Early mornings and late nights: lawyer wins winter jumping title at spring championships
A full-time lawyer successfully switched one high pressure job for another at the 2022 British Showjumping Spring Championships (24—27 March), as her gelding soared to the top of the NAF Five Star winter silver league championship final.
Rebecca Marsh and her dad Adrian Marsh’s 14-year-old Adorus (Andy) were second last to go in the eight-strong jump-off. Only the previous combination, Emily Morris and her speedy mare Bean Cruising, had gone clear, so the pressure was on for Rebecca and Andy, her ride of just over a year, to leave all the fences up.
“Andy is easy to adjust; you can always go more forward or add a stride if you need,” said Rebecca. “Plus, he’s quite careful.”
The jump-off required a forward rhythm, plenty of pace and accuracy on the turns. Rebecca rode a quiet round on ultra-focused Andy, asking enough of the big-striding gelding but ensuring she let him get on with the job before him.
“I jumped my other horse, Stevie G, in the jump-off first so I knew where I was going,” she continued. “I knew I had to keep Andy in his rhythm and just ride him properly to go clear.”
Earlier in his career, Andy was sold to a client in America before returning to the Marsh’s Heathcroft Stud here in the UK.
“Andy can be a bit grumpy and he likes his food, though he’s pretty willing to do anything when you’re on him,” said Rebecca.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Rebecca fits jumping in between the demands of working as a lawyer.
“I work during the week but I was off from Wednesday [of this week] so I came and jumped the clear round the classes which were being held here at Northcote,” explained Rebecca, who said that the venue is one of her locals. “I brought Andy along for this winter silver league final as he’d already qualified through points, so he didn’t need to jump a qualifier.
“I juggle horses around work with lots of early mornings and late nights. Horses are a nice break from work; they’re good for the soul.”
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
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
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.