CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY THE DOUBLE GUILT FACTOR
DEBRA Hargrave
Media & communications professional - currently working with events such as Horse of the Year Show, brands, a selection of venues, events, sponsorship & athletes
34 year old leading showjumper and Pro-Rider Academy client, Harriet Biddick, has taken two breaks from competing to have children and is now back riding again. ?She is married to point to point rider and trainer, Will.
Showjumping is often quoted as one of the few sports where women and men compete on a level playing field. We asked Harriet how true she thinks this is and how she has managed to combine running her business producing, competing horses as well as coaching alongside bringing up the kids.
Here’s what she said.....
Prior to becoming a Mum, did you notice any prejudice between men and women within showjumping, particularly to women that have had a career break to start a family?
Not really.? But if you look at the ages of women showjumping at top level today, it is noticeable how few women in the 30-40 age group are now riding at top level. The FEI’s decision to maintain the ranking position of women during their time off to have a family is really important in encouraging female riders to return to top level and I support that 100% even though I haven’t been in a position to take advantage of this so far myself.
What pressures did you feel to get back in the saddle?
I am lucky that I have had long time loyal owners who understood that I would get back competing as soon as I felt comfortable doing so and didn’t put me under pressure.? We were all open about it and they have been very supportive.
The most pressure comes from myself, thinking I should get back quickly and start competing again. ? I’m quite a competitive person and very much driven by producing horses.? It’s something that I love and I enjoy being back in the saddle.
I was worried that the longer I was out of the saddle, the longer it would take me to come back but I have learned , the second time around, to take it slowly and work on my core strength before returning to full competition.
So, there’s a double guilt – guilt I’m not getting back riding sooner and guilt that I should be spending more time with the children.? It’s something I think I am getting a bit better about balancing.? I have been mentally more prepared second time around and I am being sensible, so for example, not riding as much as I used to at home.? I used to work 6-8 horses a day at home but it’s now down to 4-5,? just in the mornings.
How was the business impacted by your time out?
It took some planning, particularly how to manage the horses.? The first time round was? shortly after Covid, so I sent two horses away for the winter to be ridden by James Wilson on the Sunshine Tour.? And, Ollie Tuff came to ride the youngsters and take them to shows.
The second time around, a lot of the horses had a break after a busy season between having the kids.? However, I did employ a very good girl to be my second rider to bring on a couple of the easier young horses over the winter and get their double clears Newcomers and Foxhunter.? So that was a tick in the box for this season.? I stopped shows last September, so missed HOYS but it worked out well timing-wise for me to re-start this Jan/Feb.
How do you juggle all that with Will’s own riding/training career?
That’s probably been the hardest thing.? We have to make sure we keep communicating!
Luckily, we are mostly busy at different times – Will is busier in the winter and I’ve made my season a much more summer orientated one, which suits me as I’m not a fan of the cold!
What has suffered is my coaching.? I found the last thing that I can fit in is my lessons for other people, which provides valuable extra income.? I am very lucky that I have a very supportive staff team and I have managed to delegate a lot of responsibility to them.
领英推荐
Communication is so key – especially between Will and I.? We both love what we do and recognise that we both need to allocate time to our businesses.?
The element of compromise is that mine has had to take a lower priority with the emphasis becoming more on Will’s, at least while the kids are young.
Image HICKSTEAD LIMITED the Hickstead Derby meeting is one of Harriet's favourite show's, she has an astounding record at the All England Jumping Course and has been runner up an incredible five times in the world famous Hickstead Derby. In 2022 she added to her tally of wins with another victory in the?British Speed Derby while aiming to add a fourth win in 2023 she created a viral sensation on board Silver Lift when he famously lost his bridle.
#pragency #socialmediaagency #equinebusiness #prorideracademy
#equestriansponsorship #equinemarketing #internationalwomensday #internationalwomensweek #sponsorship #prsupport #equestrianbrands #equestrianmarketing