Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2010 | Page 108

the rider

Island Life - October/November 2010

Photos: Looks aren't everything: Getting
the dynamics right in the team is one
aspect of groom Matt's job

and expect them to perform,” he
explains. “It’s a very dynamic discipline
– there’s so much going on. The
leader, particularly, needs to know the
difference between the driver pulling
the rein and the back horse nodding its
head. As well as matching stride and
heights as far as possible you have to
think about temperament too. Some
horses don’t like being so close to
others: some are calm, which is great
for dressage, and others are more
spirited. So you go through a lot of
horses to find the right temperament
to work with other horses, and to work
with you.”
A uniform look is ideal, though
not essential, he says. Georgina’s
team are all 16.2-3 Dutch horses,
weighing around 500kg, and the
horse and carriage in all is about
20ft. However, beneath the lookalike
exterior, equestrian personalities are
quite different. “We have five horses
– we can take a spare to compeititons
in case of injury, though we’ve got
one who only does the marathon and
not the dressage. Gus, who is eight,
is the left leader, Billy is seven, then
Tickana, a Dutch cross-Hackney. Sam
who’s the stalwart of the team, he’s a
real superstar. At 11 he’s in his prime,
108

though people run a good horse as

years of hard work with Georgina, the

long as they can. They do love it,

horses and I were with a different driver

and experience is worth its weight In

for the Championships.” Thankfully this

gold. They can get you out of so much

was international driver Boyd Excell,

trouble.”

who was resting his horses after a hard
season, so stepped in. “Well the horses

Matt, the boy once spooked by a
pony, has grown into his role over time.

didn’t notice the difference – they did

“In competition there’s no point being

their damnedest and won!”
Rather than feeling sore that her team

tongue-tied. You’ve got to shout any
commands three or four steps ahead of

got the ultimate result without her,

where you are at a given point, because

Georgina, Matt says, has been inspired

it takes so long for the driver to get

to repeat her team’s success. “It was

the horses set up for the next turn.”

down to her that they were quick

He and Georgina have been working

enough to be driven to the necessary

together for five or six years, and know

speeds. The confidence comes down

each other so well they can anticipate

from driver a