Martha Terry
An MA graduate in French and Italian from Cambridge University, Martha initially started in the world of racing journalism on the bottom rungs of the Racing Post. She joined H&H as magazine assistant back in 2003, moving on to become eventing editor. She has worn many hats within the magazine since then, where she is now features editor.
In a reporting guise, Martha has been on the ground in Paris for the 2024 Olympics, as well as multiple European Championships in both eventing and dressage. Reporting has also taken her to Doha, the World Cup Finals in Riyadh, World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Pau CCI5*, the young horse eventing world championships in Le Lion d’Angers, as well as closer to home at Burghley, Badminton and more local events at both grassroots and international level.
Martha has also written features on equestrian and rural matters for publications such as Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator, Polo Times and The Telegraph, and has covered everything from an exclusive on The Queen’s favourite horses and the cloning of Tamarillo to interviewing the iconic Jilly Cooper.
Martha is regularly called on to contribute to TV programmes on equestrian royalty, such as ITN’s All The Queen’s Horses and a 2025 Channel 5 documentary on Princess Anne, A Quite Remarkable Royal.
Born and raised in Suffolk, Martha has ridden since she was eight, initially with the Essex & Suffolk branch of the Pony Club and going on to event up to intermediate level though with very little success, despite having lessons with the great Ruth McMullen. Martha has bred two event horses by Cevin Z from her own horse of a lifetime, Fizz, one of which is now eventing at CCI4* with Alice Hallows.
Martha is currently enjoying producing a seven-year-old ex-racehorse, Mac, who she believes might need someone better and braver than her to do him justice in eventing. She enjoys jumping, hacking and fitness work.
Martha is also besotted with dogs – with a huge soft spot for springer spaniels – though with no competitive ambitions in this sphere whatsoever. After growing up with assorted liver and white springers, she had two rescue dogs for 14 years, one a street dog from Gambia who was abandoned at three weeks old. Now, her constant companion, whether by her feet at her desk or walking cross-country courses, is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer.
Martha also writes for expert advice guide PetsRadar, and was editor for Petplan Equine’s magazine Paces for seven years.
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‘We forget how good Suffolks were at our peril’: Princess Anne on how and why we should harness the skills of this rare breedTullis Matson visits the Princess Royal’s Gatcombe Park Stud to meet a flourishing herd of Suffolk horses – and discovers how they helped save the rhino
By Martha Terry Published
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The Princess Royal on her passion for Suffolk horses inside today’s Horse & Hound magazineThe Princess Royal’s passion for Suffolk horses is helping to keep the rare breed alive – and, at Gatcombe Park, she reveals why these powerful working horses still have a future. Tullis Matson pays a visit
By Martha Terry Published
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Biggest horse breeds in the world: terrifically tall equines you should knowHow many of the biggest horse breeds do you know?
