“Being right here in driving boots, fairly than sat within the stands, is surreal,” says Sophie Callard, who’s competing Brookfield Benjamin Jump at this 12 months’s Blenheim Horse Trials, in what’s a primary CCI4*-L for each horse and rider. “Blenheim is a unique position for me as mum first introduced me right here when I used to be 12 and I’ve visited annually since.”
Sophie has at all times been a prepared eventer, beginning within the pony ranks sooner than progressing thru juniors and younger riders.
“However dad was once very adamant that I wouldn’t experience as a profession, so I needed to move to uni,” explains the smiling 30-year-old. “I studied recreation science after which went on to show number one college PE for 5 years, which was once superb – I liked it.”
Then, simply sooner than Covid hit, Sophie began doing a little of driving for Brookfield Equestrian’s John and Chloe Perry, whose backyard is in the similar Berkshire village as the varsity Sophie taught at.
“Then when Covid hit, we have been on three-week rotations in school the place we labored for per week educating the kids of key employees after which had two weeks off, which is after I would experience at John and Chloe’s.
“It was once at that time Chloe recommended I will have to paintings for them full-time, which was once at all times a dream of mine, but it surely was once only a case of creating the jump. I nonetheless hack previous the principle college now and the kids will run to the railings and shout ‘Leave out Callard!’ to me.”
Sophie’s task with John and Chloe most commonly comes to her generating the younger Brookfield-prefixed horses.
“They in most cases arrive as four-year-olds and I produce them till the tip in their five- and now and again six-year-old years sooner than they then move onto their designated riders,” says Sophie. “John and Chloe also are actually superb at permitting me to construct my very own string with new house owners coming in whilst in response to their backyard round their horses.”
When requested whether it is tough to peer horses she has produced be despatched off to new riders, comparable to Piggy March and Tom McEwen, Sophie is adamant in her resolution.
“I like not anything greater than to peer the horses I’ve produced going smartly with their riders, figuring out that I’ve performed my section – that’s actually pleasing. We’ve got a good looking courting with the entire riders because the horses development and Piggy is helping me once we’re at those kinds of occasions – actually like my proper arm – and walks the classes with me and is solely superb.”
Brookfield Benjamin Jump, or just Jump as he’s recognized at house, is a experience that Sophie took on for the 2023 season having been competed to CCI4*-S degree through Tom McEwen. The 12-year-old was once owned through John and Chloe, plus Alison Swinburn, and it was once the latter who was once answerable for securing Jump for Sophie to experience.
“It was once a terrific factor for Alison to do with a view to permit me the danger to damage into the upper ranges of eventing,” Sophie says.
“Jump is solely superb – he generally is a bit difficult in that he’s a little of an peculiar personality. He’s a little of a worrier and is certainly a one individual horse. I simply have him right here this week and no groom, so I am getting to do completely the entirety with him and he loves that. After I experience others at the backyard at house, he hates it. He’s my little mate and we‘re simply pals – sure, he’s a little quirky, however I like it and he tries his center out for me.”
Talking of her objectives for this week, Sophie states she desires to “revel in it”.
“We’re right here to have a good looking time and to expectantly achieve a finishing touch with cast leads to all 3 stages – that may be superb.”
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