Spencer Wilton
The dressage rider on keeping count, daydreaming and jumping ditches
‘If only I hadn’t sworn under my breath and carried on
counting instead’
My secret weapon…
I have two Claires in my life — my groom, Claire Hinton and my PA, Claire King — I couldn’t function without them.
Biggest mistake I’ve learnt from…
On my first ever Nations Cup team in 2006, I cantered up the centre line on Dolendo, halted at X, and then trotted off the wrong way… And I didn’t just do it once, I did it twice: in the grand prix and the special. I must have looked a right idiot. Before I go into a test now — and it doesn’t matter what level it is — I always go through the test in my head.
Remembering when…
At the Olympics last year, I was going across the diagonal to do my 15 one-tempi changes. I got to about three or four, and it felt like Supernova II had made a mistake. I stopped counting, thought “oh, f**k” and then lost my way in the sequence. I carried on to what I thought was 15, but in fact I’d only got to 13. With it being double marks, it was an expensive mistake to make. The worst thing was, he didn’t actually make a mistake, he’d just knuckled over slightly on one front leg. If only I hadn’t sworn under my breath and carried on counting instead.
My first pony…
Bumble Barter, an 11.2hh Welsh pony. I remember going hunting on him for the first time with the Essex & Suffolk and we came to a huge ditch. I thought to myself, “Bumble will never be able to jump this with me on his back” so I hopped off, took the reins over his head, climbed down into the ditch and tried to drag him across. He jumped over me and galloped off to join the field, leaving me in the bottom of a ditch without my pony. Needless to say, we didn’t go hunting again.
My tip for schooling…
Take care of the small details.
My tip for saving time around the yard…
Don’t let me anywhere near it!
My favourite pub…
We have an amazing place near us called The Wellington Arms in Baughurst. It’s a really beautiful environment and it has outstanding food.
Watching…
At the moment, I’m completely gripped by Doctor Foster. I love it. It’s an hour where I don’t answer the phone and, if anybody talks, then that’s it — they’re out. Back at the Hilton after Olympia is the best party night of the year. It’s like a work Christmas do — gone wrong.
Getting away from it all…
I’m a sucker for the sun, so a beach holiday is my ideal. I haven’t been to the Maldives — it’s on my list.
My most memorable win…
Winning the national championships with Dolendo in 2007. He was a really special horse and, with the help of Carl [Hester], the first I’d trained all the way up to grand prix.
Settling down with…
I’m really into gardening, so I love a gardening magazine, especially a glossy one like House & Garden, and the odd practical one too.
Earliest equestrian memory…
Cantering for the first time at the riding school I learnt to ride at. I was on the lead-rein and I remember some poor girl running at top speed next to me. It felt amazing.
My biggest indulgence is…
Percy Pig sweets.
What I would tell my 15-yearold-self…
Stop daydreaming in class and concentrate. I spent my school years looking out of the window dreaming about horses and then left with no qualifications.
The best bit of advice I’ve been given…
Embrace your mistakes. That’s how we all learn and you have to turn them into a positive instead of letting them become a negative.
Favourite event…
Doha. It’s a five-star show and the arena, facilities and the way you’re looked after is just spectacular. It’s probably the most luxurious show you could go to. It’s like being on holiday and doing some dressage in your spare time.