Ginny Howe Eventing

HISTORY

I have been riding since before I could walk and have been lucky enough to have been part of a Pony Club family and from birth attended the Heythrop Hunt Pony Club events with my siblings Rachel and Ian Howe, on the best, most well known pony Princess (whom sadly left our lives this year aged 32). I then went onto ponies and had a fantastic time show jumping on a superstar pony called Rosie who took me round the Area show jumping! She was a very tricky 13.2 pony but incredibly talented  and well worth the hassle as she introduced me to competitive life as a rider and I put it down to her that I am where I am now!

 

 

As a child I represented the Heythrop Pony club four

times in the Pony Club Championships at Sansaw,

both in the eventing and

show jumping teams on three different horses.

 

 

 

2002        Alpine Express                          2004         Alpine Express

2003        Montgomery IV                         2005         Dance Time

 

 

We, the team had our first victorious year in 2004 when we won the eventing and I got an individual 3rd on our homebred and produced, Alpine Express.  After showing good form at Pony club open level I successfully competed in JRNs and following that I was selected for the championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005 held at Weston Park.

 

Once eligible for ‘Juniors’, I was long listed with Montgomery IV in 2005 where unfortunately at the final trial he injured his tendon which meant we could no longer be considered for a team place.   Following this disappointment, Simon Lawrence my trainer very generously leant me his ex-Badminton horse, jointly owned by Fiona Rolt; Tudor Court II.

 

 

2006

Tudor Court II successfully introduced me to my first 1* and 2* events and gave me very valuable experience.

  

In the late season of 2006 I received the ride on Miles Ahead II from Mr and Mrs Plunkett.    Also during 2006 I purchased Cavort. We sold everything for this horse as we knew he was something special and would hopefully get me closer to my dream of competing at Badminton and ultimately the Olympics.

 

Both horses competed in the Young Rider Trial at Weston Park earning good results. Miles Ahead II finishing 5th and Cavort 19th.

 

These results lead us on to the winter training programme at Hyde Farm West with trainers Gill Watson and Emma Fisher in order to improve our dressage and show jumping.

 

 

9^th Brightling International 2* on Tudor Court II

2^nd Spring Hill Intermediate on Miles Ahead II

1^st South of England OIU21 on Tudor Court II  

2^nd Bicton OIU21 on Tudor Court II

2^nd Berrington Hall Open Novice on Cavort

1^st Wilton JRN on Miles Ahead II

5^th Young rider Trial 2* on Miles Ahead II

 

 2007

 

 

 

Following consistent results from Cavort and a brilliant achievement at Bramham CCI^*** in August we were short listed for the Europeans and invited to training for the Young Riders team.

I then represented the country at Blair Castle and although I didn’t achieve the result I wanted, as Cavort lost a shoe at fence four of the cross country, the selectors decided I was more than capable of tackling Military Boekelo and put Blair Castle down to bad luck on wet ground. Following Blair Castle and the training we jetted off to the Netherlands. I was the youngest rider and felt very privileged to have been asked to go. We were fortunate enough to have been offered a place with Zara Phillips in her horsebox so Cavort and I could travel in style feeling relaxed and ready for the competition ahead.

After a good dressage mark and a clear cross country we went into the show jumping feeling very pleased with our performance.  Show jumping is Cavort’s weakest phase and unfortunately he had 2 poles down but this still left us in 49th position overall and considering the wealth of experience of both competitors and horses in the competition I was very pleased with him.

 

 

7^th Hambledon Intermediate on Tudor Court II

20^th Chatsworth 3* on Cavort

17^th Bramham 3* on Cavort

13^th Burnham Market Advanced on Cavort

9^th Aston le Walls intermediate on Cavort

8^th Great Witchingham Open Intermediate on Cavort

10^th Oasby Open Intermediate on Cavort

3^* experience in Military Boekelo

 

 

 

2008

2008 was a very successful season and we managed to purchase another horse that I believe will be top quality and a second string horse to Cavort; “Divilabit”.   Divilabit was purchased as a leggy 6 year old grey gelding and he has had an exceptional first season going double clear in his first 1* and having many novice placings.  As only a 6 year old proving he has an exciting future ahead of him!

 

I also acquired three new rides; Bonne Amie, Direct Cruising and Chilean Boy who are all currently going very well at Novice level and aiming for 1*s and Intermediate levels in the Spring, as is my own mare “Vidusa” a 6 yr old warm blood show jumper.

 

Cavort has had a very successful season and after a winter of BSJA his show jumping is improved immensely as we proved at Barbury 3* when he was one of only six clear rounds in the show jumping. He was highly placed at Chatsworth 3* finishing 12th and Bramham 3* finishing 10^th thus proving his ability at top level competitions. He also proved his jumping capability when he did a beautiful double clear at the Young Rider final trial at Gatcombe in August. We are hoping for a brilliant first run at Blenheim in order to set us up with enough points to go to Badminton next year. Cavort will finish this season in Pau, South of France, at our first 4*.

Simon Lawrence, Trainer;   "Ginny is currently 19 years old and she was the youngest member representing her country at Military Boekelo 2007.  The horse Ginny was riding, Cavort, she has brought from intermediate to three star level in just a year".

 

"Ginny is an incredibly naturally talented rider and competitor; she is hard working and has done a fantastic job on Cavort, who is not an easy horse to ride, as well many other difficult horses.  Importantly, when she is competing she does not become over inflated by success and bounces back quickly from mishaps.  These are all qualities that are essential in the competitive world of three day event riding".

 

Ginny is now being trained by Justine Sole , who has taken over Simon’s role to assist with Ginny’s career into the future