Piggy’s Path to the Podium – with Eventer Extraordinaire Piggy March | TALK HORSE with Pippa Funnell

Watch the second part of her interview here https://youtu.be/y_EVYEHI3L0

Pippa and Tristan sit down with eventing superstar Piggy March to explore the grit, grace, and guts behind her journey to the top. Piggy opens up about the disappointment of missing the 2012 Olympics, and the mental toughness, family ties, and sheer determination it took to come back stronger than ever—culminating in her dream win at Badminton. Whether you’re chasing your own goals or just love a good story of resilience, this one’s for you.

It’s such a packed episode we ran out of time… So do keep an eye out for some bonus Piggy content later this week…

Plus – it’s been 19 weeks in the making, but Pippa has FINALLY watched an episode of Made in Chelsea. And she’s got thoughts… BOY, has she got thoughts.

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This is effing brilliant. And it was like slow-mo of Is it really real? It’s really real. It’s really real. It’s an awful thing to say. I felt like saying maybe they need to get a bit more of a life. Cla Balding was like, “You’ve won.” It was It without doubt the best day of my life. Welcome to Talk Course. I’ll gallop through the highs and lows of the equestrian world. I’m Pippa Funnel. I’ve been aventing for many years now and I’m al also an author of a series of children’s books ponytails. And I’m Tristan Fipps. You may know me from Main Chelsea. However, I’m actually a trained safari guide, a lover of all things nature, and of course, very horse curious now and learning more and more each week from the amazing guests and of course, Pipper. Our guest today is one of our top British event riders. She’s a fabulous rider and with badminton coming up next week, we thought it would be really, really appropriate, she’d be great to get on the show to talk about her badon, past badminton experiences. Absolutely. So whether you’re a seasoned rider, a horse lover, or like me wanting to know more, this is the podcast for you. And do like and subscribe our pod as we want loads more people to hear about us and it really does help. So, saddle up, join our equestrian community, and let’s talk. Hello, Pipper. Welcome back. Same place, new day. I’m loving this home, different shirts. One day, we’re going to have to match, I think. Well, we’re not Well, similar colors. I think the blouse will look better on you than it would on me. Before we start, a big thank you to Harry Hall One Club for being our sponsor today. Yeah. Thank you, Harry Hall. Now, the lovely people at Harry Hall have enjoyed being our sponsors so much that they’ve given us a very special discount code for all you lovely people to use. And the discount code is thrarhaul-10. And that gives you 10% off Harryhall.com when you spend £20 or more. So go on, treat yourself. So Tristan Pipper, I have finally got round to watching an episode of Maiden Chelsea. Oh no. Here we go. And I have to admit, you got some feedback. I got a bit of feedback back, but actually I was really disappointed. I thought I thought you were in Maiden Chelsea, but the only thing I heard of you was you down the phone and there was no you weren’t in action. So this was episode one of the series. It was episode 29. Series 29. Episode Were they all in the Moldives? Yes. Well, part of it was in the Moldes. Part of it was in very posh places in Chelsea. Oh, very posh places. So I was I was in South Africa. I was I I delayed my start. You know, it’s important to let everyone get the nonsense out the way. I’m sure you saw there was a lot of nonsense to be Oh, if I’m honest with you. Yeah, there was a bit. That’s a lot of nonsense. Very dramatic group of people, right? Go on. Who is your favorite and who’s your least favorite? Apart from me, obviously. I don’t know whether it was my sense of humor. Um, but actually a very diplomatic way because I found the funniest bit of the whole program. Is it Who’s the German girl? Sophie. Sophie. Herman. So, I think she’s iconic. Ollie. Yeah. Was trying to match up Tabitha. Tabitha with Angus. Look at that’s good knowledge. And they were trying to he was trying to set them up on a date. Yeah. And when Angus came in and Ollie introduced them, he said to Sophie, the German girl have you met before? And she said, “Well, half of him.” Because Angus has this haircut that was shaven around the side. And she said, “Oh my god, is that Rogue on your head?” Oh god. And I thought, she she is cussing. She’s hilarious with her words to be fair. Well, I have to say that that to me was actually quite I I found that very very funny. She’s a funny girl. But the rest of it, not so much. Is it is it really real? Cuz it’s really real. It’s really real. Yeah, it’s an awful thing to say, but I sort of I felt like saying maybe they need to get a bit more life. Is that really bad for for the vast majority of some of the the guys on there, I would completely agree with you. Well, because I I obviously don’t know. They’ve all obviously got businesses behind the show because they’re only obviously on on the episode once a week or whatever, but it was just about sort of who’s shagging who. Well, I was going to say who kissed who. I wasn’t going to use that word. Who’s kissing who? We’ll edit. But it was like I felt it was a bit sad because I just I just felt it was like very gossipy. But I did think Jules I thought Jules I thought she’s all right. She’s a mate. Yeah. And that’s why we got together cuz I think she’s one of the real ones on there. Yeah. It’s a shame you didn’t see me in action but Well, I think they’re they’re obviously they’re obviously all real. Of course they’re real. And and the difficult thing is how to know is how much it’s slightly exaggerated for the actual for the cameras. For the cameras. Yeah. So I mean it’s a bizarre concept. Are they like that? I hate to say it. Obviously it’s a structured reality TV show. You need to be careful what you say cuz you I don’t want you to do Oh, no. I’ll blow the lid fully. I’m not sponsored by Oh, no. exclusive. No, I obviously some people do ham things up for camera, but at the end of the day, all the relationships, friendships, drama, lack of friendships, it’s all real. Um, and you know, it is at the end of the day a reality show which is about, you know, predominantly the gossip and the other stuff that happens. So, and it’s just amazing how many people enjoy to watch reality