LUCY RICHARDS 10 Eventer and Bomber Bits ambassador Lucy Richards shares her three-star plans… Lucy is currently competing at 3* level – her top horse is 7-year-old Wicklow Into Orbit, aka Obie. She’s aiming for young rider selection next year.

swales pelham“He currently ‘dressages’ in a Bombers loose ring ported barrel, which helps him hold himself in self-carriage, and jumps in a Bombers happy tongue swales pelham (pictured), which I can make small adjustments in without having to pull him, which he doesn’t like!” she explains.

What 3*s I’m preparing for:

“Since my plans have only recently changed (as British Eventing decided not to take a team out to the Junior European Championships in 2021), we are still in the early stages of planning, but by the end of the season, I hope to have competed at 3* long (he’s now qualified!), and have Obie qualified for 4* short,” Lucy tells us.

“Championship opportunities may become available over the course of the year, and we will look to incorporate these events into our plans. Obie recently contested Nunney 3* short – we did a lovely double clear, finishing in the money despite some time faults xc. In preparation for my events, I will be training with my coaches Caroline Moore and Amy Woodhead, and my whole team of nutritionists, massage therapists and of course the bitting specialists at Bombers, to ensure my horses and I get to these events at the peak of our performance!”

Thoughts and feelings on moving up to young rider level:

Lucy is looking forward to the challenge of stepping up a level and says it is always exciting to show all the training you have put in. “I have ridden at 3* level which is the level of the championships, and know Obie is more than capable of it, so it will be exciting to see how far he can go!” she says. “With younger horses, in particular, they are always on their road to 5*, so I like to look at youth championships as a test of their training at each level, and of course an opportunity to work with some highly skilled professionals. I think for youth teams, in particular, it is important not to get so caught up in selection that you forget to enjoy the journey; but that’s not to say I’m not competitive! She adds.

Lucy says it has always been a dream to ride professionally and be selected for the Olympics. “However, I am also aware that it is a very hard profession to get a foot into, particularly when you don’t have a pot of gold at the bottom of your back garden! I also have a great passion for academics, in particular the sciences, so I am hoping to study Biochemistry at university whilst continuing with the youth eventing programme; this I have been told on many occasions seems crazy, but I believe if you want something enough, you will go and take it. I am hoping having done this, I will be able to have another job, should I need it to support my equestrian endeavours.

Lucy’s FB page – https://www.facebook.com/lucyrichardseventing

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