The Olympic showjumper on keeping checklists, the life-changing It’s Otto,
the joys of a personalised horsebox and finding a rich wife…
Geoff represented Great Britain at two Olympic Games as well as World and European Championships, winning team bronze medals in 1997 and 1998. The 65-year-old is now also well known for his coaching, clinics and hilarious showjumping commentary.
The best piece of advice my dad gave me was: “Be nice to people on the way up because you might meet them on the way down.”
My parents had nothing to do with horses when I started out but they became massive supporters. John Whitaker and I first met when we were 12 and our parents became good friends, so they used to travel to all the shows together.
{"content":"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"}
You may also be interested in:
H&H showjumping editor
Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.