Harriet Nuttall’s super seconds Hickstead 2015

Team Selwood show jumper, 25 year old Harriet Nuttall flew the flag tremendously well at the Hickstead Derby meeting last week and over the weekend. With a fantastic week in various classes, most notably her second placings in the speed derby aboard Silver Lift and in the Derby class aboard A Touch Imperious, Harriet’s performances have really caught everyone’s eye!

Speed Derby

In the speed derby there were around 30 riders tackling the course all aiming for that winning time. Harriet rode, in her own words “her little legged” Silver Lift, a diminutive horse who was once her sisters first ride and enjoyed life as a hunter! Harriet has been working on his galloping this year and it has really paid off. They motored around the course to take pole position, even with a fence down! The ten year old gelding certainly showed that what he lacks in height he made up for in speed! Harriet looked impossible to beat until Guy Williams took to the stage aboard Casper De Muze. Gutting for Harriet as this is the second year running she has finished in second place – so third time lucky for next year we hope! Harriet really did feel that this year she had the edge over Guy Williams – especially as Silver Lift had seemed to find an extra gear around the course with a time of 92.38! But it wasn’t to be and Guy was crowned winner on 91.95 with Harriet now even more determined for 2016 to be her year!

Derby Class

In the much coveted Derby class held yesterday, Harriet was one of the favorites to win in front of an estimated 15,000 strong crowd. Bookies had it tightly held with odds showing ‘anything could happen’ for Harriet and her ride; 11 year old gelding A Touch Imperious. Harriet adores this horse and credits him as being able to do anything she asks of him. “He has so much character and has proved himself already as a top horse coming third in last years derby class.

Selwood Past and Present

Harriet competed against a string of top show jumpers including last years winner and previous Selwood rider; Trevor Breen. A stunning round by the Somerset based rider, who was one of the last few to jump, had the crowd holding their breath and jumping every fence with her. An unfortunate four faults just caught her out and with Trevor having kept a clean sheet aboard Loughnatousa WB, Harriet took second place joint with William Whitaker, Billy Twomey, Steven Franks and Nigel Coupe.

Other great results across the board for Harriet included a top ten placing in the Beethoven 7 & 8 year old champs aboard Dulf. This combined with press and media attention, interviews and course walks, Harriet was incredibly busy all week! She has told us just how delighted she was with all the horses and how well she feels they performed. It was certainly a great show and Selwood are delighted with the achievements Harriet and her team took home. Well done!

Hello and welcome to my first Hickstead blog

I wanted to start with a bit of an introduction to me and my family. My Dad used to showjump and then was an amateur jump jockey, he is now Joint Master of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt. My Mum doesn't ride but is a massive support to me, watching every round on Live Stream.

I have two sisters. Emma used to event but is now also a Master of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt. She is married to Joe Tizzard, an ex-professional jockey and now assistant to National Hunt trainer Colin Tizzard. Lucy is mad keen on hunting and helps produce the young horses at home, as well as studying.

I am based in Somerset and have a yard of 20 horses. We produce high quality hunters, eventers and showjumpers from the ages of three to 14.

A Touch Imperious is my best horse, having jumped on three FEI Nations Cup teams with him. He came third in the Equestrian.com Derby at Hickstead last year and has had many places in international Grands Prix. A good way to describe him would be a brave dinosaur with a heart of gold!

Highland Cruiser was my first horse. We have had him from the age of three and he's now the grand age of 14. He has taken me from 1.10m to 1.50m, and has been 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th in the Bunn Leisure Speed Derby, and this year is feeling better than ever.

Silver Lift is my speed king, having won me a car and picked up many speed class wins. His Thoroughbred roots make him a challenge to keep up with. He came second in the Speed Derby last year.

I have a great team of young horses coming up through too, one of which is Dulf, owned by Hugo and Pippa James, a very scopey seven-year-old and a big prospect for the future. Also I'm very lucky to be part of team Selwood, my sponsor of two years, that have supported me every step of the way.

The countdown to the Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting 2015 has begun, with just three weeks to go! Recently I went to the Odense CSIOwith A Touch Imperious, Silver Lift and Highland Cruiser. It was a great show, and I picked up a number of good results, including a win and a second on Silver Lift, a 1.35m win on Highland Cruiser, while A Touch Imperious was on flying form, coming sixth in the 1.50m Ranking Class and second in the Nations Cup! But there was nothing like the Hickstead Bank or Devils Dyke to content with.

My next stop was Lisbon CSIO with both A Touch Imperious and Silver Lift, with the latter picking up a win and a second place out there. 

Highland Cruiser had to sit that one out as he needs a couple of weeks fitness work for his next show. Also, this will give him plenty of time to carry on growing out his mane for the big day at Hickstead. Having always had it hogged, it has taken a while to be grow and be tamed, but I think he is definitely loving feeling the wind through his luscious locks!

Harriet