We caught up with Murray Lamperd at the Geelong Horse Trials and took the opportunity to find out more about his European tour plans for 2014 as well as his thoughts on last year’s international campaign with Under the Clocks and to hear about his young horses
We were crammed in the car to get out of the sun (eat your heart out northern hemisphere riders!) and also because there was a rather loud PA system right next to us!
Murray and his daughter India
Murray and Jade’s children India and Noah joined us and, when Murray had to pop out for a while to walk the show jumping course with a pupil, I had a little chat with eight year old India, who is keen to follow in her dad’s footsteps as an eventer
Last year she had the experience of travelling overseas with her mum, Jade and her brother Noah to watch Murray compete at Badminton Horse Trials and they also all travelled to France, Italy and Greece on a family holiday afterwards. India loved France, especially Paris and the Eiffel Tower
However the highlight was watching Murray compete at Badminton, especially as the big house was very ‘shiny’ (I couldn’t have put it better myself). She hopes to ride there one day soon, but when Murray pointed she may be a bit young just yet, she decided that she could maybe wait until she was thirteen and then compete there
By then her current eventing pony, the 20 year old Mrs Brown may be a little old for Badminton, but at the moment they are doing a great job together. Mrs Brown has had a very successful career in the show arena, having won many Royal Show ribbons but, with India’s help, she has learned to jump and they finished eighth at their first eventing competition in the Grade 5 at Drysdale Pony Club.
“She amazed me” says Murray of his daughter “She had a plan and was very decisive about how she was going to tackle everything. Then off she went and just did it”
Mrs Brown has a two year filly so maybe that could be the future Badminton horse? I can see that Murray may have some competition in future years. Oh, that’s right, we were here to interview Murray ………..
Murray and the now gelded Don Skipcello - 4th in the CNC1* at Geelong Horse Trials (above and below)