By Martha Terry Last updated
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From riding school to the podium: how eventing silver medallist worked her way from a city childhood to the under-25 World ChampionshipsThe new under-25 world silver medallist is proof that you don’t need an equestrian background to excel in eventing. Cerys Macaulay tells about her path to the top – and a particularly special horse
By Martha Terry Published
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‘A brilliant way to encourage young people into the sport’: AP McCoy backs Pony Club raceday alongside other stars of the racing worldNewbury Racecourse stages its first Pony Club racing meeting, supported by stars of both the Flat and jump worlds in AP McCoy, Oisin Murphy and Nicky Henderson
By Martha Terry Published
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‘Taking part doesn’t count in my eyes, you’ve got to win’: football’s Michael Owen targets top of racing’s Premier LeagueMichael Owen is bringing the same ambition that drove him to the top of the footballing world to his racing stables. H&H caught up with him ahead of the launch of new docuseries Meet the Owens
By Martha Terry Published
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Stop your horse rushing with this simple one-fence jumping exercise as used by Scott BrashThis straightforward setup should help regulate your horse’s stride pattern both into and away from a fence, boosting the quality of the canter
By Martha Terry Published
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Sharpen your aids for bending and straightness with this diamond exerciseThis is a great exercise, which can be ridden in an arena or field, for young and green horses to help them learn clear aids for straightness and bending
By Martha Terry Published
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This simple but demanding groundwork exercise will boost your horse’s coordination and core stabilityFind out how to guide your horse through this exercise, plus get tips and troubleshooting advice
By Martha Terry Published
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Defender Burghley entries with Horse & Hound’s expert form guide for 2026Our handy guide to Burghley entries contains the vital stats for every combination, plus H&H reporter Martha Terry’s form assessment for every pair, making it useful whether you are watching from home or at the event
By Martha Terry Published
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Build three simple fences for multiple lines to hone your horse’s rhythm, canter quality and flying changesYou can practise dozens of different approaches and landings, useful for all levels of horse and rider
By Martha Terry Published
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Use this exercise to train yourself to judge your galloping pace – and boost your horse’s fitnessYou need to practise riding at cross-country speed to know how it feels. Try this galloping exercise to develop your judgement of the correct tempo
By Martha Terry Published
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This simple figure-of-eight drill can improve your horse’s balance, lift and self-carriage in canterUse the figure-of-eight pattern to develop your horse’s counter-canter and boost the quality of this pace overall
By Martha Terry Published
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‘It costs $4,500 to enter an FEI show, but you can jump a grand prix qualifier worth $100,000-plus’: Jess Mendoza on life in the States as Britain’s leading lady showjumperRiding high on Britain’s recent Nations Cup triumph at Hickstead, the US-based showjumper talks about team honours, making her pony-mad teenage dreams come true – and transforming her childhood passion into a lucrative American enterprise
By Martha Terry Published
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Hone your eye for a stride with this jumping exercise on a related distanceThis related distance is commonly found on showjumping tracks, so make sure you nail that adjustability at home
By Martha Terry Published
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Mix up collection and lateral work with this quick and simple exercise to improve your horse’s engagement and impulsionA very small circle followed by shoulder-in requires your horse to maintain his balance and energy through the collection into the sideways and forwards movement
By Martha Terry Published
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‘I love racing so much I don’t want to stop’: new career goals for dressage rider Gemma OwenA new TV series documenting Michael Owen’s family life features Gemma’s foray into the racing world from dressage, and how she’s stepping up to the new challenge
By Martha Terry Published
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Two poles, three exercises, 10 minutes: this core workout boosts your horse’s strength and footwork when you don’t have time to rideThis exercise can improve your horse’s posture, proprioception and provide some mental stimulation on a non-riding day
By Martha Terry Published
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Sharpen your horse’s straightness, engagement and balance with Joe Stockdale’s go-to jumping exerciseAngled approaches to single fences ramp up the concentration for both horse and rider, with plenty of options to work on your weak spots
By Martha Terry Published
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Try this simple transitions exercise that yields a wide range of benefitsPerfect your circles and walk to canter transitions with this straightforward exercise that also works on rhythm, balance and bend
By Martha Terry Published
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The essential guide to nailing Burghley styleFind out what to wear to Burghley Horse Trials and how to look effortlessly country-chic
By Martha Terry Last updated
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Give your horse a thorough workout with this versatile four-pole exerciseLoops and elongated figure-of-eights are great for honing both suppleness and straightness, while the four poles give you a focal point for accuracy
By Martha Terry Published
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Improve your horse’s suppleness, collection and responsiveness with this 10m circle sequenceIf your horse has nailed single 10m circles, try this offset figure-of-eight drill to focus the mind and body
By Martha Terry Published
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Try this five-fence exercise, which you can ride in 60 different ways, to practise landing on the correct leadThe butterfly jumping exercise offers multiple variations of bending and straight lines, with the focus on landing on the correct lead and maintaining the canter quality on a curve
By Martha Terry Published
