An Eventful Occupation
Photo courtesy of Sharon Hunt Eventing.
1 What is your occupation and for how long have you been doing it?
International three-day eventer. I’ve been riding since I was seven. I went on holiday with my grandparents and they persuaded me to get on a donkey on Blackpool beach and that’s honestly how it all started! From then I loved it and I came home and had riding lessons and progressed from there.
2 What have been the main highlights of your career to date?
I’ve been really lucky and there have been many highlights – I’ve also worked and trained extremely hard too! Coming 5th at Badminton International Horse Trials in 2008 was definitely a high point. I came 9th at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen (Germany) in 2006 and it was great to be competing at that global level.
Nevertheless my greatest highlight to date was being part of Team GBR at the 2008 Olympics and bringing home a bronze medal!
There was a real air of excitement about the whole event and while it was phenomenal, I’m pleased to say that I never felt overwhelmed by it all. We had to fly out earlier in order to acclimatise the horse and myself. Tankers Town actually flew separately from me so he was there before me. When we arrived, despite being in Hong Kong and not Beijing, what struck us was the enormity of it all. It was amazing to be part of this incredibly talented team and we all got on so well, so it was really special – all my team mates were extremely supportive and helpful. I also received incredible support from my own team, owners, sponsors and family so it was fantastic and I am proud to have shared it with all of them!
I did my dressage test on the Sunday morning at 7.30am, which was pretty early but still the arena was completely full, which was amazing! We then did our cross country the next morning, which was tough as it was a 4* course. The show jumping was the most phenomenal experience because the stadium was completely full and the atmosphere was just electric so it was very special.
3 What was it like standing on the Olympic podium and collecting your medal for Team GBR?
It was absolutely unbelievable really and I felt very emotional. It was such a happy occasion and it was great to do it with such a fabulous team of people!
4 What does your role involve from day-to-day?
On a day-to-day level there’s a lot of work. I ride anything up to ten horses in a day as well as providing tuition and training my own working pupils. I have always liked to keep myself fit and on top of my riding schedule, I also undertake a fitness regime to ensure I, like my horses, am in absolute tip-top condition. I’m also kept busy looking after sponsors, owners, giving talks and generally running the business aspects of Sharon Hunt Eventing. Generally I find that there are never enough hours in a day!
Every day is completely different and I meet so many different people so it’s great fun on a social basis too. I’m very lucky – I adore horses and do a job that I absolutely love!
I had my first pony when I was 11, by which time I had been riding for four years. I spent all my holidays at the riding school cleaning tack, pulling ragwort and all those lovely jobs! I really enjoyed it and did it as much as I could in my spare time. It wasn’t until I was about 17 that I really realised that I wanted to pursue it as a career. At school my teachers would ask what I wanted to do and when I told them they said that I’d better come up with something else! Thankfully my parents were very supportive and although I earned a place at university, I took a gap year to see whether I did want to event on a professional basis. I never took up the place at uni and the rest is history!
6 What qualifications/ training do you need to be a professional eventer?
I think it’s all about being driven and competitive and gaining experience as opposed to qualifications. It also takes years of training!
7 Are there any other skills that are essential for becoming an eventer?
Yes – having an excellent work ethic is a must. Being tenacious and also being willing to take a few falls is important! An eventer also needs to be strong, physically fit and well co-ordinated.
8 What is the best way to gain experience in this area of work?
To work in a good yard and ride as much as possible and on as many horses as possible.
Photo courtesy of Sharon Hunt Eventing.
Yes, yes, yes and yes! You do need to be both physically and mentally tough to cope with some of the knocks and stresses that being an eventer brings.
10 What do you enjoy most about your job?
It’s so rewarding when things go well. Every day is completely different and I meet so many different people so it’s great fun on a social basis too. I’m very lucky – I adore horses and do a job that I absolutely love!
11 What are the most common problems/challenges you encounter?
It can be difficult finding new owners and people who are willing to back you but it’s a great opportunity for them because to follow their own horse and the progress it makes is really rewarding. We go to the most beautiful settings – Badminton and Burghley – and obviously if the horse is good enough to go to the Olympics and all these different events, it really is fantastic for owners. I am also always looking for sponsors – I currently have seven sponsors now, which is very good. I had sponsors before the Olympics but obviously that’s helped as it definitely raises the profile. It’s important to keep attracting owners and sponsors, as I need to work with a large base of young horses.
In terms of challenges relating to the horses, it’s bitterly disappointing when they get injured or go lame but you just have to keep positive and get on with it.
12 What are your hopes and plans for the future?
My ultimate aim is to compete at London 2012. In the meantime, I am working hard for next season, the European Championships in 2009 and the World Games in 2010.
Joanne Webster, a professor of parasitic diseases at the RVC, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
