Everything Horse magazine Everything Horse UK Magazine, November 2014 | Page 16

5 Minutes With...

GEMMA TATTERSALL

This month Everything Horse UK caught up with 4 star eventer Gemma Tattersall. Still on top of
the world after finishing 5th at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Gemma stops to ‘take 5’
from her busy schedule to answer a few of our questions ...
Where about are you based?
Just outside Horsham in West Sussex

yes I would say the pressure is now most
definitely on!

Tell us about your horses…
I am very lucky and have an amazing
bunch of horses to ride. I currently have 4
advanced horses – Arctic Soul, Chico Bella,
Dinky Inky and Quicklook – who are all
gorgeous but all totally different! I also ride
a lot of young horses by the stallion Chilli
Morning as my main owner owns him and
has bred a lot from our lovely selection of
mares.

How did it feel finishing in the top 6 at
Burghley this year?
Finishing 5th at Burghley this year was
amazing. I was so proud of Arctic Soul and
so thrilled with his performance. He has
always been a very good xc horse but he
felt total class going round such a testing
track and gave me the ride of my life. I was
also absolutely chuffed to bits with how he
show jumped on the final day. He struggles
with nerves and atmosphere and he tried
so hard it was great to jump a clear.

Were you a part of the Pony Club as a
child? If so do you have any words of
wisdom for the younger riders of today?
Yes I was part of East Sussex PC. I think it
teaches you a lot but I would say just to
enjoy it all and not take it too seriously
You were chosen for the lottery-funded
‘World Class Development Programme’ can
you tell us a little on what it involved
Initially if you attain good results you are
invited to a trial where you have to ride
and are interviewed. If you are selected on
to the programme you have to maintain
form and achieve annual goals and targets
that are set. The programme offers me
financial support, all sorts of advice and
access to some of the best trainers in the
country so is a vital part of my success. The
programme is a fantastic support to me
and I have now been part of it for over 10
years moving up from the Development
squad on to the Elite squad.

Gemma with Arctic Soul
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Everything Horse UK Magazine • Issue 14 • November 2014

You now compete alongside some of the
world’s best eventers, how does it feel? Is
the pressure really on?
One of the great things about eventing is
that all through the levels you can compete
against all of the top riders and as you
move up the grades you compete against
some of the best combinations in the
world. I always put quite a lot of pressure
on myself as I am very competitive bu @