JUMPING l TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
It’s never too late to learn to showjump, and one of Pippa Allen’s gutsy pupils who recently hit her seventh decade took up negotiating coloured poles for the first time not very long ago, her partner in crime a big jumping cob who is still a touch green
MEET THE EXPERT
PIPPA ALLEN’S family ran Stainsby Grange Equestrian, and so Pippa inevitably took up riding at a young age. She enjoyed considerable showjumping success on ponies before, aged 18, moving to Germany to ride for Helena Stormanns. Pippa’s CV includes two European gold medals, plus six national championship titles and representing Great Britain on many Nations Cups teams. She runs Kabete Lodge Stud near Leeds with her husband, Stevie Crosby. She is supported by British Horse Feeds.
MEET THE RIDER & HORSE
GLYNNIS COATES, 70, began training with Pippa Allen a few months ago. She has been riding since childhood and used to play polo and ride in Arab races. She was on the lookout for another Thoroughbred ex-racehorse when she came upon Delilah, her seven-year-old cob, three years ago. The mare was originally intended for her niece to ride, but Glynnis ended up piloting the piebald mare herself and calls their journey together a “rocky road”, although she adds: “I’m so pleased that I got her and I now wouldn’t swap her for the world.”
PART TWO
GLYNNIS COATES SAYS that training with international showjumper Pippa Allen has been transformative. Before she began to book lessons with the Leeds-based trainer, veteran rider Glynnis had been struggling with her cob, Delilah. Now, however, they are slowly building their confidence so that they will be able to attend a few local shows.
“I’m not a showjumper and she was green,” Glynnis explains. “I fell off and broke a rib, and that’s when I asked Pippa for help.”
Pippa commenced Glynnis’ training regime using poles on the floor and usually at the start of a session she also climbs aboard the piebald mare herself, but in a change of plan today Glynnis takes the reins from the get-go.
“Always start a horse’s training with poles and move up from there. Sometimes this mare can put in a big leap, so we’re also trying to keep things quiet to get them both confident,” says Pippa.
