyond just a showjumper; a sister, a friend, a granddaughter and a coffee fuelled yoga enthusiast to name but a few. Nevertheless with Windsor the next big one on the calendar I am very much looking forwards to being back on home soil, doing what I love most at the highest level again soon!

All the best,

Jodie x