Andrew has been competing in dressage since the age of 13. He was on five consecutive GB European Teams and won a team bronze medal in 2000. He has won 11 regional championships, three national championship classes, won and been placed in many classes up to PSG level both nationally and internationally. Andrew is also well-known as dressage trainer to some of the equestrian world’s leading riders and celebrities. His pupils include celebrity Katie Price, eventing’s gold medal winners Emily Llewellyn and Sienna Myson-Davies and international event riders Emily Baldwin and Gemma Tattersall.
What would you do if you didn’t ride horses? It would probably be something sporty. I always enjoyed rugby and football at school and I was athletics champion for my county.
Why did you decide to go into dressage? I didn't really decide it was more by chance and being in the right place at the right time. I was helping at a showing yard when I was 13-years-old and the yard next door was where dressage rider David Hunt was based. He used to see me ride the show ponies and said he saw talent in my riding. My aunty then bought a four-year-old horse from Denmark that kept throwing her off and broke her back! My family thought it would be good if I took the horse on and based him at David Hunt's and tried to learn dressage. That horse was Koffee Break who I eventually competed in five consecutive European Championships. However I did spend the first three years falling off him, going backwards and not really enjoying it!
When is your next competition? I compete about four to six times a month. These shows are usually within about two hours of my yard and I also travel to the Premiere League or Championship shows which can be further afield.
How often do you muck out? My time is purely riding and training my horses, teaching clients and competing these days. Luckily (for me) I don't have to muck out anymore as I have a fantastic team of staff who all work together to help me look after tall the horses. Meet my Team.
Who has the best yard you’ve visited? Probably Dutch International Dressage rider, Arjen Teeuwissen. It was the most amazing and stylish yard I have ever seen. It is worth going online to look at the pictures, it's amazing: http://www.arjenteeuwissen.com/Page/25135_by-night.aspx
What was the last thing you bought a ticket for? West Ham vs. Liverpool
Why do you think Matthais Alexander Rath was chosen as Totilas’s rider? I think Matthais works closely with Totilas's new owner Paul Schockemoehle, so the partnership probably works very well for them. Talking about Totilas, we are all really excited as Natasha Mitchell bought Babyface from the Equine Elite Auction in Holland in October. Babyface is in foal to Totilas, she is currently out in our fields relaxing and preparing for motherhood. Here's a picture - Babyface is a black four-year-old by UB40, and she has just had the highest grading approval by the KWPN!!
When was the last time you went on holiday? Polly and I went to the Maldives this Christmas which was amazing. I very rarely get a day off so we try to take a couple of holidays a year.
How many times a day do you ride? I ride or teach between 10 and 15 horses each day.
Whose horse would you like to own? I wouldn't mind owning a racehorse that wins a lot! Then I could use the winnings to buy a top dressage horse.
What was your first job? Working at a livery yard at the weekends while I was still at school.
When did you last kick yourself? When I put up my lorry ramp this week and crushed the bar that holds it shut – it’s going to cost me quite a bit of money to repair!
How do you relax? I enjoy watching films, listening to music and chilling out on the sofa in the evenings. Playing with my kids is always a lot of fun, and a nice way to chill out.
Who do you think will be the one to watch this year? Charlotte Dujardin riding Valegro.
What is your top tip for H&C website visitors? Work hard; keep trying and practice, practice, practice!
To find out more about Andrew you can visit his website at www.andrewgould.com/index.html
Who would you like us to spend Ten Minutes in the Tack Room with? Email webeditor@horseandcountry.tv.
| 6:00am | The Saddle Club |
| 6:30am | The Saddle Club |
| 11:00am | Wonder Dogs |
| 11:30am | Fresh from the Farmers' Market |
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