MILLFIELD EQUESTRIAN BY NUMBERS
100 27
horses
full time staff
2014/15 is the first year that Millfield has
been able to offer polo in all three terms,
and the level of experience and match skills
has noticeably improved as a result.
Since 2007 we have also been a British
Horse Society (BHS) approved training
centre, training pupils for professional
qualifications and even hosting the
prestigious BHS Senior Equitation and
Coaching exam. Being at the top of
the league in schools equestrianism, we
are continually reviewing what we
offer and how we structure riding within
the curriculum.
2014 was a year of unprecedented
success and development at Millfield
BHSPI FACT BOX
Riding
to success
Director of
Equestrian
Sport, Danny
Anholt,
describes how
the Equestrian
department has dynamically
evolved since the school’s
inception and why 2014/15 has
been such a successful year for
Millfield’s riders.
16 The Windmill - Autumn 2015
R
iding has been at the heart of
Millfield since the very beginning,
when the first pupils arrived at
Millfield with their polo ponies. A lot has
changed over the past 80 years. In 1935
it was all boys, hunting, polo, no riding
hats and a few grass paddocks. Since then,
we have evolved to offer state-of-the-art
facilities and almost 100 horses over three
centres – Millfield, Millfield Prep and Vaux
Park. Even as recently as 15 years ago, we
had about 30 horses, some rough paddocks
and the Prep children came up daily to ride
at the senior school. Those numbers have
risen every year; we’ve built stables and
arenas at the Prep and recruited betterqualified staff to increase the quality and
availability of coaching. We now take our
riders to multiple competitions every
week and are continually expanding and
improving our facilities.
Although our polo pitch at the
Kingweston grounds still remains, polo
training is now fully established at Vaux
Park which boasts three grass pitches and
an all-weather arena, enabling year-round
training and matches. We have the use of a
large number of polo ponies for our players,
and those with their own ponies can get
favourable livery direct from Vaux Park.
The British Horse Society
Preliminary Instructors’
Certificate (BHSPI) is
the initial professional
teaching qualification
awarded within the equestrian
industry. It is UCAS point awarded and
candidates must pass five examinations
covering horse knowledge, care, riding
and teaching to gain the qualification.
Upper Sixth pupil Anna Roworth
(above) says: “I am a keen rider and
the course has allowed me to study
something I really enjoyed on top of
my A-levels. I enjoy the course as it is
a mixture of both practical and theory
lessons, and has enabled me to enhance
my knowledge and riding experience.
“The teaching groups are small so
you learn quickly, courses are tailored
to suit each pupil and the coaches are
knowledgeable and keen to help you.
The professional qualification I will gain
is known around the world, and will
put me in a good position when
applying for jobs in the equine
industry. It also allows you to have
a coaching qualification, which
means I can coach others and pass
on my knowledge.”
12 5
coaches
all-weather arenas
1
cross country course
Riding. August 2014 saw us break our
‘Hickstead jinx’ as a Millfield senior team
won the National Schools Show Jumping
Championships for the first time since
1974. Not only did we break our personal
record, we did it in a fashion that no other
school has ever come close to. Our 1st
team was victorious, the second team
were also runners up, Year 11 pupil Victoria
Garfield-Bennett was named individual
champion and the junior team placed a
credible third. In addition, we have seen
pupils qualify for the Horse of the Year
Show, Royal International Horse Show
and long-listed for the Junior Europeans
and Team GB this year. To culminate a
successful 2015 season, Charlotte East and
Phoebe Locke were both selected for Team
GB this summer.
We also unveiled our spectacular new
cross country course at Millfield Prep in May
this year, with the inaugural Millfield British
Eventing (BE) competition. The course is
imaginatively designed and built by London
2012 course designer Adrian Ditcham, and
played host to almost 500 competitors,
1
grass derby course
including 20 Millfield pupils and Olympic
rider Mary King MBE. British Eventing hailed
it as one of the most successful and wellorganised new events in the BE calendar.
Riding provides something unique to
the school – not only the opportunity for
pupils to excel to the best of their ability in
their chosen sport, but also a strong sense
of community and support of individuals.
For those who choose to, there’s something
special about bringing your horse to
school, a piece of your home away from
home – a friend and companion as well as
your means of athletic endeavour. Being
involved in the day-to-day care of the horse
with the dedicated Millfield staff builds
close and meaningful relationships with
adult professionals.
Riders are responsible for planning their
own, and their horses’ training schedule
with their coaches. Horses are a great
leveller, the equestrian coaches are dealing
with two athletes rolled into one, and so we
maintain the physical and mental wellbeing
of both, in training and competition.
@MillfieldRiding
Captains of Riding Emma
Williams and Jack Salter with
Director of Equestrian Sport,
Danny Anholt