Riding Jane Paterson

Eventing is not for the faint-hearted

THE equestrian eventing season finished at the end of October after an exciting year. Team GB won Olympic Gold for the first time since 1972 and despite some events being cancelled because of either the weather or Covid, there was plenty to enjoy for followers of the sport. We are lucky here in the South West to be able to have great days out at the shows, either helping out or just spectating.

Local international event rider Selina Milnes, who is based at her own yard near Yatton, has had plenty of success both at home and abroad this year, ending the season with two fantastic placings at different top venues in France, which she managed to fit into one trip!

The logistics of organising that take some thinking about. Two horses and all their gear, competing at different levels in two different places, is pretty mind boggling, especially since Brexit. Selina comes from a nonhorsey background but started riding around five years old and had her own first pony when she was 11. Always fiercely determined and competitive, she was fully supported by her parents and encouraged to follow her dreams. University was something which she did consider . . . until the exams at school interfered with being on Pony Club teams! From working her way up through the levels, firstly keeping her horses at livery and having as much training as she could from local mentors, Selina established her own business breaking and producing horses, taking liveries, and running a competition yard.

She now has some seriously good owners and has been able to build a string of very talented horses who compete at the top levels, while also investing in several youngsters of her own to bring on and produce, and possibly sell.

With JANE PATERSON

Amongst the notable horses Selina has produced over the years, eventing enthusiasts may remember Orlando, Bodidily, and more recently, Dargun. There must be a certain reward and pride for Selina, seeing these horses go on to do well after being in her care where they were introduced to competition. You would have to be very lucky not to experience the highs and lows in eventing. It’s undoubtedly a high risk sport. Horses go lame at the last minute, injury can happen to anyone, and having one pole down in the final show jumping phase can cost several places on the leader board. Selina’s career hasn’t been all pain free. There have been substantial injuries along the way, including a broken pelvis at Lumühlen in Germany, as well as a broken leg and fractured neck vertebrae at various times, so it’s not a career for the faint hearted – more an addiction, some would say! It takes guts and a single-mindedness plus an enormous amount of hard work to even come close to success in the sport. At home Selina has two full-time staff to help her, as well as an on-site farrier and vet, who also happens to be her husband! With young daughter Harriet now riding as well, they make a good team. The plan for next season is for Iron (known as Bentley at home) to go to Badminton Horse trials and Cooley Cooley Snapchat at Le Lion in Snapchat will move on up through the levels to hopefully Western France emulate his stable mate. Following a short holiday or winding down period now, all the horses will now be brought back into work and full fitness and be ready to compete again in the spring. It’s a 24/7 job and a way of life working with horses. There are peaks and troughs and mixed fortunes, but the good results when they are achieved, are worth working for. We wish Selina all the luck in the world for next season. For fixtures and results see the British Eventing website.

Bentley (Iron) winning 8th place at Pau

Changes to the Highway Code

THANKS to Mendip Bridleways and Byways Association for the following news about changes to the Highway Code which will affect all road users when meeting horses on our roads. Guidance stating that horses should be passed at a maximum of 10mph and at a minimum of two metres’ distance are among the “significant” improvements in the proposed changes.

Also, cyclists must not pass riders on the inside and should call out when approaching or passing horses to alert the rider. Head cams are recommended for all horse riders to record any non-compliance.

The “statutory instrument”, which includes a number of other changes, was laid before parliament on December 1st and is subject to a 40-day approval process. Should there be no objections, they will apply as part of the Highway Code from the end of January.