Storm Straker on juggling a full-time job and top-level eventing

Storm Straker and Fever Pitch at Blenheim in 2023.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Storm Straker is among that rare cohort of competitors who manage to juggle a full-time job with riding at the top level.

The 25-year-old piloted Fever Pitch clear across country in the eight- and nine-year-old class at Blenheim Horse Trials in the autumn of 2023 and clear in the time in the horse’s first CCI4*-L, at Boekelo. They were also eighth in the CCI4*-S at Blair last season.

“Friends say, ‘Do you want to go on holiday?’ and I have no holiday left to take because I use it all for events – I don’t actually have enough holiday to do all the events I want to do in 2024,” she says. “So that side of it slightly sucks because obviously I’m young, I want to socialise and be with my mates, but it’s a decision you’ve got to make and it’s something you love. You’ve got to take the highs and lows, so the highs are the good days of eventing and the lows are not being able to go partying with friends.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

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.

Meet Karen Dixon’s niece, who juggles a full-time job and top-level eventing

Storm works in the rural insurance sector for Howden Insurance, putting in three days a week in the office and two days from home.

The rider pays tribute to Mark Holmes, who works for her and is her “lifeline”.

“You certainly can’t do it without the team and he always has a smile on his face,” she says.

She is also frank about the sacrifices she has to make to fit everything in.

Storm bought her top horse, Fever Pitch, as a four-year-old.

She says: “It took a little while for me to adjust to him because I hadn’t been on anything that’s quite so big and rangy – I had a 15.2hh before that and he’s about 17 hands. I wouldn’t say it was love at first ride, but now it’s like slipping on an old glove.”

A first five-star is on the cards for the pair in 2024.

She will also be taking up the pure dressage challenge with the stallion Vsplesk, who had eight wins eventing before a fall calcified some ligaments and meant he had to have an operation and change track.

“I bought him at the same time as Pitchy – he was love at first ride because he’s super naughty and I just love horses like that, who’ve got a bit of character,” she says.

You might also be interested in:

What happens when a horse tires across country? New research finds out

Top equestrian coach Caroline Moore launches new scheme to help next generation

Legends of the sport: Happy 70th birthday to six-time Badminton winner Lucinda Green

Does your horse hate to go behind when hacking? Try these three exercises