SPOTLIGHT Andrew Gould and Esquire competing in the Prix St Georges at Hickstead
Andrew & Eventing meets Hannah Gould Dressage at Highview
the first time, living in staff accommodation with colleagues who were in some cases twice his age. David didn’t entertain fools and Andrew recounts being sent to see if he wanted a cup of coffee and taking several minutes to build up the confidence to ask the
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Pics by Spidge Photography, LRG Photography and Lucy Mohr
W
atching Andrew Gould schooling a magnificent black An all-round sportsman, Andrew dressage horse it easy to forget the years of hard work, determination and the sheer number of extremely Gould grew up in London keeping naughty and quirky horses he has ridden during his lifetime. his passion for riding a secret from Listening to his daily routine (he rides ten horses a day, and his team-mates on the rugby pitch, teaches), little of the above has changed, he still works hard and of there are still those talented yet quirky horses to ride, but this single-minded determination course with age comes experience, the ability to set clearer goals and be not to give up on his dream has more selective about which quirky horses to ride. served him well, even when faced Captain of rugby with riding some of the quirkiest Andrew grew up in Twickenham, an all-round sportsman, he was horses in the country. captain of the rugby and athletic teams at school and was Borough of London hurdles champion three years in a row. Fearless on the Based at Highview, a small but rugby pitch Andrew didn’t care who he tackled. A trait which I has weaved its benefits throughout his career with horses. purpose built yard, in Bolney, he suspect When Andrew was 15, his coaches suggested that he could take married his wife, Hannah, last both rugby and athletics further, but Andrew had a secret, there another sport he was excelling in, riding. Andrew had started September and together they run was riding aged eight and never told his friends of his hobby, knowing the yard as well as growing their full well the relentless teasing he would endure for enjoying a considered to be ‘girly’. When he was 12, he started riding a Foxy Horsebox business. sport five-year-old horse called Koffee Break, who his aunt, Anne-Marie, as a three-year-old. When he was 13, Andrew started With some exciting young horses bought training with international dressage judge and trainer, David Hunt. in the wings, Fiona Rafferty went Having spoken with David and his other sports coaches Andrew to concentrate on riding, over athletics and rugby. along to find out what the future chose Andrew had spent all his holidays working for David, so when holds for this enterprising and he left school aged 16, it was a natural progression to work for full-time. One would imagine the job of dreams, but for a determined couple. him young Andrew it was an unsettling time. Away from home for
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