Go behind the scenes at Olympic eventer Tina Cook’s West Sussex yard

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Tina with Paddy's Poem (Paddy) at brother Nick Gifford's racing yard
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

We recently spent a day at multi-medalled British event rider Tina Cook’s yard — check out these pictures and make sure you buy Horse & Hound magazine this week (8 March 2018) to read the full feature, plus much more eventing in our 15-page special

Tina riding Paddy’s Poem on the gallops at her brother Nick Gifford’s racing yard, which is near to her own yard
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Tina riding Paddy’s Poem on the gallops at her brother Nick Gifford’s racing yard, which is near to her own yard

Tina and Paddy’s Poem cool down after work
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Tina and Paddy’s Poem cool down after work

Tina washes off Paddy’s Poem at her brother’s yard before heading over to her own to begin work with her event horses
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Tina washes off Paddy’s Poem at her brother’s yard before heading over to her own to begin work with her event horses

Tina and team: (left to right) new head girl Helen Baggs, Star Witness, Tina, Billy The Red, part-time helper Jade Clarke and Rachel Tolley (Tina’s former head girl who currently works for her part-time)
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Tina and team: (left to right) new head girl Helen Baggs, Star Witness, Tina, Billy The Red, part-time helper Jade Clarke and Rachel Tolley (Tina’s former head girl who currently works for her part-time)

Grooms Rachel and Jade help tack up European team gold medallist Billy The Red
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Grooms Rachel and Jade help tack up European team gold medallist Billy The Red

Time for a few minutes’ chat with the chickens
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Time for a few minutes’ chat with the chickens

The horses’ work is recorded in a diary each day
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

The horses’ work is recorded in a diary each day

The grooms coming home from a hack
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

The grooms coming home from a hack

Tina works Billy The Red in her outdoor school
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Tina works Billy The Red in her outdoor school

Tina and Billy The Red. She rides six or so horses each day herself and is hands-on with helping on the yard and tacking up
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Tina and Billy The Red. She rides six or so horses each day herself and is hands-on with helping on the yard and tacking up

Billy The Red enjoys a jump during his session in the outdoor school
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Billy The Red enjoys a jump during his session in the outdoor school

Tina turns out four-star horses Star Witness and Billy The Red
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Tina turns out four-star horses Star Witness and Billy The Red

Tina with Billy The Red, who is aimed at either Badminton or Kentucky this spring
(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Tina with Billy The Red, who is aimed at either Badminton or Kentucky this spring

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Pippa Roome
Pippa Roome
Magazine editor and eventing editor

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.