Mother thanks Badminton riders for wearing ribbons in memory of young eventer

Izzy Squire’s mother Tracy Dodd has thanked the riders who wore ribbons in memory of the young eventer at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials last week (4-8 May), in both the Mitsubishi Motors Cup and four-star competitions.

Izzy, 19, was killed in February while backpacking in Vietnam. She was a keen event rider and a member of the Midlands region under-18 CCIJ* team at Weston Park last year riding B Walt Lando Z.

After Izzy’s death her friend Mirelle Radley — who went to school with her and kept her horse on the same yard as Izzy for five years — decided to add a blue and white ribbon to her horse’s plaits at competitions and a ribbon to her jacket, in memory of Izzy, who rode in these colours.

Other riders have since picked up the idea. Those wearing the ribbons at Badminton included Ben Hobday — who had an emotional return to the event after battling cancer last year — and H&H blogger Simon Grieve.

Simon Grieve riding Cornacrew during the dressage phase of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials

“Mirelle has now made over 400 ribbons and continues to get requests from riders for them,” said Tracy. “It’s such a lovely tribute to Izzy.

“It was an honour to watch her ribbons being ridden around Badminton, as she would have loved to have done the four-star herself.

“A special thanks to Ben Hobday who wore Izzy’s ribbons while fulfilling his own dream this year! Plus a huge thanks to all eventers who have pledged to wear ribbons in Izzy’s memory this season.”

Ben Hobday riding Mulrys Error during the dressage phase of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials

Related articles:

• Eventers to wear ribbons in memory of Izzy Squire
• Tributes paid to young event rider who died in Vietnam

The bodies of Sheffield-based Izzy, her 24-year-old sister Beth Anderson and Christian Sloan from Kent were found near a waterfall in Vietnam in February.

The sisters were seven weeks into a backpacking tour of South East Asia. They died while taking part in a licensed guided tour, according to the Foreign Commonwealth Office.

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.