A high of the rollercoaster - after the dressage at Badminton
Most eventing riders have periods during their careers which are frequently described as ‘rollercoasters’ – periods of intense highs and lows.
There is no rider in 2018 that this applies to more than Ireland’s Jonty Evans who started the year with his first ever international win, the CIC3* Grantham Cup at Belton International in early April. It was an exciting win for Jonty and all of his supporters, validating Jonty’s belief in Cooley Rorkes Drift, the horse that owners and supporters had kept with Jonty through raising funds of €500,000 in 2017
We spoke to an emotional Jonty at the presentation where he talked about the importance of such a major win at that point (watch Jonty's full cross country ride on Cooley Rorkes Drift at Belton here)
Jonty Evans
Another major win and the handmade Loomes watch for Jonty at Rockingham
This was followed by another highlight; winning the Advanced Intermediate and coveted handmade Loomes watch at Rockingham International and, although he had an unexpected dismount during cross country at Badminton when Cooley Rorkes Drift became entangled with a large oxer, they were lying in a very strong fourth place after the dressage
All looked on track for a berth on the Irish team at the World Equestrian Games but, when Jonty sustained serious head injuries in a fall on cross country from Cooley Rorkes Drift at Tattersalls in Ireland in June, the rollercoaster suddenly took a dramatic dive
After several weeks in a coma Jonty recovered sufficiently to return home to the UK and is now in the process of ongoing rehabilitation. In the video below Jonty talks about the accident, his recovery and the future - 'another chapter' in his life ....
