Mother and daughter to compete at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials

Mother and daughter to compete at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials

There’s high excitement in the Rimmer household, as both mother Jo and daughter Jessica are looking forward to competing at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials this weekend (8^th-11^th September).

Jo, 47, will ride her own and Anna Slight’s Isaac Newton in the CIC3* for eight- and nine-year-old horses – one of Britain’s most prestigious classes for young event horses.

Jessica, 14, will ride her own 14.2hh Irish After Shock in the Voltaire Design 100cm Eventer Challenge class, a highly popular arena eventing competition for amateur riders.

“It will be such a thrill for both of us to ride at Blenheim Palace – I first rode there in 1995 and have had such good times there,” said Jo, who runs a yard in Fontmell Parva in Dorset. “This is Jessica’s first time at Blenheim Palace – she is so excited to get into this competitive class. It should be both great fun for her and fantastic experience to ride at such a big event.”

Jessica is about to go into Year 10 at Claysmore School, where her father Daniel teaches is and is a housemaster. Jo herself is a former science teacher who swapped teaching for horses when her children [Jessica and Edward, 11] were young. As well as running the yard alongside fellow event rider Joe Roome, she is also a British Eventing coach.

“Isaac Newton came to me to bring on and sell,” explains Jo. “He was quite naughty to begin with but I thought he was talented, so I sold a share in him to Anna. He’s been terrific and I’m looking forward to a great ride at Blenheim Palace.

“Jessica’s pony, Irish After Shock, is a bit of a film star – arrogant, opinionated and talented! He’s a cracking jumping pony and Jessica started doing affiliated eventing with him this year.”

Visit www.blenheimhorse.co.uk to book tickets and for further information.

Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.