Keep schtum
AS Philippa Wratten was warming up for a final in the main ring at Hickstead, her non-horsey boyfriend was watching the class. When she arrived at the ring, she asked if there had been many clears and was told: “Just one, Rodrigo someone?”
“Pessoa?” Philippa asked faintly. That was the one, he said.
“I went in thinking, ‘Brilliant; I’m 20th to go and the only clear’s a former Olympic champion, ’” Philippa says. “It was worse than when they big you up before the bell and you have the first fence down.”
It’s probably a good idea not to say, regardless of what you are thinking, that the fences are huge before a rider goes in - save that for after their round Amateur Rider of the Year Award, and who did jump clear after Rodrigo, has heard all sorts that she could have done without.