shows to hear other people’s gossip. But, I mean, it was like, how the hell has this been going? It’s been the show’s been going for 13 years. I know. So, it’s incredibly popular, but I I wouldn’t say I’m hooked by the first episode, but of course, I’ve got to watch another episode because I need to see you in it. And then because I obviously know you so much better now having done all these. I’ll be interested to see whether you’re the same person. Well, you know the on the show. Yeah. Or whether you’re cuz to me you’re if if I if I’m being honest, if I’d seen the show, if I had heard I was going to co-host this podcast with Tristan Fitz remain in Chelsea. If I had watched that, we’re not even on the bloody show. If I if I’d watched that episode before doing it, I’d be thinking, “Oh my god, is this the right person?” But you’re actually very n to me, you’re very natural in talks. Yeah. Well, you’re just very inquisitive. You’re genuinely very interested. Well, I think that obviously the producer of talks obviously you’ve chosen the best from maybe I’m slightly fine. Well, I’d be interest I must admit I don’t know how we get on with maybe someone like Sam or co-hosting. I don’t know. You know, listen, I don’t know any of them. And they’re Listen, there’s some beautiful girls, very good-looking young men. Mhm. Who is the guy that I thought was quite cute? And I’m old, I know. Uh, he was the one. Oh, no. What was his name? Just tell me their names. Uh, ones that you might find attractive. He was in the gym. He was in the gym. Miles. Yes. Yeah. He Miles is the sexy one. Yeah. I thought Miles was quite cute. If I was 30 years younger, I’d find Miles. could be the what? Um the new Rubik come black if he could ride a horse, which he can’t, so probably not. Well, maybe maybe we could substitute you for him one day. We could try it. Can we get the can we get the sexier one on main Chelsea boo? And we’ll have a well with the producers. Say you’re sexy, but I just thought if I was 30 years younger, he was quite cute. Anyway, he’s a cute man. Yeah. Well, I’m glad you’ve delved into Treasure Island. Um, thanks for supporting the cause. Sorry I wasn’t there. I was actually living my best life in South Africa. So anyway, should we exit the streets of Chelsea and get back onto Talk Horse because we’ve got a very exciting guest today. I think it’s time to bring on the guest. Would you like to introduce Piggy? Yes, because she’s a very dear friend of mine, bit younger than me, but I’ve known Piggy for many years since she was a teenager. She is one of our top riders in this country. She’s represented the country on numerous occasions. She’s won all the major events for sure. She’s had ups and downs within the sport like we all have and the key one was was missing the chance to ride in London at the Olympics. She had a few minor injuries to the two horses that were were on track for the games. So, she’s had to sort of ride that storm, but she’s a wonderful role model, an inspiration, and just a really, really great girl. Absolutely. And with Binton coming up, I think she had an amazing Bminton horse trails in 2019. And that year, she set the British defending record with 15 international wins. And she’s since added team gold at the 2018 World Christian Games and multiple major podium finishes, including Berley and the European Championship. So, a lot to dive into there. So, let’s talk horse with Piggy March. Piggy Piglet, thank you so much so much for coming. I know you’re incredibly busy. We’ve got Babon next week. Sadly, neither of us are there, but I know you’re very, very busy at the moment. You’ve been in Baland Dennis coaching training this weekend and then you’ve come off winning the advanced section and having a good day down at Sirenes Park eventing. Yes. No, an amazing weekend and a very busy week and um coaching is something I’m is a new thing to me and I’ve just been asked to help the Hong Kong team with their cross country riding and so I’m coaching a bit of that but it’s very early days at the minute but enjoying that. They’re a great team. and then got home midnight, 1:00 in the morning on Saturday morning to leave. I don’t know what time to go to Saresa Horri with a few advanced horses and you question your sanity sometimes, but I’ve got a brilliant team at home and um yes, they all went went better than expected. I thought maybe I shouldn’t try so hard or train so much before I go to competition and go away more often. But um no busy week. But as you as you all as everyone is with horses and you know Pipsy, we’re here and everywhere. Nontop. Yeah. Nonstop. But but just tell us take us right back to the beginning where firstly where the name came from and secondly where your passion for for horses came from. So, Piggy, which is ridiculous, was um very much a family nickname, but from very early doors. My sisters, I’ve got twin sisters and they are three and a half years older than me, and they’d never seen a baby before and thought I look like Piglet from Winnie the Pooh. So, um I was called Piglet, Pig, Pigster, probably various other things as well, but Pig Piggy stuck. And um I really liked it. I mean my I was I think it’s a lovely name. No, I mean I I mean it. It’s really nice. Um but it’s when she goes we squeal squeal little piggy squeal. It’s like oh no. There’s been a lot of jokes a lot of jokes as you can imagine. Um, but I was adamant when I was younger, which was quite weird, but stuck with it and wanted my teachers to call me it. And um, you know, but I think if I lived again, I I wouldn’t do it. And I would I love it. But not an actor. Yeah. If I had a It’s better than being called Porky. I don’t know. You got a nickname? No. I think as a as a as a baby, I used to be called Butter Ball. Interesting. Butterball. Don’t know why. My mom calls me chocolate pie face. It makes you feel better. Chocolate fun. Chocolate pie face. Oh yeah, I can see that. Yeah, but you guys have a cute funny nicknames and it’s just within your family. Well, like I go around Bon or places like that and it’s like who’s that? Who on earth is called that? It’s clearly done quite well for you though. Um but anyway, yes, that’s my name. Um and I just always loved ponies. I was very fortunate. I grew up um my mom was very horsey. Um my granny was incredibly horsey. She she had married to a racing trainer and shown um um pon traps to very high level and so horses ran through our family for sure. So I was