RIDER PROFILES
Ricki Hill
You might recognise Essex based Show Jumper Ricki Hill from his bottom, which has appeared recently on one of Baileys’ adverts, causing quite a stir amongst some of the ladies here in the office! If not here’s a bit more about the up and coming international rider who is making a name for himself around Europe and working his way to his greatest ambition – an individual gold medal at the Olympics?
Ricki first started riding about 12 years ago, after swapping tennis lessons for riding lessons with his sister, falling in love with a 14hh welsh cob pony at his local riding school – and has never looked back. With a real desire to reach the top and a love of jumping Ricki has built up a string of grade A horses, including Prince of Wales on whom he won the Monte Carlo Grand Prix in 2005, and tells us that only hard work and long hours can get results. Ricki is very critical of his own riding position, saying that success starts at home and you have to be tough on yourself first before you can expect the best from your horse.
With a stunning yard built by his father, who runs his own building company (and who Ricki would be working for if he hadn’t carved out a career in show jumping), he has the perfect place for training his own horses, giving lessons and taking students for training. The whole yard is kept immaculate as Ricki hates mess and disorder. He says he is lucky though as he has a dedicated team who help keep it running like clockwork. Their working day starts at about 7.30am when the horses are fed and mucked out. Ricki starts riding around 8.30am and rides each horse for an hour, usually riding 4 or 5 a day, and breaking for lunch at 1pm when the horses are fed again. After lunch tack needs cleaning and the walker and arena need to be rolled as well as the whole yard being swept and made spotless! Students and lessons will take up some of Ricki’s afternoons but his horses are fed at 5pm and their boxes are set fair for the night – so it can all start again in the morning.
What couldn’t you live without?
My ‘Butet’ saddle – once you’ve ridden in one you don’t want to ride in anything else!
Who would you invite to a fantasy dinner?
Frankie Dettori, Jonathon Ross, Nick Skelton, David & Victoria Beckham
Hates:
Mess! I like things clean and tidy – especially my yard!
Ricki is currently on the lookout for horses to train and compete. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact him on ricki_hill19@hotmail.com
Lessons with Ricki:
£30 per lesson. Students are welcome to stay for training, e-mail: ricki_hill19@hotmail.com
VITAL STATISTICS
BASED
Benfleet, Essex
AGE
21
NUMBER OF HORSES
11
GREATEST SUCCESS
Winning the Monte Carlo Grand Prix
Gold Medal at the European Championships Under 18 & Under 21
FAVOURITE BAILEYS PRODUCT
No.4 Top Line Conditioning Cubes, No.9 All-Round Competition Mmix, Digest Plus
Gold Medal at the European Championships Under 18 & Under 21
FAVOURITE BAILEYS PRODUCT
No.4 Top Line Conditioning Cubes, No.9 All-Round Competition Mmix, Digest Plus
RESULTS THIS SEASON
| Monaco Grand Prix - 1st |
| HOYS Nations Championship - 6th |
| 1.50m Vicenza, Italy - 3rd |
| Grand Prix Vicenza CSI 3*, Italy - 4th |
TOP TIPS!
- 90% of good riding is your position. Be very critical of yourself
- Be willing to work hard and long hours
- Success starts at home - leave no stone unturned with your training