Firsthand accounts of Marion Mould (nee Coakes) and Stroller?

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KendraH

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I'm working on an article about Marion Mould (nee Coakes) and her career with the wonderful pony Stroller. The two won individual showjumping silver at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, in addition to a slew of other accomplishments. If you or anyone you know might have direct experience with the pair, can you please contact me via pm or email? I'm especially interested in finding those who watched the pair compete or who followed their career as it was happening. Thanks!
kendrahansis at gmail dot com
 
Sadly I didnt know the great Stroller, but I did know her next horse, the grey mare April Love. She visited the stud where I worked and a more bad-tempered moody mare I have yet to meet, I can only hope the foal inherited its sires temperament. She must have been a huge learning curve for MM after little Stroller and his huge heart.
 
I only ever rode Stroller on the lead rein when he was well into his retirement but I will try and put you in touch with a lady who used to compete him after he came home to retire from his international career.

ETA Have you contacted Mary (Marion) yourself?
 
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Ladyinred said:
Sadly I didnt know the great Stroller, but I did know her next horse, the grey mare April Love. She visited the stud where I worked and a more bad-tempered moody mare I have yet to meet, I can only hope the foal inherited its sires temperament. She must have been a huge learning curve for MM after little Stroller and his huge heart.
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Wasn't it Ann Moore who rode April Love not Marion Coakes (Mould).
 
My childhood heros. I have a plastic model stroller complete with plastic Marion. Her red jacket has lost some of its colour but not bad after 40 odd years!

Isn't there an eventer currently competing who is related to her??
 
KendraH said:
I think you remember correctly: Little Fellow: http://www.showjumpingnostalgia.com/?p=2453
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Was this horse a bright bay? When I was in my teens a freind and I went to stay at her brothers trekking centre in the New Forest a few times, I have a vague recollection of a retired showjumper of Marions being there, we used to have jumping lessons on him!
 
Marion Coakes/Mould and Stroller were my utter icons. Can you imagine a 14.2hh pony and a woman beating the boys?! Legendary duo. Is she still alive and has relatives competing? Fabulous.
 
I just want to add that yes, I'm interested in hearing from those who knew the pair personally, but I'm also very interested in hearing from fans/ riders/ horsepeople from the 60s/70s era. I want to place the Marion Mould/ Stroller story in context. What were the opportunities for women riders then? How did the Stroller story inspire or influence you?
Please contact me at kendrahansis@gmail.com to share what you know; however trivial you may think it is, I assure you I want to hear it. Thanks!
 
I've made a Facebook page for Stroller -- called 'Stroller - The Olympic Pony' -- and would love it if anyone with memories or experiences of Stroller and Marion would contact me.

https://www.facebook.com/StrollertheOlympicPony/

I'd like to interview you for my project. Even if you only watched them on television, your thoughts are important!

Thanks in advance!
Kendra Hansis
 
KendraH said:
but I'm also very interested in hearing from fans/ riders/ horsepeople from the 60s/70s era. I want to place the Marion Mould/ Stroller story in context. What were the opportunities for women riders then?
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Caroline Bradley was late 60s/70/80s. She was amazing, so stylish - you wanted to ride like Caroline Bradley and her horses were just amazing - Marius, Tigre, True Lass. I saw Caroline jumping at a local county show and remember my mum and I commenting on her flushed face (it didn't look right). A week later we heard she had died of a heart attack.
 
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