The equestrian community is being encouraged to wear blue in memory of much-loved event rider and coach Sally Butler.
In January, Sally suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital, where she died the following week, aged 30.
She loved eventing and competed at four-star with her home-produced mare, Diamonds Eclipse. She held her Pony Club A test, worked for Stuart and Holly Campbell backing and starting young horses, and groomed to five-star level and all over Europe for Tricia Pytches.
Sally competed at numerous four-stars in recent years including Bramham 2025, and it was her dream to ride at five-star.
Sally Butler and Diamonds Eclipse, pictured competing at Keysoe in 2021. Riders are being encouraged to join Sally’s friends and family in wearing blue in her memory.
(Image credit: Nico Morgan)
She wore pale blue cross-country colours and her friends and family are asking riders to join them in celebrating her memory by wearing a blue ribbon or tape this season, and always try to “be more Sally”.
“Sally had time for everyone from grassroots upwards and will always be remembered for her advice, generosity and smiling words of encouragement,” her friend Alice Herrick told H&H.
“She was so amazing with grassroots riders and empowering them to feel they could get out there and enjoy themselves.
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“I met her when we were both working for Stuart and Holly Campbell. She was an amazing jockey and great with the young horses. She was always positive and sunshine.”
Simon Grieve wore blue at Poplar Park (7-8 March) to honour Sally and, the same weekend, held a polework clinic in her memory with a number of coaches.
“She was a genuinely lovely and kind soul, who had a natural gift for coaching in the most empathetic way,” Simon told H&H.
“She used to come to coach clinics at my base Field Farm monthly and was an absolute joy to have around. We will all miss her very much.”
Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