very lucky to be brought up with them and as we all are in that situation, you’re on a horse before you’ve leared to walk. And um we always just had one pony and went through the pony club and hunting and all the cool things that you do with having one pony of you know always at home bear back running around doing cowboys, Indians, whatever you you want to do and just playing ponies and being outside the whole time and social and good friends and and all that sort of thing. But I I got very into um I was obsessed with eventing from young. Um and I don’t really know why because I was obsessed with a couple of other horses as well that were you know Milton who showj jumped and Desert Orchid who was a racehorse and I was obsessed with them. But I think when I was, you know, with the event horses, I was also very obsessed with, which sounds very weird, but the riders as well, you know, Jinny Elliot and um um Ian Stark, you know, they were all very much of that era. And you I used to run around my garden from god knows what age with my little sticks somewhere can countering around on foot jumping all these things around the garden like a idiot for hours pretending I was like master craftsman or Murphy himself or that sort of thing. And I’d time myself on a stopwatch how quick I could be and who beat who and oh god I thought they were faster than me. What a [ __ ] And I kept doing it all day. I think I think I was fairly obsessed. Um but um I then got um um was a Mary King’s biggest fan and I I have to say I think I probably stalked her um because my mom obviously did some eventing. So I went with mom to um go and watch and Mary would be there and Mary was always so smiley, so happy and she had a lovely team of King horses. All her horses were named King William, King Boris, whatever. And I met Mary at a three-day event cuz she was stable near my mom. And then I started writing to her and taking pictures of her and drawing pictures of her horses. And so I started writing to her and actually, bless her, she she always wrote back. And so my mom said, “Okay, you can write twice a year um because otherwise you’re going to be too weird.” or if she’s if she’s won a good competition. And so I wrote her birthday in Christmas. Her birthday is June the 8th, by the way. Good to know. Put that in the diary. And I also I remember her address off by heart, you know. You know, it’s really very very weird. And so twice a year I could write and if she won her three-day or got to the Olympics or something, I could write again. And um I did keep all Mary’s letters that she wrote back to me obviously because they’re like gold dust. And um oh it’s so funny. I go back and read them now and it is it always starts with the theme of dear piggy thank you so much for the wonderful talcum powder you sent me for my birthday. Oh thank you very much for the lovely apricot cream bath or face cream or pen or oh my you really did have the poem you wrote me. I was just like oh my god this just gets worse. So um yeah bless her. She would have she would have had some delights come through the post, I’m sure. But um and then I got to a certain age, I think about 15, 16, that I thought, um, is this cool? Is this weird? What was the what was the result of that? And I just was incredibly shy when I saw her. I was like, “Hi, Mary.” And she was always like, “Oh, Piggy, how are you? How lovely to see you and how’s it all going? And how’s Joey or whatever pony?” I used to ride and write and tell her all about. And I was like, “Yeah, he’s fine.” I just felt like such a [ __ ] But she was amazing. And actually making your childhood or filling you in, you know, she used to give me information of where her horses are going and how happy she was and what her aims are. And you know, she was absolutely brilliant and, you know, I I thank her a lot for a lot of childhood dreams made very special. That’s amazing. Would you say she was kind of maybe the reason why you decided to pursue this as a as a career and kind of to go down that line or was that already already your destiny? Um, I think I was always very passionate about it, but deep down I don’t think I ever believed I I could have done it, which is which is quite weird because I’ve I’ve listened to lots of your podcasts already and it was fascinating with like Mick Fitzgerald and people like that that was like knew all along that they were going to win, they were going to be good enough. And I don’t think I ever felt that. I just I lived in Norolk. I didn’t do any of the pony teams or the junior teams or anything like that. And I just loved bombing around on my on my horse on my pony. And it was more really because I started getting satisfaction of improving them or or getting that um getting that partnership, getting your your friend to be your your teammate that went places and you started doing cool things together and then that made me feel braver and made me feel like I wanted to then go and go and do stuff. Um but I But did you always believe in the horse when you went to? I think that was maybe the feeling that you got. I was always very confident with then believing in that horse or that feel or something. And that definitely overtook you know any other feeling which I think in today’s world is so sad because of all the socials and all the everybody knowing everything. It takes away going on feel and gut and you know horsemanship and and all those things I think so important when you’re young and you’re learning. You’ve always got the pressure of a camera on you now. Yes. Don’t you someone’s always watching a camera or a result or a you know being analyzed to somebody else or some Facebook pictures of someone you know same age as you jumping three horses over a meter 20 and you probably still haven’t gone over a meter 10 yet or you have done it twice but you’ve fallen off or something you know I don’t I don’t know I think it takes it a little bit out of um perspective of where you are you know says the whole time you have to fail every walk of life. Yet you fail, you know, you get, you know, two rounds in a row that you’ve got a couple of duff shots. I mean, God, if we if we had our videos, Pipsy, I’m sure you probably bet a lot better than me as a kid, but if we had all our videos, I don’t think so. If we had all our videos of us trying to bumble around or get get going, you know, be, you know, we’d look back and be like, “Oh my god, that was, you know, the moments, but you’re