Bolesworth International is playing host to the Ride-away Express Eventing Challenge in a couple of weeks. We have been catching up with the riders who will be taking part in the event on Friday 19 June.
Keep checking the blog or follow us on Twitter @Rideawayonline for more updates on this year’s Express Eventers!
Carol Pearson
- How old were you when you started riding, who introduced you to riding and which was the horse?
I started my love of horses (donkeys) on the beach at Bridlington. I would have been only 7 and used to spend my whole holidays helping so I could have a ride at the end of the day. - Which other equestrian discipline do you most like to watch?
I used to watch showjumping all the time, now I watch everything but I have to say, I do have a soft spot for Valegro. - How do you choose the music for your Express Eventing performances?
I have sat at my computer for hours watching the dressage from the Express Eventing at the Lincolnshire Show, playing songs to see which fit in with the foot fall of Dylan (Major Promise). - Do you think horses enjoy music? How can you tell?
I do because when I play the music at home he seems much more “jolly” and they definitely do learn the music as they do the test. - Which of your horses is your current favourite and why?
Dylan aka “Super Cob” or Major Promise has to be a horse of a lifetime. We have done everything together and are like a married couple. I know what he’s thinking and he knows what I’m thinking!! I can honestly say this horse has never ever let me down. Whatever I have asked of him he has always delivered. - Do you reward your horses for a good performance and, if so, how?
He gets lots of treats and polo’s and numerous pats, though he does get very demanding if you ignore him. He has to be the centre of your attention. - What has been the highlight of your career to date and why?
Definitely has to be being part of the winning European 2 star team gold medal in 2011…first time Britain had won Team Gold, it was a very emotional week. - What was your favourite subject at school and why?
If I am honest I really didn’t like school at all. If I had to choose a subject it would be History. I hated Maths! - If you weren’t a professional rider what would you like to do?
I have always worked to support my hobby. If I had my time again I would like to do some sort of work with animals. I do what I can now to help dog rescues but if I did work with animals I would dread to think how many I would have. - What would you most like to win that you haven’t already?
I would have loved to have won a class at Chatsworth Horse trial. I love Chatsworth and I was so close one year. - Where would you go and what would you do for your perfect weekend?
I love to stay at home (I know that sounds boring) but I have everything there that I want and I cook a real good steak! What more could I need. - Name a young rider and/or horse to watch for in the future. What makes them special?
Angelo IV a horse I sourced from Holland and was bought for Sam Griffiths to ride. He won the CCI2 star at Osberton in 2013, I was very proud of them. - Which horse would you most like to have had the opportunity to compete on and why
I would have loved to ride Opposition Buzz over the Cottesmore leap. He was a x-country machine and probably the only horse I would have ever dared jumped it on. - Do you have any pets at home?
I have a rescued Staffie called Jack who is 15 now and I have had him 13 years and Sox, another rescue Staffie who is 4 this year. Two pugs who are 6; they are sisters and a right pair of madams! And then there’s Gerald who is a rescued American bulldog who is 5 now.I have a pig called Alice, she is seven now and has free roam about the place, usually causing havoc with horses that haven’t seen her before. She’s not a small pig either, she is quite large and usually positions herself at the end of the ménage when I’m riding.
I have a cat called Tom as well, he’s 13 now.
Lots of geese, chickens and ducks around the place too.
- What’s your favourite meal – and can you cook it?
I love fillet steak with stilton cheese melted on it, with chips, onion rings, peas and mushrooms. I like to cook and do a lot of baking; my friends can often see what I have made as I usually flood them with pictures of it on social media! I have my own vegetable plot and grow all my own veg too. - Do you have any lucky charms or superstitions. If so what?
An Austrian rider called Margit Appelt who I met whilst competing in Italy gave me a lucky mushroom charm. I still have it today in my medical armband holder… - What’s your favourite city in the world and why?
Not a city…but I once went to Barbados on holiday and I loved the whole place everything there was just perfect. The people were so friendly, food was amazing and it was warm.
