Latest from Horse & Hound in Amy-stovold

Tales from Stoneleigh: ‘He reminds me of Macbrian; I don’t want to give him back’

Storm Johnson — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 19:05:04 +0000

At the end of her test in the intermediate I freestyle, Amy Stovold threw her arms around Waldessarini’s neck with a huge smile on her face.

The pair came ninth yesterday in the straight class to qualify for the music. Today, they nailed a superb test to finish third with 74%.

“I had too many mistakes yesterday, and I had a costly mistake on my first horse, Bo Bo L, this morning, so I rode my arse off in there!” she grins.

‘Foxy’ belongs to Nicolle Begovic, wife of Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir. Amy —who is based with Olympic husband-and-wife team Anders Dahl and Fiona Bigwood — has only had the ride for four months.

“Nicolle’s been crazy-busy, so I’ve been riding him on and off. I adore him; I don’t want to give him back,” she says from aboard the tall, elegant chestnut.

“He’s one in a million; he tried his hardest in there and we’ve only gone through the test once. He gives me such a great feeling — you can ride him to be hot or calm.”

Continued below…

Tales from Stoneleigh: same drive, different focus

Tales from Stoneleigh: back between the boards after 14 operations

Tales from Stoneleigh: ‘She was my idol’

Next year the plan is for Nicolle to take back the ride, and they will continue working Foxy towards grand prix.

“I really enjoy helping her with him. He reminds me of Macbrian [Amy’s former grand prix horse, who died this year]. He’s so genuine, and he really listens. He’s worth his weight in gold.”

Riding for the big names

What’s it like, riding for a professional footballer?

“I don’t think about it,” she laughs. “They’re so normal, they’re just people! I really respect Asmir as a sportsman, and he appreciates the mindset. They’re such nice, understanding owners; they’re great people to ride for,” she says.

It’s been a busy year for Amy outside the dressage arena. She recently married partner Simon and will soon head off on her honeymoon to South Africa.

“I’m actually teaching there for four days first,” she admits, “but then we’re going to Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, and we’ll go on safari.

“We’ve done everything this year: got married, bought a house — this is a great way to finish,” Amy grins.

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‘He made me smile every day’: rider pays tribute to top dressage horse

Lucy Elder — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:00:16 +0000

Amy Stovold’s dressage star MacBrian has been put down at the age of 19.

The gelding fractured his pelvis before Christmas and, despite the best efforts of Arundel Equine Hospital, he was struggling to recover and was put down this week (10 January).

“We were monitoring him carefully,” Amy told H&H.

“It was not fair to put him through that after everything he has done for me.”

The pair achieved numerous top-10 placings across Europe and represented Great Britain 10 times between 2009-10.

In 2009, the combination were crowned national intermediate II champions and made their Olympia debut the following year, where they came fifth.

“He was the most honest, most genuine, loving horse you could ever wish to have,” she told H&H.

“He always put absolutely 100% into everything.

“Riding him in the test event for the London 2012 Olympics and at Olympia in 2010 were my highlights — we achieved our best score at Olympia.”

Amy said she found “Macca” through word of mouth.

She went to see him on recommendation of her equine dentist, Nat Heal, and realised how special he was.

Amy had been aiming the dark chestnut gelding at London 2012, but a hoof injury in 2011 dashed their hopes.

MacBrian made a successful comeback two years later, winning the grand prix at Hickstead in April 2013.

However, Amy said at the time that he “just wasn’t 100% after the show” and he was retired from competition. She told H&H at the time that she was “heartbroken”.

He returned to full soundness and last year the combination made a remarkable second comeback, scoring over 68% in both the grand prix and the freestyle.

“He was feeling the best he has ever felt and I was planning on doing some more shows,” said Amy.

“I absolutely loved that horse, from the moment I sat on him 12 years ago he made me smile every day.”

Amy Stovold’s retires top horse Macbrian

Amy Mathieson — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:00:51 +0000

Amy Stovold has said she is “heartbroken” after retiring her top horse Macbrian from competition, just a week after he was tipped by H&H for the British team this summer (news, 30 May).

The 16-year-old gelding won the grand prix at Hickstead on 17 April with 74.31% (report, 25 April), after a two-year break following a hoof injury in 2011. But Amy said he “just wasn’t 100% after the show”.

“I’m so disappointed, I’ve cried every day, but I can’t go into a show thinking, ‘What could happen?’” she said. “It’s better for him to step down; he doesn’t owe me anything.”

