Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2018 | Page 97

Equestrian

Eventing yard in Tipperary . In her early 20s , Pip qualified for Horse of the Year Show with the daughter of Blackbridge Wild Poppy – Blackbridge Sweet Pea - who qualified in the Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Pony category . She qualified for Horse of the Year again in 2006 , on Nick Williams ’ New Forest Stallion , Perrone Palaver and was thrilled to be placed 8th in the Show final . Nowadays , Pip has a couple of her own horses that she shows , as well as breaking in native mountain and moorland ones for other owners . She can have as many as seven horses at a time for breaking – and as if that weren ’ t enough to keep her busy , last year she also launched her own horse transporting business that takes her off all over the UK , from Sussex to Wales and Shropshire to the Channel Islands .
Willoway Ice Prince at the Royal International Horse
Show , Hickstead
The adorable Carrot
But she will always make time
for the equine love of her life
– a seven year-old pony that
she bought as a three year-old ,
Willoway Ice Prince .
“ He is my own and I absolutely
adore him ” she says . “ In fact I don ’ t
think I ’ ve ever had a horse that I
love so much .”
So how does the Calbournebased
As well as being a great pet and
mum of two sons manage
characterful companion , Carrot
to fit it all in ?
( as he ’ s known in the stable for his
She pays tribute to her mum
orangey hue ) has also proved a
Ann , who she credits as being
great performer .
an invaluable backbone to the
Last year Pip rode him to success
business : “ Poor mum is like my
in the Mountain and Moorland
unpaid staff – she ’ s amazing , and
Working Hunter Pony 143cm
does everything from cooking for
section , at the Royal International
us to mucking out .”
Horse Show , Hickstead .
Pip also credits her other half ,
She also takes him Eventing , and
Matthew , who she says , “ tends
he did his first BE90 Open last year
to do a lot of the running of the
and came in fourth at Munstead ,
home , so that I don ’ t have to ”, and
qualifying him for a regional final .
the continuing help from Jenny
“ I ’ m hoping to do more of that ”
Hillyard .
says Pip , “ and would love to qualify
“ It ’ s all a team effort and I count
Sarah riding Harley Brown at Keysoe 2015 for Badminton in 2019 ”. myself really lucky to have these
“ Some can be more difficult to crack than others , but it ’ s a case of learning how to get into their brain and discover how to get the best out of them .”
people around me ” she says . Pip is also now enjoying nurturing a young protégé , 12 year-old Georgia Ellsworth , who has begun riding a couple of the ponies Pip has in for breaking . There are also plans for Georgia to ride a grey Connemara show pony called King Bob , for owners Pip and her mother , at the South of England Show in June and perhaps also in Horse of the Year qualifiers . “ It ’ s really nice to be mentoring a youngster ” says Pip . But then , for her , nurturing raw young talent has become pretty much a way of life . www . visitilife . com 97