Ride Team

Chris King Event Rider
Chriskingeventing.com

Chris has been riding since the age of 9 when he and his sister shared their first pony, becoming members of the New Forest Pony Club. After leaving school, Chris completed a National Diploma in Equine Business Management at Hartpury College where he then began training with Leslie Law.

Once his college and training was completed, Chris worked at a number of yards across the country where he gained valuable experience competing both young horses and completing his first three day event. He was then based at the yard of David and Jane Tolley in Wantage where he stayed for four years before setting up his own yard near Swindon, Wiltshire.

At this time he was joined by his fiancée Zanie Tanswell whom he met while at Hartpury College. Zanie, who had run her own yard for several years, also worked for Pippa Funnell for four years as head girl, supporting her through the exciting time of her Grand Slam victories. In 2003, during her time working with Pippa, Zanie won Groom of the Year.

Chris and Zanie are now based at a beautiful purpose built yard in the pretty village of Southrop in Gloucestershire. They have an exciting team of 10 promising horses to compete for the 2007 season including a new 3* horse recently bought for the yard called Blacker Cat and another 3* called The Secret Weapon. They also have Isandhlwana and Prairie Monarch both of which are heading for 2* events and a number of youngsters to produce for the season.

Although his career includes highlights such as being 13th at Badminton on Miss De Meena in 2004, Chris states that his short term goals for 2007 are to get back in the top ten rider rankings and to keep producing the horses to 4* level.

Chris has been awarded the TASSTASS Scholarship for the 2012 Olympics and is hopeful that he can make the team for Beijing or London on a horse such as Isandhlwana.

Ben Maher Event Rider
benmaher.co.uk

Ben has won various Grand Prix, Speed, Derby and Puissance classes across Europe on Bob’s Diamond, Onasis, Give Me Remus, Eperlaan De Fouquet, Alfredo II and Mercurius. At the Hickstead Derby Meet at the beginning of July ’06 Ben retained the Speed Derby title winning for the second consecutive year on Mercurius. At Horse of the Year Show in October ’06 be was joint winner of the Puissance class on Eperlaan De Fouquet. In January 2006, Ben was awarded the ‘Best Up And Coming Rider’ award at the BSJA Awards ceremony in London, an award that is voted for by the country’s top 100 show jumpers. Ben is only 24 years old, younger than then majority of his peers.

2005 was a banner year for Ben with an amazing tally of achievements including winning the double at the Hickstead Derby. He won puissance classes across Europe, competed on Nation Cup Teams and continued to beat many of the world’s best at The London International Horse Show in December.

At only 24 years old Ben has already reached the top of the sport nationally and he is currently climbing the world rankings. Ben’s sights are now on the Olympics, and recent press coverage suggests that much of the show jumping community also consider that he is definitely heading in that direction.

Ben competes regularly at all the major international shows throughout Great Britain and Europe. He is also invited to many of the large prestigious events riding a variety of show jumping horses that he trains at his base in Hertfordshire. Woof Wear is immensely proud to have Ben Maher on our sponsored rider team.

Kitty Boggis Event Rider
kittyboggis.com

Kitty sat on her first pony at only 2 weeks old and then began riding regularly as soon as she could walk. She was only two years old when she was able to do rising trot. Kitty’s first pony was called ‘Bambi’ but it was ‘Glasgow Flyer’ and ‘Red Alert’ who took her through the Pony Europeans and Young Rider teams. With Red Alert, Kitty came 9th individually and gained team Silver at the Pony Europeans and Glasgow Flyer took her to the Junior Regional Novice and her first affiliated intermediate event. Kitty then gained the ride on ‘Leading Edge’ who was placed in Novice and they then won their first Intermediate at Gatcombe. Kitty and Leading Edge then gained their places on the Junior team in 2000 where they won team silver and were 4th individually, being best of the British entries.

At the beginning of 2001, Kitty was offered the ride on ‘Five Boys’ and they did their first Pre–Novice as soon as the Foot and Mouth crisis had subsided. In 2002, Kitty and Five Boys (‘Molly’), won Punchestown 2* and then gained a place in the Young Rider team where they won team silver and were 11th overall. In 2003, Five boys came second at Bramham CCI *** where they became the National Under 25 Champions. They made it on to the Young Rider team again where they won team gold and were 4th individually. In 2005 they completed their first Badminton where they came 7th, awarding them a place on the Senior squad for the European Championships at Blenheim. Kitty is the only rider to have gained all four ‘flags’ by being in Pony, Junior, Young Rider and Senior teams.

Kitty lives at home with her incredibly sporty family and is supported by her mother Jane, Holly Bradshaw and Sam Taylor. Team Boggis’ is also ably assisted by Haggis, the lurcher, a horse trials favourite!

Carl Hester Dressage

Carl Hester is one of Britain's leading international riders in the sport of dressage. He was brought up in the Channel Island of Sark and moved to the mainland to further his riding career. He had his first proper riding lesson at the age of sixteen, and just eighteen months later went on to win the 1985 National Young Riders’ Championships.

Based at his yard in Gloucestershire, Carl continues to prove his ability both in the arena and as a top trainer. This included being Dressage Trainer to the New Zealand event team for the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. His hard work and dedication towards others was recognised when he won the ‘Dressage Trainer of the Year’ award in the same year.

Carl has represented Great Britain at Olympic, European and World level, he was also the youngest ever rider to represent their country at the Barcelona Olympics. The five times National Champion, also the holder of thirty nine national titles, rode for Great Britain at the Sydney Olympics. He once again represented Great Britain in August for the 2004 Athens Olympics with Escapado.

At the Athens Olympics Carl became the highest scoring British Rider ever finishing 12th and on his return he went on to win the Mercedes Benz National Grand Prix title for 2004 again with Escapado. The following year Carl and Escapado qualified and competed at the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas finishing 9th overall. The same partnership were members of the British Team who were selected to compete at the European Championships in Hagen in July, where they finished in 5th place. Carl himself was the highest placed British rider in the Individual section, finishing 6th overall. In 2006, Carl made his Big Tour debut with Pro-Set, winning all his classes on the Sunshine Tour in Spain.

So far this year Carl is enjoying continued success with Pro-Set with a perfect start to the year winning the first Premier League Grand Prix at Addington Manor. He is also testing a new ride, Lecantos, at Grand Prix level for his owner Sasha Stewart. Along with these two top horses, Movistar a 7 year old Dutch Stallion, has joined the team.

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