learning from it.” So, what do you reckon it was that kept you going in that direction and and you know blocking out the self-doubt and that sort of thing like um well I was I was definitely hopeless at school so I didn’t have an exam of any sort and um and so I I don’t know what I would or could have done or who would have employed me or anything like that and I was very very happy to just go and ride whoever’s ponies and muck them out and do whatever and try and start thinking of a business from it And I was I was just obsessed with it of working out any horse I could and and um getting the best from it. Um and I think that is what started you know my first horse mom got you know she went to try him and he was he stopped three times at the cross pole and she was like I love him and I was like excellent. And actually growing up I was, she always gets across from me saying this, but I was probably more scared of my mom than I was of any naughty horse or anything because she was she was quite feisty. And um you know we no falling off, no crying, nothing. Back on, shut up. Get on with it. Get it better. What are you doing? Don’t be embarrassing. So it’s like, oh god. Um and and it was that pony came and he was a beautiful horse cuz she had a great eye. And just through pony cup and hunting and giving the horse a really fun life. He became very good. And again, you know, like we’ve said plenty of times before, that’s what’s kept me, you know, so involved or has been the bug for me of trying to get the best from them. And he had some success. He went from not a lot of success to a um a good bit. Never the junior teams or anything, but you know, winning noviceses or getting up to my first two star level then. a three star level now. So when I first got to know Pig is many years ago because Piggy’s sister, one of her twin sisters, Nene came and worked for me back in oh my god well 97 96 97. Nene was with me for three three and a half four years and she ended up coming to the Olympics as as my groom and she was a wonderful wonderful headgirl for me and obviously I followed Pig’s career on that sort of little horse and so I always followed you with great interest because of the connection with Nene and so we go back a long way and we’ve we’ve had lots of chats and we’ve I think we can I can be fair to say that We’re quite similar in many ways in that we a lot. Yeah, we Yeah, we do. Probably I more than you. But pigs um a real perfectionist like I am. But again, your priority is that partnership. Um and we’re both we’re both a bit self-doubters, aren’t we? That would be Yeah. Yeah, I don’t want to let on your too many of your weaknesses because I’m admitting mine as well, but we, you know, even though we both ridden at the top of our game, we’re actually ones that are all the time doubting our ability. And you said that from a very young age that you felt that you weren’t necessarily destined for great things, but it was more about that particular horse getting the best out of it and that partnership. And very similar with me. And it it’s it’s been incredible to to follow Piggy’s career. I’ve I’ve watched it right from many years. And when we talk about this eventing family, I mean, it really is very special and and we’ve known each other a long time and Pigs has really picked me up when I’ve been down and hopefully I’ve picked her up when she’s been down. It’s fascinating for me how different some people’s motivations can be and you always you often well not often but you know touched on kind of self-doubt before but do you find that with each achievement that kind of disappears or is it kind of that humbleness that keeps you trying harder to reach the next level because obviously you’ve reached the top of your game. You both have Yeah. And but you still still both have self-doubt. I think it’s a really funny thing because there’s a lot of self-doubt in the way that you you can never get cocky with horses that you’re you’re straight on the floor. Your moment you think you know anything, you you flatten your back the next minute and it’s all gone pee on. And so they’re they’re very grounding on you, but at the same time I would I would question everything. I like to know an answer for everything. I like if it’s not good enough, why wasn’t it good enough? I should have done something better. what have I done wrong for that not to have been good enough? But at the same time, and I think Pip and I are still um similar of this as well, we’re also incredibly confident probably in the feel we want to get and the partnership and that relationship, that bond, that feeling, that drive every we know exactly what we want from them and and what we want to do to try and get them there. We wouldn’t shout it from the rooftops or something, but we would be out of bed that morning. Our brains are ticking. We know what we want to try. We know the feeling what we want to try and get. And I think we’d both be confident in that way of what drives us to try and get that. Um, you might go back in and you’ve got to change a bit of this and that or you come, but it’s it is um I don’t think we’d ever crash out at it. It doesn’t beat us. I think you’re also incredibly tough in some ways even though you are your confidence is um I just don’t think we’re not very arrogant I don’t think pips and I think sometimes we could do with a maybe a bit more feist or something but when she talks about feist her key line to me is what is it go on pipsy several times she’s used this when I’m a bit nervous before the start of a major cross country and she just says come on pipsy I’m going to just imagine Imagine that rocket stuck up your bottom. We were we were at the Europeans one year and we were on the same team and we were a bit behind on medals so we all had to try and go clear inside the time. Pit was first out. She’s like, “Oh, I just I don’t know if I’m going to be too slow and I don’t know the ultimate time was like 10 minutes 39 or something like that.” And I was like, “Right, I’m sticking a sparkler up your butt and I’m going to light it and it’s time to 10 minutes 38 get round to get round and I’m going to light it in that start box and if you haven’t got back by then, it’s going to go off.” And so it’s a good incentive to be off. And she went off she went [Laughter] and Yeah, you did well, Pipsy. Yeah, it works. Every now and then it’s like, “Do you need a sparkler?” And she’s like, “Probably.” Everyone needs a friend with a