Four riders from Bovington’s RAC Saddle Club all placed at a British Eventing one day event in West Wilts on May 10 & 11.
All of them are coached by Steph Buchanan, yard manager of the RAC Saddle Club with four out of the five horses being produced by the riders with the help of Buchanan.
Sam Lewis, also a coach at the RAC Saddle Club, placed 4th on her Irish sports horse finishing on her dressage score of 27.8 having worked considerably hard at rehabbing the horse which had a suspensory injury to both hind legs in 2021.
Groom Molly Swain placed 5th in her section on a hunt horse, Socks, which she has brought on over the last six months.
Millie Bloomfield, just 12 years old, placed 6th in her section on her pony Charlie who she has produced from a four-year old and is currently working on bringing on a second horse.
Meanwhile, Abbie Rogers placed 2nd and 6th on her two horses, one of which was previously owned by Jo Rimmer and the other which she has produced and is now reluctantly up for sale.
“Eventing is a difficult sport as you have to train at three different disciplines – dressage, show jumping and cross country – but it also means that our riders who cannot afford to buy ready-made produced horses which typically sell for in excess of £20k can succeed if they buy a young or inexperienced horse and put the work in which all these riders have done,” said Buchanan.
Says Lewis: “Steph often supports us on her days off and always there encouraging us not to give up when things go wrong, which they often do in this sport. Vets were unsure whether my horse would jump again but she kept telling me to persevere and it’s really paid off. He’s not only sound but he’s winning rosettes and enjoying his job.”
Buchanan has been recognised by the BHS last year and was awarded the BHS Changing Lives through Horses Coach Award. Stephanie was recognised for her exceptional dedication in helping local children with their personal growth and development who, for various reasons, need additional support, are disengaged, or disadvantaged, or at risk of being excluded from education.