Macbrian will still have a job at Amy’s Surrey yard as a schoolmaster to her staff.

“He’ll have a few months off, then he’ll be ridden again,” she said. “He could go out and do a grand prix tomorrow, but I don’t want to push him beyond his capacity — it’s not fair.”

His retirement is a blow for the British squad, too. The pair had been aiming at London 2012 before Macbrian’s injury and the strong performance at Hickstead attracted attention.

“We have brilliant combinations gunning for their senior team debut, too, such as Amy Stovold’s Macbrian back from injury and nailing big marks,” wrote H&H Editor Lucy Higginson in a recent column.

Story first published in Horse & Hound magazine (13 June, 2013)

British dressage riders give a good account at Saumur

Horse & Hound — Wed, 05 May 2010 12:19:21 +0000

The Brits held their own at Saumur CDI (29 April–2 May), with team stalwarts proving able and newcomers showing potential.

H&H columnist Richard Davison rode the Countess of Derby’s 11-year-old Florestan gelding Hiscox Artemis to grand prix freestyle victory having finished third in the grand prix.

The pair scored 75.15% in the music, despite two false starts on account of a hailstorm and then a problem with the music not playing.

Of his first restart Richard said: “Suddenly all this shouting started and people were running for cover.

“I’m happy with Artemis, he coped so well with all the disruption and I’m glad he got to raise the flag for Great Britain on the final day.”

Henriette Andersen — fifth in the grand prix — finished second in the freestyle (71.25%) with Paula Potter’s 13-year-old gelding Louis D’Or.

Amy Stovold impressed on her senior international debut to take 10th place in the grand prix and fourth in the freestyle (70.65%) riding her 17hh chestnut gelding MacBrian.

Nations cup

The British team of Fiona Bigwood, Judy Harvey (Fitzceraldo) and newcomers Anna Ross-Davies with Pegasus MK and Gemma Green on Showtime, finished third in the CDIO (nations cup), thanks to a top ride from Fiona.

She rode Wie Atlantico, her 11-year-old gelding by Wie Weltmeyer, to second place in the grand prix special (71.17%) and third in the freestyle (72.55%).

Fiona said: “We’ve been working hard all winter and I was hoping to do well, but you can never be sure. I feel as though we’ve turned a corner, it was a great show and we all left with smiles on our faces.

“It was nice for the team to take bronze; there were some competitive teams out there so I’m delighted.”

Richard Waygood began his role as senior chef d’equipe — he will work alongside team captain Richard Davison in preparation for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky this September.

In the pony international, 16-year-old Claire Gallimore from St Albans, Hertfordshire, shone with the 14.1hh chestnut gelding Gigolo.

They beat 39 riders to finish second in the team test with an impressive 74.22% and were third in the individual test (73.26%) and fifth in the freestyle (74.50%).

£10,500 saddle haul stolen from Amy Stovold’s yard

Horse & Hound — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:52:08 +0000

Dressage rider Amy Stovold had seven saddles stolen from her Sussex yard during a break-in on Sunday.

The Bates dressage saddles — which retail at £1,499 each — were in a locked tack room fitted, with an alarm and CCTV, at Amy’s base in Bolney, just a mile from Hickstead.

Thieves broke through metal grilles at the back of the tack room, avoiding the CCTV, and loaded the saddles into wheelbarrows which they ferried across three fields.

It is thought they might have been disturbed as one saddle and 20 double bridles were left behind.

The saddles, which are worth approximately £10,500, were all less than two years old.

Amy is confined to lungeing her horses as she negotiates with her sponsors Bates for the saddles to be replaced, and has had to pull out of some upcoming competitions.

She is asking readers to be vigilant if offered Bates saddles at discounted prices.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.

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Amy Stovold takes first national dressage title in six years

Horse & Hound — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:13:25 +0000

Amy Stovold clinched her first national title since 2003 at Stoneleigh (17 September), heading the NFU Mutual intermediaire II riding her mother Maggi and Julia Jacob’s Macbrian.

Last year, the pair came second three times in the small tour to Carl Hester.

“I can’t believe it,” said Amy. “He was a little bit tense in the arena, but he also felt much stronger in the work than ever before. I’ve been training a lot with Richard White and that’s really made the difference.”

Amy has been riding the 12-year-old 17.2hh son of Jan Brink’s (SWE) Olympian Briar for four years.