sparkler. That’s a good thing. I mean, obviously, you’ve had a tremendous career and you’ve had some wonderful, wonderful horses. Now’s a good time to announce for me pigs. I I think so highly of the way she deals with her horses and everything. Um, it might not be public knowledge, but um, a lovely horse I’ve been working on for two years now. MCS Maverick Piggy. I there was one person that I wanted to have the horse because the owners were keen to sell him and and so I was really keen for Piglet to have him and she’s Oh god. Well, I’m slightly terrified that he’s going to be missing his mommy a lot. Love your horse, but not the high costs? Say hello to the Harry Hall One Club. You’ll get public liability and personal accident insurance included in your membership from just £5724 per year, making horse ownership more affordable. And did you know they even offer horse box and travel insurance? How handy is that? Friendly, bus free, and full of shopping perks. Join the club that’s got your back in and out of the saddle. Harry Hall One Club, making horse ownership more affordable. You’ve had like many of us the ups and downs of the sport and you were literally the number one dead for the team in London 2012 in 2012 for the London Olympics and you had two nice horses and and very well yeah two lovely horses and and um yeah two for London it’s your home Olympics it’s the only time you know in your lifetime that you you would compete at your home Olympics and I had two horses and one um injured at that one’s last run just stumbled to the last fence and had a tear in its past that needed a little operation on and the other one then had a little bit of heat in its tendon just you know a month before six weeks before. So, um, that was the end of that, the day that you get your kit and everything. And, and both the horses were actually owned by my dad. Um, and you know, we could have Dad’s not made of money. And I was offered a lot of money for them to be sold before, which was never the dream. It meant as much to him as anything for us to get to Olympics. But, you know, it’s all those sides of things when you’re just like, “Oh my god.” Um it was it was a hard hard thing to um pill to take especially when you just feel every day you know they’re wrapped in cotton wool anyway but that and they were very very good and um you know I Fox William Fox pit rang and was like well that’s our gold medal gone now thanks for that I was like oh god and um even and it probably was even team silver team Germany and he said Mickey Young was pretty excited of my news. So I was like, “Oh.” Which is great to hear in some ways that you’re scaring the opposition or your teammates are wanting you, but um it doesn’t make it any easier. And but let’s let’s talk about mindset and coming back from that though because obviously you know that 2012 seemed like a really a tough one, but then you know seven years later you you win badminton. So how what gets you back in the saddle and gets you motivated to carry on pushing through that? Is it just that’s just what you do or is there a moment where you go right let’s build again? It’s just what you do to be honest. There’s there’s been plenty of times it’s like I can’t do this because the the following year I had a similar situation for the same owner um where I had an injury just at a bad point um before the next championship and it was just like the owner was amazing but I was just like I’m I’m done. I’m out because this this, you know, you’re you’re scared to dream. We all work hard for it, but the moment you get going and get to something important, it’s it falls out of your hands. I just want answers. Why? You know, what’s what’s happened? What’s the reason? And there are no answers. But, you know, the same with everything you like being people like to knock you when you’re down or it was it was hard with the um you know, some sponsors might go because you’ve not quite got there in the business. It’s hard to it’s hard all round to pick yourself up and believe and turn it round. But how does that how does that feeling? How do you does your mindset change when you get the result? So, 2019 Babson, you’ve won. What are you feeling at that point after the self-doubt and after building back up? It is great to know that you have achieved again. It will never it will never go. Like even the moment you mention London, you know, your heart sinks or you just take a big sight. It’s it’s fine. We’re here and in the grand scheme of things, you know, we’re very lucky. We’re healthy. You know, no one’s died. It was a competition and and there’s lots more other things to get at. So, shut up and get on with it. Stop complaining. Don’t get the violin out and start crying again and all this rubbish cuz no one’s interested. But it’s a feeling that you you have your your yourself that’s you know that it’s like the knife comes out and gets you to think can I you know I want to I don’t want to feel that pain again or um that but you as I said at the beginning you just get invested into your horse you get invested into the sport and you just have to keep going and again I think William Foxpit was another great one of just saying to me you have to have your system you have to believe in it you have to keep doing it and and you know with horses is they the majority do all injure at some stage and it’s just I’ve just done bad timing a few of mine but and they’re not when we talk about injuries it’s not necessarily major injuries we it’s just things that you realize you’ve got to back off because if you press on that tiny little injury is going to become a major injury. So if you ignore the early signs then you’re in trouble. So a lot of it with your situation was picking up things very early. So the horses weren’t in any pain or anything. But if she pressed on and that would be my character totally as well, you know, it’s it’s difficult. You’re asking a lot of your horse of your mate and they’ve got to be okay to go. I would not be never in my character would it be we could fudge this or let’s just see and if it’s not all right afterwards, it it doesn’t matter. you know it’s not um absolutely so going back now so throughout this difficult period piggy had a certain very nice young working pupil a little bit younger than you go um this is talk talk horse not talk it’s talk everything so obviously was training she you know she had she was known for having nice you know youngsters young young people