Jane (née Bullen) won Badminton in 1968 and 1978 and Burghley in 1976, and was the first woman to compete for Britain in three-day eventing at the Olympics, winning gold in Mexico in 1968. She is a renowned trainer, judge and author, former chair of British Eventing and the Riding for the Disabled Association and runs West Kington Stud with her husband Tim.
I used to think there was one way of riding and all horses should fit in with that, but over time, I realised every horse needs treating as an individual and what works with one may not necessarily work for another. You have to get into a horse’s brain.
Warrior, who won both Badminton and Burghley, taught me an awful lot. He was very intelligent – much more so than me – and I had to learn to get the best from him. He wouldn’t go properly unless I rode him appropriately for his character.
I was working as a nurse at that time and I also had to learn how to get the best out of my patients and colleagues. It’s how you treat others which is important with both horses and people – you have to coax and ask, not tell.
