Eventing legend and London International Horse Show arena eventing ambassador, Pippa Funnell has hosted Show ambassador, Esme Higgs (@thisesme) at her yard ahead of this year’s Show. The pair chatted all things horse and all things London before heading out to the riding school for a private Masterclass.
Braving the rain, Pippa took Esme and her seven-year-old mare, Mimi, through some exercises over show jumps and brush fences.
Both Pippa and Esme’s earliest memories of attending London International Horse Show are on fun-filled Pony Club trips, with Pippa remarking that even now, “Christmas has never started until I get to London.” Pippa’s enduring love for the Pony Club and the vital role it plays in laying the foundations of good horsemanship and riding skills as well as friendship and camaraderie has been a huge influence in the Masterclass she will deliver at London on Monday 21 December.
Pippa’s Pony Club Masterclass will feature young Pony Club members who have earned their place via qualifying this summer. “I thought it would be wonderful to give young riders the opportunity to ride in front of the amazing crowd,” Pippa told Esme, “it is very relatable for audiences seeing young amateurs riding and a really fun way to show the exercises.”
Pippa also showed Esme one of the books she’s written that features a Pony Club trip to London! Sampson the Stallion is the fourth of an incredible 18 children’s books penned by the hugely successful event rider. Main character, Tilly, comes on a bus with her friends and gets a backstage tour.
The story echoes Esme’s earliest memories of the Show, which she said “is a Christmas tradition! I have been every year since I was eight or nine.” Esme’s role at the Show has evolved hugely since then, she’s now a Show ambassador, “I’m so lucky, I get to host meet and greets and take part in Masterclasses. Last year I did a driving demo with Dan Naprous and this year we have something even more exciting planned!”
Asked what Pippa had felt were her biggest challenges in the sport she told Esme it was “that every horse is different. I have ridden so many and the challenge is learning how to ride each horse. Every horse teaches you something.”
You can watch the full YouTube video HERE.
Esme’s Meet and Greets take place at the Talk Horse Live Zone at 5pm on Friday 18 December and 12pm on Sunday 20 December. Details of her exciting Masterclass participation will be announced soon. Pippa is ambassador for the inaugural arena eventing competition taking place on Friday 18 December, and she will be hosting a number of live recordings of the Talk Horse podcast at the Show on Friday 18 December and Saturday 19 December along with her Pony Club Masterclass on Monday 21 December.