come to train with her and and there was a certain young man who a certain young man. Yes. So tell us a bit about that. It certainly wasn’t how it’s all meant to be when you end up with married at all. He definitely saw all of my really really really bad bits before any good bits. Oh, I know. Exactly. Exactly. And um bless him. and he is quite a lot younger than me but actually a hell of a lot older than me in many ways and he’s the granddad and I’m still definitely the child and um so yeah and he was it was through that time he was there those years 2012 2013 um and so he quietly just saw you know a lot unfold of just being a very difficult difficult time but um was just there it was just a he just became, you know, your best friend, which is how it should be. And um, as I say, he’s incredibly mature and way above his years. And, um, he was going to go off and do be, uh, try to be an assistant um, trainer, racehorse trainer, and um, I think I probably got in the way. I was just like, you’re always a woman. That’s an understatement. I was just like, um, I don’t really want you to go. And he was just like, “I don’t think I want to go.” And I was just like, “But you’ve got to.” And then I was just I was just worried with your mom and dad or I was just thinking, “Would my mom and dad?” And I was like, “No, they’re probably quite happy because they’re probably quite they might be relieved cuz well, he’s such a lovely guy.” I mean, they would be relieved. Yes. And then of course then from that you actually did take time out which was wonderful. Yes. Because had a little boy Max. So that was the next Olympics I didn’t have horses for um at that level and I was getting a bit older and I always thought or hoped I’d like to be a mom if I could be but I didn’t have to be but I was a bit scared of the age difference and he was like no that’s cool. Um and so it’s like if it happens it happens. If it doesn’t it doesn’t. Well it did and we got a lovely little boy. Well he’s eight now. um max and um I ended up taking quite a lot of time out that year and that was actually probably the best thing after after hitting rock bottom in sport. Um it was hard. I was going through the motions. I was still every day at the office and things but I it it did break your heart. Of course it does. And then you lose, you know, as much mo motivation or or belief, you know, you’re a bit scared to dream, you know, to go forward. And and actually having time out and I sent my horses or owner’s horses to other um brilliant riders, Pip, Tina Cook, um they rode, you know, a few of mine and I learned a lot on that time out. Um, I saw a lot of everyone else has just as many issues with horses as you do. When you’re in your own bubble, you’re so wrapped up in your own We discussed it, didn’t we? We had long chats about it. Long chats. You just can’t see past. Oh god, it only happens to me. And it really doesn’t. The moment you step off your wheel and look at everyone else’s, they’re all having the same issues, the same problems, the same, you know, and so you start little bits just started coming back to me. Um, I don’t think I missed it though at all. When you’re out the the sport, you sort of look back in and I was like, “What you all doing at 7 o’clock in the morning or having driven three hours and trotting around a field and it’s pissing with rain or it’s foggy, you can’t see, and you’re all, you know, you’re about to get bucked off and you’ve got five to ride today.” And that is always my question. What are you doing? And I do I do remember sitting around my kitchen table saying, “Piggy, you’ve just got way too much talent. you’ve got to get back out there again. Yeah. And she did actually. She’s like, you cannot stop. And actually, I did take a bit of um sports psychology. Psychology. That’s the word. It’s a big word for me. And um I tried to get some help with various people. I wasn’t I wasn’t sure about it. Um but I tried a few different things. And I remember speaking to one person and they they said at the end of a session and I wasn’t sure I was overly getting on with them or not, but you know, you talk and it’s always good to good to talk. You always take something from them all. And I remember at the end because I was just so freaked out about the injuries and whether I could ever get back or do it again or get there. And one person said, um, you just might have to accept one day that you might not be good enough to get back. And I lit I remember it quite clearly. I just sort of sat there looking, you know, sort of through them. And I made no, I didn’t really have a reaction, but I just in my mind was like, that’s not an option. Um, I’m not fire in the belly. Yeah. And that was probably whether it’s reverse psychology that I needed because we’re we’re tough enough in places. We don’t need someone there pondering to us or blowing smoke up our asses or anything like that because you know we we are strong enough really. But we just need is just having a bit of guidance to it. And that was and that was a moment that I thought that’s that’s not okay. I’m still young enough. I’ve still got work. I’m not, you know, I’m not lazy. I’m not beaten by that ever at all. It’s just finding something that my brain can learn to get my head around it a bit better. And so I was like, that’s that’s just not an option. So shut up and get on with it. Go back. Yeah. Get back on get back on and go. And I didn’t actually um I didn’t continue with that for a while. Yes, we all go back. You know, I think it’s a very common thing. I think you’re stupid half a time as a sports person to pro not do it. It’s kind of the normal person to speak and get help. Sports psychology now is sorry. Yeah. Yeah. It’s part of it. I’m so I mean the fact that it’s taking so long to kind of come up. But then we had or you had not we you had the wonderful wonderful mayor Fener Camir. Yes. Owned by Dickens Tilly Bean. Yeah. Um and she really I mean she definitely would be the horse of a lifetime for you would she? Yes. Absolutely. And the funny thing was I had her as a young horse and actually in 2013 I moved yards. I had an awful lot of horses in at the time and I think I had your voice in my ears quite a lot saying don’t ride so many horses. Don’t spread yourself too thin because I think I literally had 25 30 in for me to event and I I would just sit on a on a horse all day. Can’t do it properly that you can’t do it properly and there’s so many things that you