“I sought after to surrender horses totally,” says Fred Powell, who’s competing Grafiba at this yr’s Blenheim Horse Trials. “We had a garbage season final yr the place we fell a few occasions.”
Fred’s turnaround is little short of admirable and, heading into lately’s cross-country segment within the CCI4*-L (21 September), Fred and ‘Raffy’ take a seat in 8th on a 26 dressage ranking.
“Amy Penny [event rider], my absolute best mate, instructed me I wasn’t giving up and he or she’s been my rock. So I’ve saved going and saved grafting,” explains Fred, 27, who’s primarily based in Wales.
He left faculty at 17 to pursue a occupation in horses and arrange a backyard at house.
“Mum and I made our personal stables and we purchased and bought horses to generate profits after which other people began sending horses to me,” states Fred. “Then Covid hit and house owners took horses away because of prices so I went and labored for Andrew Williams and Vicky Tuffs at GHF Equestrian.
“I took 3 horses with me and Andrew and Vicky gave me an incredible alternative to be 2nd rider to Vicky, and I were given to journey some implausible younger horses. Then their trade got here to an result in 2023 and I went again house and that’s the place I’m now.”
Fred is frank in explaining what lifestyles is like in his quest to make a occupation out of eventing.
“Working a trade as an match rider is actually onerous to make paintings financially, and I don’t have any team of workers, however we’re making it paintings. I feel individuals are scared to mention how tricky it’s, however I’ve were given an incredible fortify community round me.”
Raffy was once bought by way of mom and daughter, Jackie and Jo Forrester, six years in the past when he was once 5 after Tim Value to start with produced him. He was once supposed to be a horse that Jo may just compete on the decrease ranges.
“Raffy did a gentle suspensory whilst competing at BE100 and Jo requested me to journey him whilst he was once being introduced again into paintings. Then she mentioned ‘Fred, I’m no longer getting again on him’, and I’ve saved the journey from that time,” says Fred, who describes this son of Grafenstolz as a “cheeky” personality.
“He can also be rather nappy and just a little of a stresser in a unusual method and he virtually provides just a little bit an excessive amount of, however he doesn’t have an uncongenial bone in his frame and he likes his personal area – you’ll be able to’t namby pamby him as when you spend an excessive amount of time with him, he will get frustrated.
“His trickiest segment is the showjumping and Kim Belton has been an ideal assist in recent years and has helped settle him, which has been his greatest factor. He doesn’t like touching a fence, so when he did, he were given actually frightened about it and compounded the problem. However so long as we will be able to stay his mind, he’s wonderful.”
Fred and Raffy have loved some robust effects this season, together with completing 3rd within the aggressive CCI3*-L at Hartpury final month and so they additionally jumped transparent throughout nation to complete fifteenth within the CCI4*-S at Blair Fort too.
“Raffy’s house owners were wonderful this yr about letting me do my very own factor with him this season and relied on me, and that’s actually helped,” smiles Fred, who was once overjoyed with their dressage efficiency right here.
“He was once depraved. He hasn’t been to many giant puts and he napped all of the method as much as the warm-up, however he actually rose to the instance within the enviornment and he did some actually cool bits of labor. He’s a gorgeous, giant mover.”
Fred’s goal this week is to “come house satisfied and secure”.
“I actually do consider in him,” he says.
You may additionally be fascinated by:
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Gemma Redrup
Credit score: Hannah Cole
Credit score: Libby Legislation
Credit score: Long run
