8 The Showing Journal Know Your Judge Charlotte out hunting on the grey pony with her father Charles and her sister Emma. is approximately a 50/50 mix of horses and I had a pony almost before I was born. I am people. I have been so lucky in that this work the eldest of four daughters — we all rode as has taken me to some wonderful yards. I very young children. As soon as we were able, worked on Joseph O’Brien and Willie Mullins’ we were introduced to lead rein show classes horses which was a huge experience when in and then progressed through the ranks — first Ireland. Prior to that, I spent six months in ridden, show ponies etc. London working for the London 2012 Olympics, ‘My father dabbled unsuccessfully in a bit of Midlands-based Charlotte is a judge which was then followed up by a few months point-to-pointing. I think he came home from on the BSHA ride and conformation in Doha, Qatar, working on the United Nations Ascot sales with a yak or two, bought for next panel (side saddle included), SHB Climate Change Conference. to nothing. The story is that one of them put (GB) ride panel and the RoR panel. him through the wing of a fence and he suffered multiple fractures to his leg, which I think was She returned to the UK a few the end of it. years ago, having been based for ‘Pony Club soon grabbed my interest and all six wonderful years in Southern I wanted to do was jump fences. Days hunting Ireland, near Kilkenny. with the Warwickshire Hunt — where Dad would accompany us on a beautiful horse that Mum had endeavoured to get fit and sparkling am a registered chiropractor for for the day out — are some of my earliest people and animals and have run my memories, together with Warwickshire Pony own company since 2005,’ she says. Club membership. ‘I have a private clinic based in a spa ‘Ion Lincomb Farm, just outside Stourport-on- Severn. Outside of the lockdown, my work Charlotte and her faithful Labrador Elmo. ‘I’m hugely active and do lots of things that I love – tennis, netball, running (I’m entered for the London marathon whenever that may be Charlotte and former advanced event horse held!) and long dog walks. My dog, Elmo, is my Watermark III. right-hand man, and I’m a huge lover of skiing, water sports, working out and trying to be the ‘In my late teens I got the bug for eventing best physical version of myself possible!’ and again, was so fortunate to have an eventer Tell us about your early riding days bought for me. Known as ‘Harold’ — his registered name was quite a mouthful, ‘The ‘I was so incredibly lucky in my childhood Haberfield Hoo Dunnit’! — he was a Welsh cross Charlotte, on the left, with her younger sister Emma. days. My grandparents bred Welsh ponies and Thoroughbred, with the Welsh side having some www.theshowingjournal.co.uk August 2020 9 Charlotte and her eventer Singapore Sling. disastrous runs under Rules. I worked on his back and took him three times Charlotte eventing Harold, who taught her so much. a week to Robert and Jackie Chugg’s where they had a loose schooling lane. He was Shire in it! However, things didn’t quite turn a couple of hunting occasions with purchases. a disaster and I decided until he could learn to out as planned as he was the naughtiest horse We got these going, evented them, hunted them jump on his own, then I wasn’t going to attempt I’ve ever had. We quickly learnt after two events and they became life-long family members in it on his back. Time after time I took him, that we had to be led into the start box for the most instances. I was also extremely lucky to alongside regular chiropractic treatments, and cross country – the first two events involved him be loaned Watermark III. He had been round I had almost given up hope. Suddenly, one day, bolting with me out of the start box before the Badminton and also the Europeans. The late he was in the loose school and he had a massive green light and not being able to get him near it Peta Beckett had him in his heyday, and when buck and a squeal and decided he quite liked again. she tragically died in 1999, Susanna Bordone jumping again. He took off round the ring and started attacking the fences — the penny finally ‘Once we got in and out of the start box then had him in Italy on the proviso that the dropped. So to go from that to having my winner successfully, we then also quickly learnt that family could have him back when his top-level on him was a nice achievement. He then went he would nap back to the boxes at any possible days were over. At 16hh he wasn’t very big but on to be a schoolmaster for a couple of different opportunity. I had to be five steps ahead of him he was a huge character and taught me so much people starting their point-to-point careers. all the time, which taught me valuable lessons — especially in the dressage phase. I had a lot of that I would never have learnt from an easier fun on him. My youngest sister, Katie, then had ‘In the mix of all of that I rode side saddle, ride. him to do Pony Club things on him and we both mainly on the hunting field but I competed in the took him team chasing and I took him hunting, junior championships and headed up through ‘His dressage also left a lot to be desired – he which totally blew his mind – funny after the ranks in showing classes; I gave polo a go was a monkey and always tried to find a way out. everything that he had done and all the places and more latterly, and in Ireland, I concentrated But we got on famously, and once retired from he had been. But it was so great that he enjoyed on youngsters, getting them going and having eventing — we did complete a 1* I think (in old life with us. He is now back at Peta’s family home some fun in the show ring. It has been so lovely money) — people were in awe of what we could and I believe still grazing on the lawn and very to come back to my roots, so to speak, and I feel jump on the hunting field. happy in full retirement. like I’ve almost gone a full circle. ‘I could never queue for a fence as he was ‘I then decided that point-to-pointing looked ‘Winning the coloured class at my first Royal so naughty which meant I had to look to the good fun and successfully gave that a go, having Dublin Show was a big highlight. It’s the best left and right for other options. Gates, hedges, a few rides and training a few at home also. I show of the year and an amazing atmosphere wire – once we were jumping I could trust him remember my pointing with great fondness. I which takes a special horse to cope with. I was so with everything. The nappiness never left him, got my winner — which was great fun — on a lucky to have the ride on Pat Loughlin’s Salarno, though, and we once had a mishap where he horse called Prioritisation owned by Nick Shutts. who then went and won the last qualifier in the reared on a car roof. Luckily no-one was inside The horse came to me because he had totally UK for HOYS in 2013.’ and we all came out totally unscathed, but I lost his confidence jumping and was having was told on more than one occasion that he was dangerous and What started your I shouldn’t be interest in judging? riding him. But he was a legend for ‘I think it was a natural other reasons to progression and always me and I struggled on the cards. However, to explain to when I was in Ireland, a people that I did local show had been let feel safe on him. down by a judge. Last He taught me minute I stood in as ride probably most of judge and loved every what I know now, second of it. It’s great and I will always sitting on these beautifully be grateful to him produced horses that are for that. their owners’ pride and joy. ‘I pursued I got asked to judge more, eventing for a few over in Ireland, and then years and competed when I came back to the UK up to 2* back in the a couple of years ago, it was day. Dad got the Tack adjustment on always the plan to apply for Charlotte winning her first point-to-point on Nick Shutts’ Harold out hunting. bug for Ireland and Prioritisation. the panels over here.’ came back from Continued overleaf... www.theshowingjournal.co.uk 10 The Showing Journal This is why I love Know Your Judge judging the 1. Food heaven and youngsters. hell? They’re new Quick fire Heaven: Gosh, I’m to it and tend not a fussy eater and to really enjoy questions... really love good food being out. It’s and good wine. A a great way for rare steak with a good them to learn, red always whatever their future goes down careers are.