“I love Macbrian’s energy,” she said. “He always wants to go forward and he’s so generous in his nature.”

Their nemesis Carl Hester finished out in front again in the Jeffries Saddlery prix st georges, this year riding Sasha Stewert’s eight-year-old Metall stallion Uthopia. So that’s national title number 47 for Carl Hester, who is on a mission to make it 50 this weekend. The eight-year-old with little competition experience looked completely at home in the arena and clearly finds the work a walk in the park. The pair intend to contest the Spanish sunshine tour next spring — after they’ve cleaned up in the small tour here that is.

Maria Eilberg, Carl’s team silver medal winning team mate at Windsor Europeans last month, topped the Biotal medium open riding Lynne Crowden and Mrs C John’s Woodlander Rockstar. The seven-year-old stallion by Rotspon is successfully combining studwork with his competition career.

“He actually feels better for having been off to stud,” said Maria. “He’s working well at prix st georges at home and is beginning to find this level of work too easy — I have to keep his mind occupied so he doesn’t try and entertain himself, but he has a fantastic temperament, traveled here with a mare and never notices them at a competition.”

Rachel Finnan took the first class of the day, the Stretch and Flex elementary restricted on Jodie Lister’s Coco Channel. Rachel, a former student of Jennie Loriston Clarke’s Catherston Stud in Hampshire, now works for former young rider Jodie, competing her young horses. Coco Channel is a seven-year-old German bred Sandro Hit mare.

For the full report, analysis and pictures from the BD national championships, don’t miss Horse & Hound 24 September issue.

Amy Stovold swaps dressage for racecar driving

Horse & Hound — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:22:32 +0000

Rider Amy Stovold swapped dressage for driving on Tuesday, 8 July, when she spent the day behind the wheel of a racing car.

The idea was to improve her riding by honing her skills in a car.

Amy, who hopes to compete for Britain at London 2012, was unsure of the idea to start with but began to see parallels between the riding and driving.

“I was a bit sceptical at first, but thought it was worth a go,” said Amy. “I was really intrigued when I was told that I had to make very gentle movements to let the car know what I was about to do. It sounded just like the skills I apply in the dressage arena.”

“Overall I believe the best thing to have come out of my training has been the boost to my confidence and a real belief in the skills I have developed in my career as a dressage rider.

“I have a better belief in my own abilities and a realisation that I have a touch and feel which is more deeply seated than I thought.”

Amy took to the track with top Formula One trainer Rob Wilson, who was impressed with her driving.

Rob said: “Amy’s feel for the car is truly exceptional, using her equestrian skills to be subtle with both her hands and feet gave her an edge over most of my students.”

The idea came from Amy’s sponsor Nick Jacobs from Rowan Asset Management who suggested there was a parallel between the two sports.

Nick said: “Many may question the link between motor racing and dressage; however both sports require extensive preparation, co-ordination and sensual skills to participate at the highest level.

“The success of the cross training will be revealed in her next ride for Great Britain at Hickstead at the end of July.”

Dressage rider Amy Stovold swaps horses for racecars to improve her riding

Horse & Hound — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:13:14 +0000

Dressage rider Amy Stovold will be swapping horses for a racing car next week in a form of sports psychology.

Amy, who is hoping to compete for Britain at London 2012, currently competes with four horses and is based in West Sussex.

During the training session, Amy will be put through her paces behind the wheel of a high performance racecar, during which she will learn skills that can be transferred to her dressage.

Strict control, refined reactions and sharp perception will be focused on during the session.

Amy told H&H: “My sponsor Nick Jacobs from Rowen Assett Management came up with the idea as he believes there is a parallel between motor racing and dressage — you have to prepare for things in a certain way and be extremely focused.

“So the skills I learn in the car will help me on my horses.”

Amy will be getting behind the wheel next Tuesday, 8 July, at the Bruntingthorpe Race Track in Leicestershire.

Amy added: “I can’t wait to have a go, I’m interested to see if there really is a parallel between the two sports.”

She will be driving with motor sports trainer Rob Wilson who has trained top drivers including Kimi Raikkonen and the Red Bull team.

Rob said: “Unless you’re in harmony with all the sensations that tell you why you’re going fast or slow, which is part input, part machine/animal, it’s not a great deal of use. I look forward to using my expertise on the track to help Amy achieve her goal of gold in 2012 in the dressage arena.”