HANNAH ESBERGER-SHEPHERD My Equestrian Life. . .
Hannah and Vanita
pony, Jonty, a 13hh palomino. “We were really lucky that he turned out to be so good, as Mum and Dad were not horsy at all,” admits Hannah. “We didn’t know what we were looking for, but he was a great all-round pony, a real working hunter type, and we called him our Pot of Gold because that was his show name. I did all sorts on him and became a member of the Grove Pony Club and Maltby Riding Club and I took part in Tickhill Riding Club Shows.” Hannah is now
International 2* dressage rider and trainer Hannah Esberger-Shepherd talks to Equestrian Life about her riding career, from fancy-dress classes at the village show to Grand Prix dressage.
Hannah Esberger-Shepherd might be
tiny, but what she lacks in stature she more than makes up for in personality. She has a great sense of humour and a refreshing, no- nonsense approach to life that you cannot help but admire. A Yorkshire lass through and through, Hannah still keeps her horses at the family- run yard at the back of her childhood home in Todwick, a busy village on the outskirts of Rotherham. There are no airs and graces to
complicate this talented rider who, despite lacking the big money so often seen in dressage circles, has worked with the horses she has been dealt to amazing success. Hannah’s remarkable talent and natural
ease around horses was clear to see from an early age. “When I was about two, Mum would often find me toddling round to see the horses on the farm next door,” she recalls. “I was allowed to sit on them and, when I was a little older, took part in local fancy-dress classes at the village horse show.” At the age of 10, Hannah got her first
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revisiting local shows with her five-year-old daughter, Molly. “I am really enjoying taking her to them – they’re great,” she says, with a laugh. “I went through Pony Club with my friend Nicola Bradley, who is now a top event
rider. Both she and I have daughters of the same age and they’re now doing the same thing – I love that!” When she was 15, Hannah’s dressage
potential was spotted while riding out on her roan pony Strawberry Mousse. “A lady saw me and said that she thought he would make a nice dressage pony and she introduced us to trainers Ian and Tracy Woodhead, who agreed to help,” recalls Hannah. “They were based near Cleethorpes and Mum and Dad used to drive me up and down to them three times a week before school. Although it never resulted in any pony teams, I did learn a lot.” During her last year at school, Hannah
was approached by Warwickshire-based trainer Felicity Scott, who wanted the teenager to ride her pony Mornington Crescent, who, despite trying for the pony dressage teams every year, had never quite made it. “I thought he was really hard work and quite lazy,” says Hannah, “but, when Felicity watched me ride him, she was delighted and thought we looked great together.” The pair embarked on a period of
extensive preparation for the trials and Felicity brought in fellow dressage trainer Judy Harvey for support. All the hard work paid off when the pair achieved a great
score and won, resulting in Mornington Crescent securing a place on the team for the very first time. “It was brilliant,” recalls Hannah.” The pony
went like clockwork. He knew what he was doing. We went on to win everything going and then were picked for the team heading for the Europeans in Sweden. It was the most amazing experience. They flew us all out there and can you imagine, at 16, I’m like, ‘This is the life. You get flown out, you arrive, you’re in a hotel.’ It was absolutely amazing.”
Hannah came seventh in the team test
despite torrential rain, which flooded the arena. “I couldn’t hold my reins, but the pony just put its little head down and kept going,” she explains. “It was a lovely experience. Judy was crying and, for Felicity, knowing that the pony she had trained for so many years had now had a place on the team, it was very emotional. I kept on riding him, as it was my last year in ponies. We went to Goodwood, where I rode Advanced on him and wore top hat and tails. I did dressage to music and he got me completely addicted.” On leaving school, Hannah completed
her teaching exams and BHSAI and people who had heard of her dressage success brought their horses to her for schooling. “I didn’t have a horse of my own at that
time, so Dad offered me his horse Dutch Encounter, who he had bought as a four- year-old, so that he could ride out with me and mum,” says Hannah. “Yes, Mum had got herself a horse, too. Dad said that he was all we had, so I should try to turn him into a dressage horse and go for the junior team. Well, can you imagine? He used to trot around with his head up here [Hannah raises her arm in the air]. It
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