Five minutes with: Simon Grieve

Please introduce yourself

Looking at me, you wouldn't believe that I, Simon Grieve, have a couple of interesting similarities to Mark Todd, as he is super tall and I am certainly not. However we were both born in Cambridge (although me in the UK), and we both have the same Birthday, 1^st March but I wont divulge the year difference although I am soon to be 39.

We are both international event riders, but that is where the similarities abruptly end. Toddy is Double Olympic Champion (a work in progress for me), and when introducing myself I say, I'm Simon Grieve in a very British accent as oppose to Kiwi. I do though have a team of event horses based at Simon Grieve Eventing, at Field Farm in Leicestershire and compete at all levels, from unaffiliated, all the way up to 5* level.

Brought up in East Anglia and making the move to the Midlands in the early 2000s, its been a long road to get here. I've made some amazing friends along the way and picked up some fascinating insights to the world of eventing too – the sport that I absolutely love. This has been twinned, as with all event riders, with some serious knocks, and you don't get involved in this sport if you are not prepared to take some.

I have worked in every sphere of equestrianism that you can think of – dressage, British Eventing, showjumping, racing, polo, carriage driving, hunting, dealing and the list goes on. It's given me an amazing grounding and has made me the rider that I am today.

I also work in the media and am a TV presenter as well as writing for several publications.

I live with my gorgeous whippet Twiggy and and my equally gorgeous and long suffering partner in the deepest depths of the Leicestershire/Rutland countryside.

Introduce your team, trainers and helpers

Introducing my team is a difficult one, there are so many cogs involved in the machine of this little dream so it's hard to know where to start, but at the forefront are Maggie and Amanda Hill who help me look after the horses.

We are supported by some of the best in the business when it comes to horse care and we have a team of super owners who entrust us with their wonderful horses. Some of these owners I have ridden for for 20 years. The support that I have received has been immeasurable and I am forever grateful to the owners of the now hundreds of horses that I have had the pleasure of competing over the years.

I am trained by Holly Smith, Richard Davison and Caroline Moore. I am supported by some fantastic brands too who I love working with and promoting:

Toggi
Champion
Polypads
NEW Equine Wear
Bed Down Horse Bedding
Saddles Up
POP Equine
Allen and Page Horse Feed
Flex-On Stirrups
Weighed in Ltd
Erreplus Saddles
Omega Equine
Equisafety Ltd.

Tell us about your career highlights to date

I have completed 10 5* three day events in my career.

My win tally at national level is, I think, 80.

In 2012 I was the British Eventing Foundation points champion.

How have you adapted to Lockdown isolation?

My schedule has changed, but I am just as busy!

I have 10 horses in work at the moment and I am incredibly lucky to have fantastic facilities available to me at Field Farm, so their education can continue despite being unable to transport them.

Teaching is still popular, although people cannot come to my base, I need to go to them, but this is where I need more hours in the day! a

I have also fronted a new TV series for Horse and Country TV called From Field to Fitness with Equisafety. It covers all aspects of getting your horse ready for your first event with brilliant insights from some of the worlds best riders. I have spent a lot of hours interviewing on Zoom and it has been fascinating to discover how everyone does things differently and find some brilliant exercises and ideas that we can all implement in to our training as well.

Aims for 2021?

This year, I am very hopeful that Badminton will happen. I have two horses that are tentitively aimed there in Mr Fahrenheit (Freddie) and Drumbilla Metro (Splash). Its very exciting to aim these two horses at the world's premier event and even more exciting to have a third 5* horse, The Rutman who we will aim at Luhmuhlen in Germany.

I also have a nice string of young horses that will hopefully continue their education – the aim with them, in fact all of them is to have fun.

Ones to watch from your string

Bonhunt Bertie will step up to 4* level this year and is so much fun. I'm hopeful he will be successful and fulfil his potential.

Ones to watch with other riders

Susie Berry is a fantastic jockey and has some really good horse power up her sleeve as well as the support to do it too. Any horse she has could be top class, but keep an eye out for Ringwood LB and John the Bull in 2021.

James Rushbrooke should also be on your radar. Another ballsy rider with some good horse power and an excellent work ethic. Keep an eye out for his ride Rowland this season.

Mary Edmundson's DG Maradona could step up this year. A super accurate rider to a fence, Mary is another super young rider.

Mark Davidson's ride Highlight K was incredibly consistent at 3* level last year and I'm very interested to see the pair enter the echelons of 4* this season. Another talented jockey who works hard.

In America, look out for Will Faudree's Caeleste. Another super smart horse that will be going 5* this season hopefully – a very talented pair.

Of course there are the obvious ones, Toledo de Kerser, London 52 and the like are ones to watch. Lets hope they can bring back some medals for us in 2021.

Catch up with Simon Grieve Eventing via social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.