A very inspirational story. I watched ZP dressage at badminton last year and IMO the judges were generous in some of their marks compared to other unknown competitors!
she's not exactly a hobby rider though! don't get me wrong she's achieved a hell of a lot through hard work and determination but her BE record suggests that she is a bit more than a complete 'amateur'!!
I hate stories like this - as other poster said, there are lots of amateur riders going and would any of them turn down a big, posh lorry if they had the offer? Are they implying that Zara doesn't work? You can't hide behind money in eventing - you can have the best, most expensive horse in the world but if you can't ride, you're still going to mess up and fall.
and of course zara has no talent does not work hard and is handed everyting on a plate!!!
I hate the daily mail with a passion too
Zara is nothing as described and deserves all her sucess as does phoebe buckly.
As to the comment ' there is so much snobbery in horse events' I expect that is as the daily mail does taken a little out of context as eventing imo is the one equestrian sport I know where snobbery is minimal and everyone including the pros are very friendly!
I am glad some enjoyed the article personally it made me cross!
However any press article that may encourage people to support our sport is probably however inaccurate a good thing.
They call it an 'upper class sport' too. Well didnt they just prove it isnt upper class when travellers compete too. Not everyone competing there is from an upper class background. And I agree Zara very much deserves her place as does Phoebe. But is she an amateur? I agree her BE record suggests otherwise.
I like the idea that "traveller" automatically equals "pauper". I know an awful lot of traveller people who have bought land (not cheap in this area) for cash....hardly paupers in the general sense of the term!!
I wouldnt detract from this girl's achievement -you have to be bloody good to get to Badders, and i am pleased for her. As usual though, the Daily Mail writes a complete and utter load of tosh.
PS. i am hardly a pauper either, and I can't even afford my own horsebox. This pauper appears to be doing better than me !
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I like the idea that "traveller" automatically equals "pauper". I know an awful lot of traveller people who have bought land (not cheap in this area) for cash....hardly paupers in the general sense of the term!!
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My thoughts exactly! The 'travellers' near where I live all drive brand new Discoveries and double cab 4x4s.
She certainly isn't the only person who has struggled to get to Badminton.
love it. There's so much racism against travellers. It's very evident in this forum actually, with people calling them 'pikeys' etc. (they are an ethnic minority, so yes calling them a pikey is racist).
For god sake. Phoebe is a pro anyway, she is lovely, and I wish her the best but it really is a non story!!! I hate the fact everything the DM now prints in regards to equestrian sport always comes back to poor Zara!!! She works ALOT harder than alot of the pro's out there