miss. Um, and you know, or you know, some people don’t mind if they miss things, but I do. It’s it’s frustrating. It wasn’t good enough and communication, everything wasn’t good enough. So, she was actually one of the first to leave when I cut down and moved yards and um ended up going to Izzy Taylor that flew with her next year. She went from novice to advanced in a year. And I was just like, “Oh my god, it was amazing to be able to do that.” And um anyway, the owners asked me a couple more times if I’d have her back and I was like, “No, no, honestly, I think she’s suited with the um with your other riders.” And you know, um Paul Tapner took her to got her to Babon and he then fell off his other horse at Burley and so had to retire Tilly Bean. Um not withdraw her, not retire her. And so the owner rang again. And I think it was sort of the fourth time he’d got back in touch with me since I’d had her as a young horse to say, “Will you try again now?” And I’d just come back from having Max and having a year off and I didn’t have a five-star horse and I thought, you know, I’ve got time to just fiddle about and play, but I said, “I’ll try, but I’m going to be honest with you, if I can’t or I don’t like the feel or whatever.” And and it it went from there. And do you know what? She she jumping around open intermediates and doing one day events and things. She still felt pretty ordinary and that’s a um you know I mean that with the deepest respect to her but there was no feel there or felt that she had the scope or um you know she was a real little mare to um ride and and she could tie up easily which is just where you get muscle cramps. And I thought, “Oh gosh, um I’m not sure anyway.” I thought I’d do I had to do Bramham to qualify. And it was a really big course and I thought, “Oh god, she’s just going to feel horrid. I I’ll do this.” And then say, “Um, no, I think you’re best with someone braver or better or whatever.” And anyway, she came out of that Starbucks just at the big occasion, the big beefy tracks or something. She just turned into a tiger with scope and relaxation. And she was just like, “This is this is my place.” And a big big heart. And a big heart. But she just she grew to a feeling that I never never felt any other time. Ever at home, ever at little competitions, ever anywhere else. And it’s like this horse is half human in the way that she then was like, “Okay, mom. This is this is our day. Let’s go.” And yeah, and I just I couldn’t believe it. She she won my heart without doubt of any horse that I’ve I’ve worked with of you know my my gratitude to her is just her her character her heart um is just is just incredible you know she’s very very special little horse but going going into Babon I mean because obviously we’ve got Babon next week and it was some some in 2019 you were 2019 yeah that’s right all those gosh year at the peak. I know this year. There you go. Don’t underestimate the nerves we all have going into Babon. It is quite the most amazing event, isn’t it? I mean, for you’re going to come down, which is brilliant because walking it, not the history behind the place. It is the Wimbledon. It’s the Wimbledon of of the eventing world and it is so key and for us as riders it is the one we want to win. had been to Kentucky the week before which um we didn’t have the week gap gap between the two that you have now and you know so you’re actually the logistics of getting your tack and stuff back from Kentucky and flying back and your groom back with you and and getting straight to Babon I arrive like a bit of a zombie and I was also you know Max was only two and a half years old um and I went away to Kentucky to compete at that and came back and didn’t see him to then go to badminton. Um I was just at home for a night and then went. And so it’s, you know, when you’re a mom, it’s kind of I I have strings pulled each way, get there, and then the moment you’re back at an event, I have to leave Max away cuz you have to focus when you get to that level. And um you know, she she got there, she felt fine, normal. I had an early draw in the dress and she tried her hardest and actually did a did a clear round in her dress test. Not many mistakes. I can’t even now actually remember the score that she was on, but it was I think I was fourth at the end of the two days of dress and and I just sat there watching and a lot of very much smarter horses were coming in and prancing and dancing and doing all sorts of things, but they made the odd mistake and she just went in there and nailed her hols and nailed her changes and was like, “Yes, mom. let’s just do this. And it’s like good little soldier that she was. And um and then you know bombed around the cross country. I was a couple of seconds over. I’m always to I love to just not quite get the time, but she she was amazing. Piggy is one of the fastest riders in the country. Just to let you know, Thomas always gets so cross. It’s like just get the time. You’re always like 2 seconds or one or three or something. It’s like oh god, you know, in 11 and 1/2 minutes. is like where do I lose 3 seconds anyway and then you know show jumping I was lying in second but I was like seven marks behind Oliver and Town End Oliver Town end yes and it was literally just like I just focused on my thing I never for a second actually thought I could win this um I was so you could well the course was enormous it was very square I was like not I hope in hell there’s loads of related distances. And as Pips’s already said, she’s one that gets very onto her forehand. I like, of course, I’ve got a lot of turnbacks, too, so I can balance her easier and get her back to a hawk and keep the front end up, but lots of lines. And you can’t help her too much either because you help the front end, the back end, she couldn’t have boots on behind. It was very, you had to be so sensitive to your balance with her. And um anyway, I jumped I jumped the last and I looked at the clock the screen and it was like n so it’s just like no time faults, no rails, no nothing. And I just I just counted off like looking down at her and it must have been a 10second which is quite a long time in that situation delay. I was just looking like I was amazed and then I just looked up and just punched the air and then the crowd was just like and I did it again and again and I was just like you’re an amazing little I was like Tilly Bean I just cannot believe you have just done that. I just can’t