Tag Archives: Emily King eventing

Eventing General

EMILY KING: MY FIRST BURGHLEY

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Our advocate Emily King is thrilled to be competing at her first Burghley, although she first came here as a baby of nine months old when her mother Mary King won the event in 1996. Emily tells us how her preparations have gone and her expectations for the weekend ahead at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials.

“I am so excited to be competing here myself although, I’ve been here many times with Mum so it helps to know how it all works. I’m on a super horse with Valmy Biats and this will be my third year with him, so I am getting to know him really well and really getting him in tune with me. I’ve done a few five stars on him but it is my first Burghley so it would be great complete. I am a very competitive person, so I’d love to give it a really good shot but ultimately, I want him to come home safe and sound and the main aim is just to have a completion. If I can jump clear on the cross country and jump clear on the last day, even better and if I can do all that and be competitive then that’s just a bonus. I want to prioritise just getting through that finish line.

“I have had some good four-star short runs. He went to Badminton in the wet and had a really good spin until I found that he was finding the going just a bit too relentless and he’s such a trying horse I didn’t want to break his spirit or actually break him and cause a problem to happen by being a bit greedy. If he was telling me he was a bit tired I wanted to save him for another day which is what I did. I rerouted to Luhmhulen where we had an annoying glance off cross-country which was his first 20 penalties on the cross-country, in his life so that’s not really him, we just had a bit of a miscommunication. Apart from that he jumped phenomenally, and show jumped super on the last day. Then he was third at Burgham more recently. I am very happy with where he is fitness is at and everything crossed that we can have a good week.

“I couldn’t ask for a better partner in Valmy, he’s a super horse and a very good jumper. He’s very brave and bold and I do think a bigger track suits him, but this is quite big! I am interested to see how he copes here on Saturday compared to Badminton. We are on the top of the ground here which will surely help.

“I was pleased with my dressage as have been working to improve his way of going since Luhmuhlen and he’s learnt a huge amount. Parts of his test were the best he’s ever done but we made some little mistakes in our test. When we get everything perfect he’s going to be a proper 20s scoring horse. But it’s all to play for in the cross-country.”

Image: Tilly Berendt

Eventing General

Horse Scout Real: Emily King

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailHorse Scout catches up with eventing advocate Emily King to find out her thoughts on the UK’s most prestigious three day event – Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

Why is Badminton such a special event to you?

I have been to Badminton nearly every year since I was young with my mum, and for me, it’s the biggest and best event in the world.

What is your most memorable moment at Badminton?

Competing for my first time there on Brookleigh in 2016. We lay 2nd after dressage but unfortunately had a fall at the second last on the cross country!

What is your top Cross Country tip?

Stay on the tightest line possible, sometimes going slower can get a tighter line and thus making you faster.

What is your top Show Jumping tip?

Rhythm, power, balance. Three very vital words!

What is your top Dressage tip?

Stay cool, calm and concentrate on all of the small things – every corner, every transition, how you’re sitting. This influences everything.

What are your thoughts on the 2019 Badminton Cross Country course? 

It appears a tough, bold, rider testing course. The lake is always so imposing, so I’m sure that’ll cause it’s fair share of problems. Then the corner ditch, corner, (where the vicarage vee was last year) – I think that’ll catch a few horses and riders out this year.

How is Dargun feeling?

Dre’s feeling great! He’s had a couple of good prep runs this spring at Belton & Burnham Market, where he’s been on top form. He feels extremely fit and well, so everything crossed!!

Horse Scout is thrilled to have you as the Eventing brand ‘Face’ of the Horse Scout Collection. Which product do you believe you’ll get the most wear from?

It’s hard to say! But I think I love the Jin Stirrups and Horse Scout Ears the most of all. The stirrups due to their durability and grip, the ears due to their comfort and their thicker material which is fantastic for helping to cancel out any excess noise for the horses.

Will you be using Horse Scout Jin Stirrup irons at Badminton this year?

Yes I will, on all of my saddles! They’re super lightweight, grippy and most of all they’re extremely strong.

What is your aim for Badminton 2019?

I’d just love to come home knowing myself and Dre have tried our hardest. I’d obviously love to have a top result, but with it being his first thing at this level you have to be open minded… so the main thing for me is for him to come home safe and sound having had a wonderful time.

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General

EMILY KING

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailEMILY KING

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Horse Scout advocate Emily King must be on cloud nine at the moment. The 22 year old is on winning form after claiming the Under 25 title at Bramham, has an exciting string of horses, a hot boyfriend who she is just about to move in with. And with 56,200 followers on Instagram, you could say she is pretty popular. Popular enough for her supporters to put their money where their mouth is too. After setting up a crowd-funding campaign to keep the ride on a promising young horse, some 556 people donated to reach the £40,000 required to buy him from his owner.

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This month, Emily beat off strong opposition to win the British Horse Feeds Under 25 CCI3* at Equi-Trek Bramham Horse Trials, making her the National Champion at this level. Outstandinglym, she finished on her dressage score of 25.5 with Dargun, a horse by Valiant she has produced from a youngster for owner Jane Del Missier. The pressure was on when she went into the showjumping as after second-placed Thibault Fournier from France had jumped clear, Emily and the 10 year old Dargun could not afford a pole. The crowd gasped when the pair rattled the first fence but it stayed in place and they kept their cool to complete a fabulous clear and the only rider to finish on their dressage score. Her boyfriend Sam Ecroyd joined her on the podium with a third place on Master Douglas.

 

Speaking after her round Emily about her horse “He felt amazing today! When I got on him in the warm-up, he was bucking and squealing- it helps him with his spring and attention if he’s a bit jolly. The crowd helps him rather than distracting him and the fences were quite spooky, which helps too.”

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Emily has been living at home in Sidmouth, Devon with her family all her life. She has always shared a yard with her mother, Mary King- one of the greatest event riders of all time. But this summer she will be making “the big leap” to move to Cheshire to share a yard with her boyfriend, who also events internationally and already runs an equestrian business up there.

 

Her relocation was one of the reasons the previous owner of Langford Take the Biscuit had to sell the six year old gelding, which prompted Emily’s crowdfunding campaign. All those who donated will be invited to watch “Hobby” compete, to yard-visits and also to join her on course walks. So it’s a great initiative for people who would love to be involved in a horse but do not have the money to own one. Furthermore, Emily has pledged to donate all of the horse’s future prize money to charity, the chosen one being World Horse Welfare.

Written by Ellie Kelly

Images by William Carey and Tim Wilkinson