My day with William Fox Pitt at Highclere

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What a day!!! I turned up at 10 15 this morning and was met by Becky, williams assistant - we waited a further half an hour for william to arrive + wagon full of ponies!!
He had 3horses there today, Rufus (Trinity Hill), Bart (Navigator) and Harry (monarch aristocrat).
As soon as william arrived off we went to walk the cross country - now William is rather tall as we all know and I am rather short - therefore his walk stride was my run stride! Out of breath doesn't even cover it! Still, he had some very interesting things to say and I had a good few questions along the way which he happily answered. We only walked the first half before he had to go do his dressage on Bart followed by showjumping. Then walked second half of the XC before he rode it on Bart. Then rode the other 2.
I worked as part of the team really, took off boots, put on boots, walked down the horses after XC, put on ice to their legs, filled haynets, cleaned tack generally mucking in which was fantastic. Managed to see him do dressage SJ and XC on Bart and Rufus then worked while he was riding Harry.
One surprising thing I gathered over the day with him is he has a rather large disliking for a certain other top eventer - I will not disclose who on the forum but it made for an amusing day - especially when said eventer cracked on to me (said eventer is in late forties!).
Also met the owner of the horse he won Blair on yesterday - she was sooooooo nice and asked me all about my future plans and wished me luck, such a nice lady!

All in all a FANTASTIC day and the best bit........... I've been offered work experience with him next summer!!!! Really chuffed!!!

So here are some piccies:
Bart in dressage:
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Bart SJ:
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Bart XC:
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Me and Bart - I rather liked this horse!:
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Rufus dressage:
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Rufus SJ:
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Rufus XC:
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Mary lou (work experience pupil from france)and Rufus:
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Harry getting all ready for dressage:
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Sounds like a brilliant day! Really well done on the Work Experience offer too, though I reckon he saw you knew what you were doing and thought he'd get some free labour
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Seriously though, bet you learn loads from it!

Bet I could have a good guess at who the other eventer is too...

I am also glad to see that although the dressage looked far better for them, they were still expected to warm up for SJ in a similar ploughed field effect that us mere mortals had yesterday....
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wow! how fantastic! sounds like an awesome day. will you be taking up the work experience offer? are you feeling better by the way?
 
ooohhhh I wonder who we doesn't like! lol

Sorry I must have missed it but how did you get to spend the day with him? Did you meet his head girl? well thats what I think she is. My sister did JRNs as her and we were in the sam PC area as her.
 
Yep will def be taking up the offer for 2weeks minimum - might see if I could do longer and take Rocks with me on a working pupilship place for the summer too!
Feeling a lot better thank you
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Walking up and down that damn hill made me feel better pretty quick lol

Re: the ground - it was awful in the dressage as well you just couldn't see it. Wasn't as slippy as it had dried, but had dried with all the ruts in the ground - both Rufus and Bart didn't take to it well in the dressage and both stumbled in the dressage arena. The SJ warm up was carnage but not much said about it!
 
ah you would have been right next to me!! I stood in the warm up area and watched from there whilst subtly listening to Susanna Bordones conversation and admiring Clayton Fredericks stunning horse which moved like an angel!!
 
Lol I made the mistake during the day of why he disliked said rider so much - he said simply "I cannot answer that question" I think i pushed the mark a bit far that time!
 
Just A Bit Jealous! hehe

Gald Yooh Had A Good Day ;; Also If Yooh Don't Mind Can Yooh PM Me With The Riders Name Aswel Please. =]

The Photo's Are Good Aswell. =]

Still Jealous!

Hamishh_xx
 
Lol thanks - the photos aren't great as were taken in a hurry whilst dropping boots/saddle/general tack AND shopping lol

I'm not gonna be PMing people i'm afraid
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Oh very jealous of your day sounds fab
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Did you by any chance walk the corners towards the end of the course, was wondering if they took the first one on the angle to get the line to B. I fancy having a crack next year *insert dream and lots of dam hard work*

Ta
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Yep thats where one of the pics was taken - William walked the corner straight to the first then a v tight line to the second on a slight angle - he said if you were on a less experienced horse you would take the same line to the first, but go out wider to the left coming to the second and take it on straight on.

I'm thinking about taking Rocks to the PN there next year! See how he gets on.
 
What a fabulous experience, one I bet you wish you could bottle for the memory banks! Opportunities like these dont come round very often - what a lucky girl
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Hehe they were all stunning horses but i adored Bart - he kept wanting cuddles which of course had absolutely nothing to do with the fact i was eating an apple which i then gave to him...
 
If its the one of who I am thinking H&H mentions it all the time about the rivalry!! What a great opportunity and sounds like you got a lot out of it!
 
Sounds like a great day and some cool pics too!!

I know exactly which rider you're meaning, i stayed with him a few weeks ago and couldn't believe the dislike going on and its obviously mutual from what you say!!! I just cannot believe, they're both adults, both have other lives and both should just grow up!!
 
You are one extremely lucky girl
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William is an amazing horseman and I think you will learn from arguably the best rider of this decade.

You must have worked well today to be given the chance to go and do some time in his yard, so give yourself a pat on the back.
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I have met Ibby before,she works for William. You'll probably meet her there, she is really easy to get on with.

Along with everyone else, I'd love to know who said eventer is, poor william
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You better buy your friend who gave you the prize something really really nice, did she know what she was giving up?
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Well the rivalry i think you are referring to has good reason!!
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!!

Pleased you had a good day, is nice to be part of a "team" at events isnt it? You may find re. working pupilship at Williams, that he doesnt take horses with his working pupils, but that could just be for his longer term placements!
 
Wow, I'm feeling very jealous!! Although I don't envy you having to keep up with him walking the xc
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Sounds like a fantastic experience for you
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Didn't know the rivalry had more to it. would love to know lol!
sounds like a brilliant day! Can only dreaming of going there for work experience.
 
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