On this unique, subscriber-only interview, Paris Olympics group bronze medallist Becky Moody relives her medal-winning rides on Jagerbomb and provides an perception into the behind-the-scenes motion that result in that luck
For individuals who’ve been fascinated about British dressage for a while, there was once one thing so cathartic in looking at Becky Moody and Jagerbomb provoke at the international degree and win a group bronze medal on the Paris Olympics.
Since profitable the Pony Ability Recognizing Ultimate at 14, Becky has been a fixture at the circuit, profitable greater than 30 nationwide titles and coaching numerous different riders up throughout the ranges.
Seeing all the ones years of unwavering determination and tireless arduous paintings rewarded, whilst driving a horse she bred, raised and educated herself, encapsulates the dream of what’s imaginable within the game.
“My diary was once chock-a-block once I were given again so I haven’t had a lot time to take into accounts all of it,” Becky admits, after a brief pause. “I’d say it’s been surreal – it virtually feels love it by no means came about.”
Becky Moody and Jaegerbomb at house with their bronze medal. Credit score: Steve Dawe
We’re talking two months on from Paris, and whilst Becky has been continuous, Jagerbomb has been taking part in some well-earned down time within the box.
As we wave our palms and rustle his favorite treats to perk him up for the pictures, it’s arduous to consider Becky when she says this nonchalant gelding – who appeared wholly familiar with his new stage of reputation – was once considered one of the most up to date horses she’s ever ridden whilst in Paris.
“This is the reason no one moderately believes the pony I had sooner than the grand prix,” she laughs. “Most often, he is an overly laid again personality. He were to Compiègne and Rotteradam previous within the season, which gave him some publicity to stadium atmospheres, and whilst he was once warmer there, it was once in a manageable manner.
“However in Paris he was once ridiculous – pinging round and considering it was once the most productive factor ever. I used to be at the first day of the grand prix at the Tuesday and after I rode him on Sunday after the trot up, I used to be truly anticipating him to have settled by means of that time, and he simply hadn’t.
Workforce Moody from left to proper: Anna Burns, Ava (black Labrador), Linzi Cameron, Jagerbomb, Becky Moody, Lucy Wilson, Zoe Protecting, Holly Jones and Demi Nicholas. Credit score: Steve Dawe
“I actually couldn’t stroll or halt as a result of he was once so filled with power and inquisitive about the whole thing, and I used to be like ‘Oh my goodness, this isn’t how I sought after it to be!’
“However Carl [Hester] was once incredible and we made a plan and by means of Monday night I used to be feeling in a significantly better position.”
At the morning of the grand prix itself, Becky admitted the ready was once the hardest phase, particularly with the drive of the gang.
“I wasn’t on till 4 o’clock on Tuesday so I had the entire day to take into accounts what was once coming and it made me really feel somewhat queasy,” she says. “It was once great so as to watch Carl who went previous however I don’t like looking at an excessive amount of so spent a large number of time within the stables – which was once the nicest position to be for the reason that air-conditioning was once so excellent.
“When I’m on it’s tremendous, it’s the sitting round sooner than you get on that’s the terrible bit. The warmth was once tricky. I warmed-up within the lined enviornment after which most likely for the remaining quarter-hour went outdoor. I’d inebriated a large number of water however most likely no longer sufficient electrolytes and after I went outdoor I felt moderately light-headed. I even requested my groom Kim for a sugar dice!”
Regardless of the warmth and the nerves, the pair produced a mistake-free spherical to attain 74.94% and best Crew C within the grand prix.
Becky Moody driving Jagerbomb within the grand prix particular on the 2024 Paris Olympics. Credit score: Peter Nixon
“Such a lot of other folks messaged me after the category and to mention how great it was once to look anyone smiling doing their check,” Becky remembers. “However I used to be completely no longer smiling, I used to be grimacing and squinting within the solar, it appears I simply can’t squint with my mouth close!”
However whilst the pair had been spectacular within the grand prix, they excelled within the particular. Going first for the group, and on their championship debut, they had been with regards to faultless, scoring a brand new non-public very best of 76.49%.
“I used to be within the morning, so I controlled to drive some breakfast down vivid and early,” Becky remembers. “I rode him very first thing after which put him away so shall we each have the physios have a look at us. I feel that’s one thing other folks don’t truly see, however the strengthen group that we’ve got round are fantastic.
“I then all the time plait up. It’s my factor, I adore it, and it’s a part of my psychological prep. I take advantage of that point to center of attention and visualise my check and suppose thru it.”
Becky provides that there are all the time a couple of “set items” she rides within the warmup, however in Paris she attempted to stick adaptable.
“We knew the passage, to trot, to half-pass was once one thing he was once fragile in, so we practiced that sooner than the check. Something we did otherwise is that we didn’t truly observe the piaffe. I feel I possibly did one piaffe within the warm-up for every check, and that was once it.
“That was once a tiny bit daunting for me as a result of I’d by no means finished that during a warm-up. Most often, I’d most likely need to do moderately a large number of piaffe as a type of motivating factor however he was once so on it, and I didn’t need him to be off in his halts, so we simply left it by myself.
“And it labored – as a result of the beauty of him is how a lot he desires to do it, and that’s what were given me throughout the particular in addition to it did.
“That check is a marathon, however even on that ultimate centre line he was once ‘I’m able for extra, what’s subsequent’, which is excellent as a result of as a rider my activity become pronouncing ‘Whoa, steadiness, organise, excellent boy, you’re tremendous’ moderately than ‘Come on, you wish to have to be somewhat sharper’, which makes for a significantly better image.”
Becky Moody (some distance proper) stocks the limelight along with her fellow dressage medallists. Credit score: Alamy
Becky did set up to get everybody somewhat anxious when she lower it shut, leaving a 2nd of her allocated 45 to spare sooner than getting into the world.
“That was once simply to freak everybody out,” she laughs. “It was once as a result of we’d been doing a large number of canter, stroll, canter to assist him with the halts and I sought after to do a few the ones sooner than I rode my first centre line.
“However he was once nonetheless somewhat bit traumatic and tight nonetheless, so I used to be like, ‘I’ve were given to do some other one.’ I may just see the clock so I used to be certain I had time, I don’t suppose everybody else was once despite the fact that!”
One second that stands proud for Becky is status at the podium along one of the vital game’s biggest names.
“That was once the good factor and the image folks all up there may be considered one of my best 5 favorite pictures of all time. To take a look at that image and suppose that those guys were my absolute inspiration and position fashions was once fantastic, and to be there with Lottie [Fry] as nicely who I taught when she was once a wee nipper in BD Early life, it simply is going to turn how issues can alternate while you graft and paintings arduous.”
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