Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2007/January 2008 | Page 70

life

EQUESTRIAN

Focus on Olympia
"She's not what you would call 'easy'. She's
sharp and she has a difficult temperament,"
say's Britain's top showjumper Tim Stockdale
about his new grey mare Lou Lou."

"I'm collecting greys at the
moment," says showjumper
Tim Stockdale. He's just
picked up a new international
ride in the shape of another
grey mare, Lou Lou, the
former ride of Ireland's
Jessica Kurten, who was one
of the judges on Only Fools
on Horses, the celebrity show
jumping programme put
together by Tim last year.
"I got Lou Lou in mid June
and the first international I
did with her was in Belfast
at the end of October, where
she won a big class," explains
Tim. Amlin, who is one of
the largest bloodstock agents
in the world and also one
of Tim's associate sponsors,
owns the horse and Tim went
to Germany to collect her.
"It was when I arrived in
Germany that I realised how
special she is," he says, but
adds that the new grey is not
straight forward. Talented
yes, but tricky with it. "She's
not what you would call 'easy'.
She's sharp and she has a
difficult temperament. She's
hot to ride, so we turn her out
a lot to keep her calm, and
relax her. We shan't work her
too much at home, we just
want to keep her chilled out."
So now Tim's in a dilemma
and what a nice one to be

70

in. Which team of horses
should he select to take to the
Olympia International show
in London in December? "I've
got a nice little choice," he
laughs. First in line is his
number one ride, Fresh Direct
Corlato, who's currently
enjoying a bit of a rest
after her trip to Calgary in
Canada and countless other
internationals this season.
She's still in work, but
we're not taking her to any
shows until Olympia," Tim
explains. "We're just working
her on the flat to maintain her
fitness levels. It's important
to keep her enthusiastic,

so we're not jumping at the
moment, we're just keeping
her nice and loose."
Then there's Animation and
Roland - Jack to his friends at
home. "Animation was really
number two to Corlato, but
now there's Lou Lou. I've had
Jack since he was a four year
old and he's really improved.
It's a difficult choice. I've
actually got about five or
six horses to choose from,
but it's getting the balance
right, which is critical."
After Christmas, Tim and
his family will go to Les Arcs
in France for a week's skiing.
"We love it," says Tim. "My

brother comes with us. We
stay in a chalet and it's superb.
We have an early tea with the
kids, and then open a bottle of
wine and watch a DVD. It's
the perfect way to relax." And
Tim needs to relax. "He's been
away for 34 days out of the
last 37," says his wife Laura.
But for now, thoughts of
skiing are put aside as Tim and
his team focus on Olympia,
the last major event this year.
"It's great to have options,"
he says. "You need to be in
a position of strength and
get everything peaked at the
right time for Olympia."

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