
Jennifer Donald
Showjumping and racing editor
H&H’s showjumping editor joined the Horse & Hound team in 2005 after her early career working for BBC Sport, where her achievements included being part of the BAFTA-winning production team working on the Commonwealth Games.
She began as an editorial assistant on Horse & Hound before being promoted to look after riding clubs and products in the magazine, and later earning the title of showjumping and racing editor. The racing side of the job temporarily took a back seat, allowing Jen to focus on jumping editorial both in the magazine and online following her maternity leave, but she regathered the racing reins for the printed magazine in November 2020. She has written on every subject in the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore.
Despite coming from a distinctly unhorsey family, Jen has enjoyed a life in the saddle since early rides on an elderly Shetland pony sparked a lifelong passion for horses. She was a keen member of the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire, and Fife Hunt branches of the Pony Club while growing up in Scotland and went on to compete primarily in showjumping and eventing, but has been known to try her hand at showing, dressage and even team chasing. She has also worked as a riding instructor and yard manager.
These days, Jen can often be seen out and about reporting at shows, whether on home soil or overseas, as well as interviewing riders, connections and those behind the scenes, and relaying all the latest news. She has covered three European championships, the 2014 World Equestrian Games, World Cup finals, and numerous legs of the Longines Global Champions Tour, Olympia, Horse of the Year Show, Hickstead Derbys and Nations Cups, travelling as far afield as USA, Qatar, Canada and all over Europe following the showjumping circuit.
Jen is equally happy on a racecourse, however, enjoying the National Hunt season in particular, and still writes regularly on the subject as well as having been a small shareholder in a couple of racehorses over the past few years.
Follow Jennifer
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Meet Harry Charles’s new five-star contender Aralyn Blue: ‘She’s class and I just hope she lives up to it’
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‘Right to the end he was an unbelievable trier’: rider devastated by sudden death of grand prix horse
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A jubilant 23yo, a soaring stallion and a rider with no stirrup: who won showjumping ribbons at the weekend (and who missed his flight as a result)?
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Is sport horse breeding on the cusp of a revolution? Meet the Mares of Macha team promoting ‘access proven breeding’
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Callisthenics - what is it and why does one of the fittest and most successful riders swear by it?
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‘It’s been a bit crazy!’ Harry Charles reflects on an unbelievable 12 months
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‘You can never stop learning’: Scott Brash reveals why he always watches Marcus Ehning
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We've all been there: even Olympic legends forget the course occasionally, too!
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A glorious British victory for Holly Smith and her 'lionheart' horse at Royal Windsor
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‘He has a special technique’: unorthodox stallion ‘tries his hardest’ over 1.55m track at Royal Windsor - and wins
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Freak gust of wind results in confusion for Joe Stockdale in opening CSI5* class at Royal Windsor
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Is this a future superstar? ‘Hot’ mare ‘with a bit to learn’ wins her first five-star at Royal Windsor
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‘I questioned whether to give up on him’: perseverance pays off for winning home-bred at Royal Windsor
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Meet John Whitaker’s ride Equine America Unick Du Francport: ‘Frank loves a tea!’
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Behind the stable door: meet Ben Maher’s exciting new mare Enjoy CK Z
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‘He will not accept cowardice’: top riders share why Olympic showjumper Eric Lamaze has become a true legend
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Teenage Derby horses, Holly Smith, and a son of the great Hickstead: who won showjumping ribbons at the weekend?
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‘The rankings system is an addiction for riders’: jumping owner speaks out about the sport’s ‘problem’
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Superstar seven-year-old rider – who only started jumping during lockdown – wins 128cm final
