Biography
I have been a professional event rider since 18, including during my degree years at Bristol University, where I studied History of Art. My horses are at home in South Gloucestershire at the yard I have taken over from my eventing father, Richard Meade. In 2008, I had 10 horses competing at all levels, including 2 horses at 4*, including Midnight Dazzler who has been my top horse for a while and who really put me on the map, and Birthday Night who I started riding just before Badminton 2007. Dazzler and Birthday Night, between them, have taken me round Badminton and Burghley 10 times back to back - the youngest rider ever to do so!
I have to admit that I got off to a good start with help from my father, Olympic gold medallist, Richard Meade. He retired from competing when I was very young but there were always working pupils of all nationalities based with us when we was growing up. They were almost like brothers and sisters at the time and some went on to reach the top, so it was obviously very exciting following them and not surprising that I wanted to event when I was older.
I was also stable jockey to William Fox-Pitt when I started, during university, whom I greatly admire and from whom I learned so much. I have been on the World Class Squad for 4 years now which is a great support in training, fitness and performance management.
Midnight Dazzler was my first top horse at Senior level. He had been with several top riders but was a very tricky horse. He was highly strung and regularly blew up in the dressage, and was an erratic jumper who was difficult to ride at speed, having had several bad falls in the past. Since he wasn’t going to be a top horse, his owners wanted him to come to me, as a younger rider, in order to compete at a lower level for the rest of that season, after which we all thought he would retire.
I found him very difficult to ride and we also had a couple of bad falls together, but we then seemed to click. Far from retiring, Midnight Dazzler went on to become one of the most consistent 4* horses in the world for the next 5 seasons. He completed Badminton five times and Burghley four times, never having a jumping fault cross country. He finished in the top 10 at both events before retiring from top level eventing at the grand old age of 20, and is now being ridden by the daughter of his long term owners. It was a privilege to ride a horse like him and although he was far from easy he taught me a huge amount, I’ll never forget him. I was lucky enough to complete another three CCI***s on Birthday Night. Between him and Midnight Dazzler we completed Badminton and Burghley 10 times back to back.
In 2009, I achieved my best Badminton finish (a top 10 placing clear inside the time) on Dazzler in 2009 and we finished 3rd at Bramham 3*. This was also an important year in that Karen Hughes joined my team. Karen is a exceptionally talented groom who was Andrew Hoy's head girl for 15 years. She has been to numerous Olympics, so is a real asset to us! We also have a great team of owners and sponsors and we’re hugely grateful for their ongoing support.
We now have an exciting string of horses spread throughout the levels that we’ve produced from youngsters. Wild Lone came to us as a 4 year old and completed Badminton this year. Tinkas Time arrived as a five year old and completed Blenheim last autumn and was 4th at Tattersalls this year. It’s very rewarding to have had them from the start and I think a lot of both horses.
I adore eventing and the absolute test of the cross country where it's you and your horse against the course (not the other competitors). I wouldn't swap it for the world. It's the only thing I want to do!