Famous riders reveal how their mums helped them to stardom and you share your Mother’s Day shout outs
To celebrate Mother’s Day, we find out more about the inspiring mums powering our equestrian world and share your shout outs
WHETHER SHE WAS there to dust you down after you got bucked off, drive you to lessons or teach you how to knot your Pony Club tie, lots of us have our mums to thank for helping us fulfil our horsey dreams and ambitions. For many of our favourite pro riders, their mother is a key support. Of course, Mary King MBE is one of the best known mothers in the equestrian
world, but behind her is her own mother, Jill Thomson. She had to ignore her own fear of horses to enable Mary to ride. Mary’s stellar career started out on the vicar’s grumpy pony, and Jill was there, holding the lead rein, despite the naughty pony having a taste for biting her. As time went on, Jill became pivotal in Mary’s success. She took on the very important role of supportive childcare when Mary started a family. Now, in her eighties, Jill still drives the lorry to events and helps around the yard. She does this despite, after all these years, still being wary of close contact with horses. For Mary’s daughter, Emily, it was a different story. Emily was practically born in the saddle, and spent lots of time on the yard from a very young age. Mary was determined not to be a ‘pushy’ horsey mother and says “I’ve always let Emily learn from her mistakes, it’s the best way of working out what you need to do differently and I’m always there for her to bounce ideas off.”
Through the generations
Often a love of horses is passed down the generations as surely as nose shape or eye colour. Sara Gallop, an international dressage rider training under Carl Hester MBE and Charlotte Dujardin OBE, was born into an incredibly horsey family. Her grandmother, Sheila Weston, bought Summerhouse as a rundown pig farm with her husband, keen huntsman John Gallop. They turned it into a thriving riding yard and business. As a result, Sara’s mother, Helen Gallop, grew up surrounded by horses and developed her own talent to become a successful event rider. When Sara was born, she followed her mother everywhere from an early age and well and truly picked up the horsey bug, as did her sister, showjumper Rachel Gallop. The sisters have a strong partnership and Rachel trains Sara’s horses over jumps, while Sara works Rachel’s on the flat. The family connection continues with Summerhouse as the base for all this activity. Sara’s mother and grandmother love to watch both girls ride and compete. Sara says: “I can’t thank my mother and grandmother enough. They have been so supportive of me and my sister. Everything my mum does is for us and she has been by our sides every step of the way.”
The shadow of success
It’s not always easy growing up with a horsey legacy. When mum’s reached the very top of the equestrian world, does it cast a shadow? Mary explained that, for many years, Emily was unaware of her mother’s accomplishments. Okay, she turned up at Pony Club events in a massive competition lorry, but she assumed this was normal as it was the only transport they owned. Now, Mary feels that her achievements are positive for her daughter. It fuels Emily’s ambition and has resulted in setting herself the target of doing “better than my mum.” For Lissa Green, her mum’s success hasn’t always been easy to forget as she forged her own eventing career. For a long time she was known as ‘the daughter of international eventer Lucinda Green’. It was galling to gain attention for every mistake or mishap – she got used to hearing over the loudspeakers that ‘Lucinda Green’s daughter has taken a tumble’, when other people’s falls were ignored. It’s testament to her strong will that she hasn’t let it quash her enthusiasm.
Maternal instinct
Watching riders competing in cross-country can be both terrifying and thrilling in equal measure – especially when you know the risks yourself and it’s your child taking part. So how does Lucinda cope with watching Lissa compete? “I just have to turn off the maternal bit of my brain,” Lucinda explains, “I don’t let myself think that it could go wrong. Mind you, she is very brave – much braver with pain than me.”
I can’t thank my mother and grandmother enough. They have been so supportive of me and my sister
Mothers and sons
The sharing of an equine legacy is not just a mother and daughter thing. Charlie Hutton, one of Britain’s finest dressage riders, credits his mother, Pammy Hutton, for teaching him and continuing to be a great source for advice. Pammy’s a well-known international dressage rider and trainer and her dedication provides Charlie with a reminder that: “You have to be passionate in this sport and she is so passionate about her horses and about running Talland School of Equitation. What I admire most is that she still rides brilliantly every day just for her own enjoyment.” So, whether it’s mothers juggling young children while continuing with their equine careers, or giving their time and love to encourage the next generation, one thing’s for sure, many of us owe our mums a very big thank you. Have you thanked yours recently?
Anyone for tennis?
Olympic dressage rider Laura Tomlinson MBE grew up around horses and always had the support of both parents. She was delighted to open the door on her third birthday to find a much longed for palomino pony. Now, Laura is a mother herself to Annalisa, aged two, and is expecting her second child in March. But would Laura like Annalisa to follow in her parents’ footsteps (Annalisa’s father Mark is a polo player) and make a career in horses? “I’ve wondered if tennis would be better,” admits Laura, “there can be a lot of pressure in the equine world if both your parents are involved. If she wants to ride, then I’ll support her. For now, she is happy ‘helping’ me around the yard and she prefers sitting on Mark’s polo horses than little ponies. I have a feeling she will make up her own mind.”
There can be a lot of pressure in the equine world if both your parents are involved