Limpsfield Riding Club

The following is from an article that appeared in the July edition of Eventing magazine * and features two LRC Members - Cheryl Freed and Kate Cockerill -  and Cheryl’s 24 years-old Millers Pride.  Reproduced with the kind assistance of Julie Harding, Editor, Eventing 

 

even older golden oldies .....

 

 

 

 

THE oldest horses currently registered and competing with BE are two 24-year-olds —Millers Pride (above) and Paddington Brown II, who have very different stories to tell.

 

Millers Pride has amassed 21 points during his 11-year career but he didn’t have the best of starts in life. As a two-year-old the part-Thoroughbred/part-Welsh gelding was found abandoned in a garage where he had almost starved to death.  He made a full recovery and was first registered with BE in 1998, enjoying a successful campaign at novice and intermediate level with his owner of 13 years, 28-year-old Cheryl Freed.

 

The bay stepped back to BE90 in 2005 aged 20 and since then Cheryl and her friend Kate Cockerill have notched up a number of good BE100 Open results.

 

“He only does BE events now because the landings and take-offs are so good,” says Cheryl. “He’s always loved to jump and competing keeps him sane - if he did nothing he would be a nightmare at home.”  Bar wearing a copper band for a touch of arthritis in his hocks Millers Pride shows no sign of stiffness, although there was a blip five years ago when he had a shoulder problem.  “We thought we’d have to retire him but by chance we bumped into someone who did healing and he recovered,” explains Cheryl, who states that the gelding’s eventing programme has always been carefully planned. He only runs if the ground suits and he feels on form.

 

“For the last few years we’ve wondered if it’s time to stop but so far he’s made it clear that’s not an option,” adds Cheryl. “I had terrible trouble trying to hold him in the start box at Firle Place last year. People tend to think he’s slow so when they see him go they’re amazed.”

 

 

 

 

 

*The only magazine for the sport of horse trials, Eventing offers an insight into the world of eventing, including news, results, features, opinions and instructional articles.  Subscribe now and save 30%. www.magazinesubscriptionsipc.com/ipc/subs