Kirsty Chabert
WHEN the British long-list for the eventing World Championships was released back in June, only two of the riders were potential senior championship debutants. One of them not only had a horse on the main list, but also another on the reserve list. She may not be hugely well known yet, but you should note her name – Kirsty Chabert is one to watch.
Kirsty’s listings for the worlds followed a whirlwind June when she clocked up three podium placings at four- and five-star in three weeks, culminating in second at Luhmühlen five-star.
“I hadn’t even realised the listing for the worlds was coming up,” says the 33-year-old. “I just wanted to do well for my owners, the horses and me. I was really chuffed.”
Kirsty nearly sprang to prominence last September, when she led going into the crosscountry in Aachen on Classic VI (Betty), who was bred by Peter Charles and is owned by her father John Johnston and Carole Somers.
“She’s beautiful – if you ever wanted to draw a horse she is your most perfect model,” Kirsty says. “But she’s very, very quirky. We still have to shoe her in an alleyway with horses next door, she doesn’t spend much time in an arena and I can’t do polework or grids.
“She wasn’t naturally brave initially but I went out with my best friend and
