Who has inspired you the most?

Tempi

Tempi

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I was about to go off at a tangent in another post, but decided to make it a separate topic!

In Becki2003's post someone posted the link to Mr Presidents/Stephs' story - which i never get tired of reading. Its amazing what she has done with him, and how far they have come, afterall he only cost her £2,500.00 and he must be worth serious money now.

Anyways, it got me thinking as to who i admire the most and why.

I recently read an article about Anna-Ross Davies (i think it was in BD Mag) - shes always been a big inspiration to me as she had loads of problems with Lenny when they first started out competing which reminds me a bit of Archie. Anna also always had a gut feeling that Lenny was going to be a star, which was why she never gave up with him - also similar to Archie and myself, altho i doubt hes going to be a patch on Lenny, i can only dream!

One of my other idols has to be Mary King - when i was younger i was really into eventing and showjumping (yes thats right, i havent always been a dressage diva!). I used to love watching her ride, and ive got her books about her life and her horses which i still get out occasionally. She went through a lot with King William, and i really admire her for all her ups and downs. I think shes a fantastic rider and one that im sure a lot of other people admire aswell.

Im sure there are millions of other people i admire aswell - but those are the two that stick in my mind the most.

Who are everyone elses 'heroes' then?
 
I admire Mary King too, I have always been thrilled to watch her, I also like Lucinda Green as a friend trained with her when she was still competing and have always been impressed with the style she has been taught
 
I have to add on the Mary King lines that she always makes time to help others when she is out which I think is lovely. My friend was eventing her horse at Intermediate level and she came over to her and said that she'd seen her dressage test and that she thought she did really well considering how the horse is built etc etc and then offered a few ideas that might help for the future. How nice was that!
 
I read a story on Meredith Micheals-beerbum and shutterfly and i really admire her - she went through a lot with that horse to !! actually bought a tear to my eye !!

god there are lots of people i admire all for different things x
 
Go back to the dark ages and you'll find Pat Smythe, a real hero of mine!

She really was a pathfinder for women, not just for showjumping; she really did open up the world for a lot of people. Not only was she a great rider and writer but she was also a brilliant ambassador for our country and a very nice person as well to scruffy urchins wanting autographs!
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Everyone knew her name and what she did whether they were horsey or not; there aren't many today you could say that about!
 
I think any rider who makes it through hard work and sheer guts and talent without mummy/daddys money gets my vote. Mary King whose sheer will to win has kept her going longer than all those she was competing against and at the top of the sport for over 28 years.
 
i agree with mary king-i did 2 weeks work experience with her when i was 15. it was the month before she went to the worlds with king william so i was expecting a tense atmosphere. i couldnt have been more wrong. when i first met mary it was like to breath of fresh air, she was so positive, kind and smiley! it was a wonderful 2 weeks, i learnt an awful lot and have brillint memories from it. i thnk the fact she has started breeding her own horses now, and rides mares is wonderful. im really hoping she will win at the europeans in september, i think she has a wonderful chance.
good luck mary and cavy!!
 
Not that I've ever competed outside of inter-yard comps but my instructor Clare has probably inspired me the most. She's taught me so much, been one of the few people to actually speak their mind about my riding ability etc and somtimes given me a good talking to too
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When I was working at the yard, I'd always get up there early so I could watch her school her horse and if I ever ride to half her ability I'll be happy. She admits herself she isn't a total natural when it comes to riding but she's put so much hard graft into it and it shows. She's a person that epitimises the fact that anyone can go out and do it if they're prepared to work at it - you don't always have to be a natural.

On a more national/international front - Mary King. My childhood hero and I'm sure like many of us of here, when we were younger we have all the H&P posters of her and King William on our walls. She really is a true representative of what eventing is all about. Her attitude towards her horses, her success and her fans not to mention her consistancy at the top level. IMHO all that makes her one of the best GB riders of all time. Saw her ride for the first time last year at Badminton and it was like a dream come true - the impression you get of her from reading H&H & Eventing is exactly what you see when you're watching with your own eye.

I've got a hand-written postcard that she sent back after I wrote her a letter when I was much younger. It takes pride of place on my noticeboard
 
I remember the first time I ever saw dressage to music on video was Chris Bartle and Wiley Trout (sorry can't spell) and he really inspired me to start doing dressage I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
Used to also aspire to Mary King when I evented donkeys years ago in SA,
 
Jeanette Breakwell because she has kept her horse going for so long at such a high level, and always seems determined and down to earth!!

Also Zara Phillips because of all the sh*t she has to put up with because of who she is, but she still works blooming hard to stay at the top and comes up with the results at top level.
 
A lot of Mary King fans out there then!

i also remember when i was younger i got her to sign her autograph on this postcard i had, and she was so friendly and nice. Shes always got time for others, unlike some professionals.
 
Mary King - not only for her success over so many year and with so many horses, but especially because she must be one of the only people who will ALWAYS be smiling no matter what life throws at her. Like you PG I have all the books (most signed from my days of being an avid follower!) which I will still get off the shelves if I needs some inspiration.
I think Lucinda Green is an amazing role model, but infortately I was born to late to really appreciate her.