believe it. I came out of the ring and I was seven marks behind Oliver and you know his can have a rail but he’s he’s he’s pretty on it of knowing exactly what he’s got to do. If anyone you don’t want to be behind him and I came out and that was the first time my little Max got brought to me. Oh and it had been two weeks and he was there then I had my god um his god parents that were over the other side holding him and and they tried to come to me before the show jumping. And I was like, “No, no. I’ve got to stay. Just stay away. Stay away. I’ve got to so be in this in this bubble.” And the moment I was out, then he came running over it. I want to cry now. It’s ridiculous. And it was just if you could bubble a a ball of happiness, of love and happiness, you know, for your horse, for your child, and everything. I was just like, I finished second. And that’s just the best thing. This horse has just been amazing. I’m a mum. I’ve got my gorgeous little kid that now just given a squeeze to and he’s just like only interested in the tractors that are about to clear the show jumps in the warm up and things like that. But but it was just such a little bubble and I was sat there and then there was a ooh from the crowd. So I was like always had a jump down and um and then there was a cheer when he finished and I was just like stood there and then Cla Balding was like you’ve won and I was just like I think I cried straight away. We were all blubbing like anything we were when you Oh um it was it without doubt the best day of my life. I know obviously we’ve talked about Babmonton and and how special Babon is. The other unique event which is another wonderful hunting ground for us both is Berley and you’ve just got to tell the story of your lap of honor in the prize giving. Babon’s amazing. Burley is as amazing. Tilly Beina got to 17 and the pressure I felt on her. I knew there wouldn’t be many buries left in her or I didn’t want there to be many more for her and you know she she went at 17 and she won it and it was just the relief and everything I felt was incredible. Anyway, as um as you do, you have your lap of honor and um I have a false tooth. I mean I don’t think anybody not many people know it but the people that I sometimes go and drink too many beers with do because I love it then to be my party tooth. could nearly do it now. Yes, you can. The second time it’s a look to sit in that chair. But it usually had that last week. It usually behaves very well unless I’m too pissed and I’m sick and then I’ve often lost it various places and then get inside and think, “Oh god, now I’ve got to go back out and find it.” Anyway, it’s usually behaved quite well, but I was galloping around the prize giving, you know, very sedately for a couple of times. Then you get your one shot on your own. So I was like, “Right, we’re having it.” Because this is just the best thing. So Tilly Ben, Tilly Bean, off she goes. Mac nine. I was thinking I never have to try and get probably a big dress test out of her ever again. Or even if she blows up, it doesn’t matter. You’re going to go mad in here. So I was just like, “Let’s go.” And we were galloping around. I just passed the cameraman that you know and you like. So I was just like waving and whooping and like this is and if I say a word that begins with F. F is not a good word is a pop out word. F is a pop out word. So you can imagine the word that I was like this is effing brilliant. And with that the my tooth and it was like slow-mo of is this thing to doing a victory lap. Yeah. And I just was flat out and I was just like, “It’s going.” And my hands I was just like, “Catch it. No, it’s gone.” And I was only a quarter of the way around. I had three quarters to go and everyone was cheering and I’ve been grinning and doing everything. And then suddenly I’m like like an absolute goof and like, “Oh, good girl.” And I was just looking down and giving her a pat thinking, “Oh my good god.” And all I could visualize was this. You know the people that win Berley, you get that great big dish and you spool yourself over that nice land Land Rover in front of the defender or whatever it is in front of the burly house. And I was like, I can’t sit there like that. Hold it in front. It’s just so not okay. I’m just I would rather be second than actually have to go and do that. And I came out with my head in my hands like this. And Thomas was like, “Oh, bloody hell. She’s emotional.” I’m like, “My [ __ ] tooth. My tooth.” And he’s like, “What do you mean?” I was like, “Come and get it.” And he’s like, “Oh my god, all the jobs I have to do.” I was like, “My teeth. My tooth. It’s out.” So, and there’s an old camera dude going over there and I see him leaning down. So, he’d obviously seen it picking it up. I was like, “Oh god, I hope it was just on a bit of grass, not in a bit of horse poop or something.” I think either way at that point it would have wouldn’t have mattered. It wouldn’t have mattered whatever was on it. It was just like it’s straight back in it’s going to get wiped and it’s back in and it is quite some journey Piggy’s been on. I mean it just shows what it takes to really succeed that you know she hasn’t been beaten by the low parts of the sport. Um and has really come up through. I mean, she’s a perfectionist in what she does. She’s had many, many great victories. And I think she’s a really, really fabulous example for anyone who goes through those low points, you know, for every turn. But going back to Babon, if you’re thinking of heading to Babmonton, tickets must be purchased in advance before you get there. So, if you go on to www.babon-horse.co.uk. Absolutely. And if you can’t make it, all the action will be available to watch via clip my horse TV or you can follow the stats in the Babon app. Details are on the website at Pipper Red Out. If you’ve loved us talking horses, make sure you join our equestrian community by subscribing so you never miss an episode. Absolutely. And please do leave us a review. It really does help us. And also check out the podcast description for loads of fun things. And remember, our competition closes on the 1st of May. And remember, there is a discount code for Harry Hall. Harry Hall, thank you again for sponsoring today’s podcast. Remember, do tell us your horse stories, any suggestions for future episodes. Email us on [email protected]. And please join us next time because we’ve got so much more horse talk to share with you. Bye for now.