This week I’m very thrilled to be chatting with a young, highly talented team GB dressage rider with a very exciting future…..Lucinda Elliott.
Lucinda works and rides for Hawtins Stud where she has many exciting young horses and was enjoying a hugely successful competitive career prior to lockdown. We can’t wait to see her back in action soon…
Lucinda looking deservedly happy following another success riding Hawtins Lirica
Tell us a little about you and your horses
I work and ride for Hawtins Stud based in Gloucestershire, where I ride anywhere from 8 -10 horses a day usually everything from babies to the older horses. I’m lucky to have a very exciting group of horses to ride at the moment a few of my main ones are;
Hawtins Bellegra competing PSG
Hawtins Bellegra (Bellissimo M x Weltmyer) competing small tour
Hawtins Duchessa (Decamerone x Don Frederico) competing small tour
Hawtins Soave (Sir Donnerhall x Belissimo) competing small tour
Hawtins Fianello 7yr Gelding (Floriscount x Cardinar) 6yr reserve National champion also competing medium
Hawtins Letizia 5yr mare (Londontime x DiMaggio) competed young horse classes
How did horses come into your life?
Hawtins Lirica 9th in the small final with 8.14 at the world breeding championships
I grew up doing a bit of everything from Pony club, Hunting, workers, and riding show ponies.
My family have always had horses and I’ve been around them for as long as I can remember, I’ve always been horse crazy.
Before getting into dressage, I did a lot of showing with my own horses as well as riding for show pony producer Jerome Harforth who I later worked for after finishing school. I was fortunate to have wins at shows such as HOYS and Royal international.
In October 2014 I joined Mount St John as the resident rider. I spent 5 months in Germany with Nadine Plaster and Sandra Koetter learning the basics and riding young horses before returning back in the UK. Later that year I was fortunate enough to win my first national title and got accepted on to the BEF excel talent programme.
In 2018 I joined Hawtins stud, where I added 2 national titles and competed at the world young horse championships with Hawtins Lirica, and train and compete horses up to PSG.
I’ve been lucky enough to win 12 regional titles and 3 national titles.
How long have you been riding?
As soon as I could walk, I’m sure!
When and where do you ride?
Hawtins Quattro reserve national 6yr old
I work five and half days a week at Hawtins and teach on my days off
How did you start riding?
I’m from a horsey family, and horses have always been a big part of my mums life as she used to event, so naturally I became obsessed too. We had ponies at home and we went to pony club and had a go at everything from showing to eventing and hunting.
What are you and your horses currently working on?
MSJ Top Secret 5-year old reserve national champion. There’s no end to the talent available to Lucinda who is working hard to develop these youngsters
I’m lucky to get great training with Serena Pincus and with no shows at the moment we are working on basics, giving the horses time to strengthen up and work on gymnastic exercises to help with suppleness so they are ready when we are allowed back out to compete.
What do you love about riding?
I love the partnership and bond which you develop with your horses, especially seeing them develop from 3yrs through to advanced horses. I find it very rewarding; I love training building a relationship with them.
Lucinda and Hawtins Lirica who was the 4 & 5 year old National champion .
What would you like to be doing in the future and do you have any goals?
One of my main goals would be to be training and riding at Grand Prix. Short term is to keep training and developing them up the levels and enjoy my horses.
Have you ever had to deal with riding with nerves?
I’ve been lucky to not really suffer from nerves I actually quite like a big occasion and competing I find it exciting.
How do you deal with them?
The very elegant Hawtins Duchessa. Lucinda has so many stunning young horses to work with
It is a useful to work with a Psychologist and have tools to put in practice to maintain a good mindset.
Your top tip?
Have fun and enjoy the journey!! And buy pictures as memories.
The Final Furlong
Who would be your dream horse to ride?
I think would have to be Valegro he’s just in a league of his own
Who is your equestrian hero?
Catherine Dufour and Charlotte Dujardin
If you could have 5 people to dinner who would they be?
Jack Whitehall, Catherine Dufour, Lucinda Green, Frankie Dettori and Cameron Diaz
Favourite colour horse?
Chestnut they look great in the sun, but I don’t really have a favourite colour.
