Mark Phillips
‘Like many young riders, I came out of the Pony Club thinking I could ride. But after a month with Bertie, I realised I didn’t have the first clue what I was doing’
I WAS in the Beaufort branch of the Pony Club with the Bullen sisters Jane (now Holderness Roddam) and Jennie (now Lorist-on-Clarke) and Mike Tucker. The first instructor to get hold of me was Colonel Alec Scott, who won team bronze at the
1936 Olympics, then Frank Weldon and Bertie Hill. All three inspired me, but Bertie was the biggest influence.
Bertie and Frank were team gold medallists at the 1956 Olympics and Frank told me I needed to train with Bertie, so I based myself with him the winter after I turned 18.
Like many young riders, I came out of the Pony Club thinking I could ride. But after a month with Bertie, I realised I didn’t have the first clue what I was doing. I arrived in Devon and the first thing he said was, “Follow me” and galloped off — I was terrified.
The following year, my first eventing, I ended up fourth at Burghley, although I was nearly last after dressage. I realised that if I wanted to event, I had to learn to trot a 20m circle so went back to Bertie. The next spring, I finished fourth at Badminton and went to the Mexico Olympics as the reserve rider.
Bertie was a natural horseman. He’d done everything — point-to-pointing, racing over banks, the Olympics. I learnt by watching and following him, rather than formal instruction, but he taught me to ride and look after my horse.