Tales from Hickstead: from beginner to Royal International rider in just two years

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Chloe Chapman and her 11-year-old show pony Wycroft Da Vinci are heading to the 2021 Royal International Horse Show
Chloe Chapman and her 11-year-old show pony Wycroft Da Vinci are heading to the 2021 Royal International Horse Show.
(Image credit: Emmpix)

AFTER learning to ride just two years ago, 15-year-old Chloe Chapman is heading to her first Royal International Horse Show with schoolmaster Wycroft Da Vinci. Chloe bought the 11-year-old part-bred show pony a year ago with help from her aunt Suzanne Hibbard.

“We have show horses ourselves and keep them with Jordan Cook,” said Suzanne. “Chloe had been riding her lovely all-rounder Black Jack, a cob who she did a bit of everything with. She than started coming to shows with us and decided she wanted a show pony of her own, so we helped her find one.”

Stephanie Bateman
Stephanie Bateman
Freelance journalist

Stephanie Bateman began her career working for Horse & Hound’s sister title HORSE magazine in 2009 after studying a BSc Equine Science degree at Hartpury university. After a few years working in-house for a national equestrian title, she went freelance in 2011, and now writes for a variety of print and online platforms, editing sections of national monthly magazines and contributing regular features and event reports to Horse & Hound. She juggles working with being a mummy and wife, and riding her coloured mare Matilda.