Jennifer Donald is showjumping and racing editor at Horse & Hound. She joined the Horse & Hound team in 2005 after her early career working for BBC Sport, where her achievements included being part of the BAFTA-winning production team working on the Commonwealth Games.
She began as an editorial assistant on Horse & Hound before being promoted to look after riding clubs and products in the magazine, and later earning the title of showjumping and racing editor. The racing side of the job temporarily took a back seat, allowing Jen to focus on jumping editorial both in the magazine and online following her maternity leave, but she regathered the racing reins for the printed magazine in November 2020. She has written on every subject in the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore.
Despite coming from a distinctly unhorsey family, Jen has enjoyed a life in the saddle since early rides on an elderly Shetland pony sparked a lifelong passion for horses. She was a keen member of the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire, and Fife Hunt branches of the Pony Club while growing up in Scotland and went on to compete primarily in showjumping and eventing, but has been known to try her hand at showing, dressage and even team chasing. She has also worked as a riding instructor and yard manager.
These days, Jen can often be seen out and about reporting at shows, whether on home soil or overseas, as well as interviewing riders, connections and those behind the scenes, and relaying all the latest news. As well as being at two Olympic Games - London 2012 and Paris 2024 - she has covered three European championships for H&H, the 2014 World Equestrian Games, World Cup finals, and numerous legs of the Longines Global Champions Tour, Olympia, Horse of the Year Show, Hickstead Derbys and Nations Cups, travelling as far afield as USA, Qatar, Canada and all over Europe following the showjumping circuit.
Jen is equally happy on a racecourse, however, enjoying the National Hunt season in particular, and writes regularly on the subject. Her pride and joy nowadays is seven-year-old racehorse Merrijig, in whom she owns a share. The seven-year-old is a four time winner on the Flat and trained in Newmarket by John Berry, leading her to spend many happy mornings on the Warren Hill gallops.