Lottie Prentice is an event rider whom most of you probably haven't come across, but having watched her ride dressage tests (unaff) over the winter with various horses she really put across to me what it is to have acheived harmony with your horses... and the true meaning of 'invisible' aids.
 
My real inspiration has to be my previous trainer, she works her absolute socks off to reach perfection and she's had a lot of let downs and heart ache along the way, but she's always had that dream and she'll never let it go. She's off to Burghley again this year, only the 3rd time she's ever managed to get there - she's only just got a groom and no sponsors - she's made me realise just how bloody hard eventing is and if you haven't got the guts or determination to succeed or that spark inside you that makes you strive for perfection, there's no point expecting to get great results
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She also told me that if i didnt throw my heart and soul over every single cross country fence id seriously come to grief - i dont daydream when i go XC now!!
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On a national/international level i admire Lucinda Fredericks and Sarah Cohen for riding mares and top level and showing that they are just as good if not better than the boys
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I live in hope that i might get Hattie to atleast intermediate one day........
 
For me it has to be William Fox-Pitt. His cool, calm way of dealing with his horses and the rigures of his sport never cease to amaze me. And his acheivements throughout his career but perhaps more recently once he and Wiggy parted, he seemed to get better and better.
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I admire the Whitakers for their calm riding skills and producing my all time fav horse - Ryans Son. He was not a beauty but for all his bad confirmation was plain amazing.

Mary King is just one in a million - she is always smiling - and she's worked her butt off to get where she is, and even after kids when many women give up for fear of 'what if'... she's carried on.

Lucinda Green and Ginny Leng too - they were amazing to watch..

Good post P_G!!

Bx
 
The partnership between John Whitaker and Milton stunned me when I was allowed to stay up late and watch Hickstead on the TV once when i was little. I particularly remember a breathtaking turn into a jump which should have been a disaster but because of the absolute trust between horse and rider they made it and won! Still wows me even now!
 
Ginny Elliot and her horse Priceless, I have read 'their' book so many times and never get bored of reading about their relationship and massive ups and downs!
 
Hmm another Mark King fan in my younger wanna be eventer days, previous instructor converted me to dressage and was a hugely good influence on me actually taught me how to ride properly after oh so many years of getting it wrong. Clashed with previous YO except she finally taught me how to jump safley and properly.

As for current famous people? Richard Davidson inspires me as he seems to bring horses through time and again with a nice correct way of going and seemingly a good nice even temperament and attiude.

I admire Carl Hester but he doesn't inspire me as I know he has a gift and I do not.

Bananaman gives me hope that us erm, shorter riders still have a good chance against the tall willowly diva's and that effort and hard work do get you there in the end.

Am sure theres more.

Oh despite clashing opinions on here Pippa Funnel inspired me when she stuck it out in her post Sir Barnaby days and worked hard to get the hang of eventing on horses. Another case of working hard and learning.
 
MAry King and Jeanette Breakwell, and John Whitaker,soryr, three ethere
Mary-alwasy smiling and seems good to her horses
John-seems goo to the horses and so talented!
Jeanette Breakwell, over to you is just a tribute!
 
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I recently read an article about Anna-Ross Davies (i think it was in BD Mag) - shes always been a big inspiration to me as she had loads of problems with Lenny when they first started out competing which reminds me a bit of Archie. Anna also always had a gut feeling that Lenny was going to be a star, which was why she never gave up with him - also similar to Archie and myself, altho i doubt hes going to be a patch on Lenny, i can only dream!

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I agree, I really admire her too. She also seems like such a nice, down to Earth person. When she was up at the LEC I had just started out BD with Louis and he was being a really cheeky bugger! Anna came up to me after I had finished my tests and commented on how lovely Louis was...it really lifted me and gave me confidence
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I thought that was just a nice thing to do.
 
I'm another that admires Mary King. She's just amazing - always smiling, always willing to stop and chat to supporters and completely down to earth - and when I had a lesson with her she was so lovely. I love that shes now got into breeding too.
 
I'm inspired by Kyra Kyrklund. She is a consummate horsewoman and a brilliant trainer and rider.

Emile Faurie also, for his brilliant riding, and especially how he has set up a foundation to get underprivileged kids into horses.

Of the younger riders, I admire Ruth Edge hugely. She has worked so hard and rides beautifully. I watched her exercising Paper Tiger at the BD nationals last year and could have watched them forever.
I find watching Damian Hallam ride inspirational has he has such a fabulous seat, its an education to see him on a young horse. Similarly Gareth Hughes.

John Whitaker because he is so quiet and effective on a horse, and looks like he could get a tune out of a three legged mule.

Franke Sloothake for his style over a fence.

Jessica Kurten for working so hard and getting to the top (and sticking to her principals while doing so).
 
I agree, there was a picture of Anna winning something in H&H ages ago - I can even remember the heading, it was something like 'Its a love thing for Liebeling' - I remember looking at the photo and thinking 'there is a rider doing pretty much everything right' - she had such a good position ! (plus she looked really happy as well which always helps..). I cut it out and had it stuck near my pc at work for ages to remind me what it should look like
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