THE PROFESSIONALS
YOUNG EVENTER
SETTING OUT ON A PROFESSIONAL CAREER
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t a time when British Eventing brings back Team Gold and Individual Silver, and equestrian medals all round with two Bronzes in dressage and Individual Gold in the showjumping – it’s never been a better time to be a young rider setting out on a career in eventing. And according to Ben Perry, rider at Team Jones Equestrian, there’s no better place to be than at Team Jones Equestrian
yard in Rutland, home of top international eventing and dressage riders Richard and Victoria Jones. With Covid restrictions hopefully behind us, 20-year-old Ben has talent spotters to impress and the Olympics in Paris to dream of. In his two short action-packed years with Team Jones, he and his mare Fa Karla have fast forwarded from pre-novice BE90 competitions to qualification for 4* events following a strong performance at Aston le Walls.
love with a sharp 7-year-old mare with attitude and opinions that Ben was sure he could change. At nineteen he and Karla took the perfect next step to join Team Jones yard in Rutland. “It’s been life changing,” he says. “Richard and Victoria both go that extra mile – literally – to take me to the important events to develop my horse and my experience. With Victoria my His excellent run of form dressage has gone from ‘grin continues, finishing on his dressage score at Houghton Hall and bear it’ to rhythm and harmony. But more than that, CCI3* and sixth place in the they teach me equine life skills Young Rider CCI3* that I just couldn’t have got at championship. home because I don’t come So what’s the story from a horsey family. behind Ben? “I now have the confidence not Although he was brought up in just to ride, but to meet with the countryside around owners, talk with other Loughborough, horses or ponies competitors and even with were never on the family radar – British Eventing officials. I have but they were on his. The not only grown in riding abilities mother of Olympic showjumper but in personal confidence.” Holly Smith had a yard nearby Team Jones are eyeing up a busy where he was already riding end to the season with the ponies at the age of four and the yard’s top eventers, Alfies Clover addiction had started. He and Kilballyboy Bob – both worked for free, rode ponies, having been nicely prepped at and bought his first 14.2hh some smaller events over the pony at the grand old age of past few months. As for Ben, he twelve. and Karla hope to end the But he longed to go eventing. season on a high at Osberton At sixteen he sold the pony, International CCI-L 3*. counted his pennies and fell in www.teamjonesequestrian.com
INTERNATIONAL PARA SHOWJUMPER JOINS ROBINSON ANIMAL HEALTHCARE
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nternational Para showjumper, Laura Goodall has joined the team of sponsored riders representing Robinson Animal Healthcare, following a nationwide search. Laura’s determination and passion for the sport she loves stood out from the many applications that came flooding in. 27-year-old Laura has ridden since the age of six and competed in British Showjumping competitions from the age of thirteen beforeshe was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2015. Laura now competes in both Para Showjumping and British Showjumping competitions with her top horse Guusje. www.robinsonhealthcare.com
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