Sophia Hill revealed her busy spring schedule flying between hemispheres after ending third within the $100,000 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Area, Aiken, South Carolina final week (27-28 February).
The 28-year-old rider competed in Britain in 2024, together with ending twenty second at Burghley Horse Trials along with her prime horse Humble Glory, however is opting to base herself between her native Australia and the USA this spring, having been again Down Below final season.
Former racehorse Humble Glory, by Bernardini, has been stabled with US-based New Zealand rider Monica Spencer since Maryland 5 Star final autumn, during which the pair completed sixth.
Sophia Hill has a enterprise and a full yard of different competitors horses at residence, so she opted to go away “Hughie” with Monica and journey backwards and forwards whereas making ready for this spring’s Kentucky Three-Day Occasion (23-26 April).
Whereas she’s away, Monica rides the horse – and she or he’s properly certified to arrange a thoroughbred for five-star as she was second at Maryland final yr on Artist and has been seventh and eighth at Kentucky on him.
Sophia flew into the US to compete in a mixed occasion at Ocala, Florida forward of the eventing showcase. She returned to Australia the day after, and might be again within the USA to to compete Humble Glory at The Occasion at TerraNova CCI4*-S (26-29 March). She’s going to fly again to her homeland to compete at Adelaide CCI5* (16-19 April), then head again to the USA to contest Kentucky.
“It’s a variety of flying”
“It’s a variety of flying, but it surely’s really simpler for us doing it like this than basing within the US, as a result of we now have a group of horses in Australia,” stated Sophia, who additionally has a two-year-old little one to take care of.
“We even have an revenue in Australia and we’re actually fortunate. We’re nice mates with Monica and actually belief her to go away Hughie along with her. If it wasn’t for her, this wouldn’t be potential.”
Sophia and Humble Glory have been the quickest pair of the day over Jay Hambly’s cross-country course on the showcase.
She stated: “We’re just about following Monica’s prep to Kentucky and she or he was coming right here, and it’s an superior occasion, and there’s some good prize cash. We thought ‘Possibly we may also help fund Hughie’s time within the US and get some prize cash!’”
The pair have been nineteenth after dressage on a rating of 35.1, however Sophia was the only real rider to complete on her first-phase rating, which was rewarded with a podium place. Phillip Dutton gained with Denim and Elisa Wallace was second with Lissavorra High quality
“That was a lot enjoyable. I’ve by no means accomplished a cross-country fairly like that,” she stated.”It was identical to, soar, soar, soar, and every thing got here up so quick, however I couldn’t have been sat on a greater horse for it. He’s simply so agile, has such fast acceleration, simply likes to gallop and the jumps again him off. He was superb.”
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The late, nice Arctic Soul pictured at Burghley in 2017.
Credit score: Getty Photographs
Sophia Hill and Humble Glory make their Burghley debut.
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Bubby Upton and Cannavaro, pictured at Burnham Market in 2020.
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Louisa Milne House and King Eider at residence throughout a Horse & Hound photoshoot.
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H&H journal editor and eventing editor
Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand expertise of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and worldwide CCI2*-L stage, and has labored within the trade on a prime occasion yard. Pippa enjoys nothing greater than immersing herself within the sport on the highest stage, reporting from the five-stars and worldwide championships, together with the Olympics.
