Paul Ridgeon, who has died aged 93, was well-known in eventing circles because the proprietor of high horses corresponding to Armada and Cooley Rosalent.
He was born on 4 March 1932 with a situation generally known as talipes, which meant he required a number of surgical procedures to straighten his toes. Ultimately his metatarsals had been fused, which induced ache for his total life. He wasn’t in a position to stroll till he was 13 years previous. Unable to be concerned in different sports activities, he discovered he may sit on a horse, and thus started a lifetime love of horses.
He showjumped as an beginner, together with at White Metropolis, and have become concerned in organising equestrian exhibits.
A real entrepreneur, in his early 20s he labored within the Dutch bulb fields to achieve expertise earlier than becoming a member of the household seed agency, and in floristry because the household had florist outlets. He quickly felt the necessity to transfer on, nonetheless, and hung out in London, changing into concerned within the property business. In 1967 there was a collapse available in the market; Paul suffered a monetary loss and a damaged marriage.
He returned house to Cambridge, the place he was supported by his household. In 1969 he grew to become concerned within the first instantaneous print enterprise in Cambridge and ultimately progressed to purchasing a big, out-of-date printing and publishing enterprise in Foxton, the Burlington Press, in 1976. He up to date the works from letterpress to digital and it grew to become very profitable.
Occasions modified and he had a administration buyout, which later failed. Paul retained the property and refurbished it into separate workplaces and industrial models.
Alongside this he owned Maxicrop, an organization that produced natural seaweed fertiliser. Within the early Nineteen Eighties, manufacturing was threatened attributable to strikes. This induced no gasoline to be delivered. To not be crushed, Paul employed a tanker and drove it to Corby and crossed the picket line at midnight, conserving the manufacturing unit operating.
Paul Ridgeon additionally invented a liquid sprayer for lawns. He researched and registered a patented pump and manufactured it, after which offered on to the general public. He had a contract with Wimbledon, and displayed on the Chelsea Flower Present for years earlier than promoting the corporate.
On the age of 90, Paul offered the Burlington Park growth and threw himself again into the property market, constructing and refurbishing many properties.
Paul Ridgeon: occasion horse proprietor
His first involvement in eventing got here by way of proudly owning horses with John and Jane Thelwall, after which William Fox-Pitt and his first spouse, Wiggy. It was Wiggy who rode the primary horse of Paul’s to compete at CCI5* – Willy B Free.
When the Fox-Pitts divorced, Paul and his second spouse, Diana, owned horses with Wiggy and her second husband, Andrew Nicholson, most notably shopping for Armada from Andrew as a five-year-old (selecting between Armada and Nereo), and on the identical day additionally shopping for Silbury Hill, on whom Andrew gained Punchestown CCI4*-L.
The Spanish-bred Armada completed third within the CCI4*-Ls at Punchestown and Blenheim in 2007 as an eight-year-old, then was fourth at Bramham and eighth at Burghley in 2008. In 2009 he accomplished Badminton, Burghley and Pau CCI5*s.
After two extra years at CCI5* with Andrew, the New Zealander had a surfeit of horses at five-star stage for the variety of massive occasions they may run at, and instructed that Oliver Townend took over the trip on Armada. The pair had been fourth at Burghley in 2012 and second at Badminton in 2014, and Armada accomplished a formidable 16 CCI5*s in his profession.
Paul and Diana purchased Swallow Springs from Andrew when the horse was six, and he introduced them many high outcomes, together with third place at Burghley with Andrew in 2018, CCI4*-S victory at Barbury Fort in 2019 and 2021, and two CCI4*-S wins and third place at Badminton in 2022 with Oliver on board.
Maybe Paul’s most profitable horse, nonetheless, was his final – Cooley Rosalent, who has gained at each stage with Oliver Townend, together with Kentucky CCI5* in 2024.
“He solely ever purchased younger horses, as he bought the best pleasure from watching them undergo the grades, having chosen them firstly,” stated Wiggy Nicholson.
Andrew added: “He was an excellent proprietor to trip for – he understood horses and sport. He knew that some days don’t go to plan, and in addition knew tips on how to have fun those that did! Extra than simply homeowners, Paul and his spouse Diana have been loyal and supportive mates to Wiggy and I for a few years.”
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