Andrew Hoy, Izzy Finemore and Rutherglen.
Photo supplied.
By Equestrian Life
A warming story that flew under the radar back in November occurred at the Virginia Horse Trials (Lexington, Va., USA), where young rider Isabel Finemore rode to victory on a horse by the name of Rutherglen.
Now, Australian eventing fans are sure to remember the name – he was Andrew Hoy’s 4* eventer with whom he went to the 2012 London Olympic Games with. Isabel and Rutherglen are a relatively new combination, and we featured their story earlier this year in the May/June edition of Equestrian Life (read the story below).
At the Virginia Horse Trials, Isabel and Rutherglen won the CCI1* class, adding just 1.6 time penalties to their dressage score to finish on 33.2. Their win meant they claimed the USEF CCI1*-JR/YR Eventing National Championship title as the highest-placed U.S. athlete between the ages of 14 and 21. Interestingly, Rutherglen is just 15 years of age and was born in the same year as his young rider.
Congratulations to Isabel!
Equestrian Life (Issue 42, May/June 2018)
A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
Young up-and-coming eventer Isabel Finemore proved her worth on a string of ponies before being rewarded with the honour of moving up to Rutherglen, one of Andrew Hoy’s decorated Olympic mounts.
EQ LIFE: Tell us about your riding career pre-Rutherglen — when did you start riding and who was your first pony?
ISABEL: I first sat on a horse when I was two. I was very fortunate to be introduced at such a young age. Riding was the first thing that I could do with and against my siblings and my father. Since then a competitiveness inside of me was born. My father, Shane, would bring me to the barn every weekend to ride with my best friend to this day.
Izzy describes Rutherglen as a “polite gentleman” and a “real sweetheart”.
Photo supplied.
Luckily, we moved to the country where I could ride every single day, and I did. When I was nine my parents got me a 13.2 dun pony named Whispering Jim (Jimmy). He was the first pony I ever had the chance to event. He was terrible at dressage and we consistently got scores in the high 40s, but it was still eventing. Today, along with my other ponies, I still ride Whispering Jim. He has taught me the rules of eventing and taught me to continue working towards my dreams.
I have won shows on Jimmy, finishing on dressage scores of 25-34s. Jimmy came to my family having show-jumped in Ireland up to 110cm. He came back to the basics with me and at the age of 17 we reached our first event at the BE100 level in England. Without Jimmy, I wouldn’t have the knowledge of riding that I do and I wouldn’t have the need to ride. I owe all my riding to Whispering Jim.
EQ LIFE: When did Eventing become your primary focus and what do you love about this discipline?
ISABEL: Eventing has always been my primary focus as I didn’t know any better. I was brought to shows and I had to do dressage and show jumping to get to cross-country. I wasn’t aware that there were any other options. Over the years I have developed into a real eventer. I now don’t believe in preferring a certain part; every piece and aspect of Eventing is crucial for eventing to be unique.
Dressage is hard, but the discipline I have learned from working on the technique has made me fall in love with it. In dressage, I will never be able to learn everything. There will always be another exercise, there will always be more moves that I can learn from the age of 14 to the age of 75. Show jumping doesn’t come easy. An extra four faults can take you from champion to 14th. Show jumping is something that both the horse and the rider need to improve over every jump. Finally, cross-country needs a different harmony with the horse and rider. When anyone watches a professional rider, seeing them miss a stride cross-country is almost never. Riders are able to feel the rhythm 20 strides out and know where the horse’s legs need to be every stride until the fence. The difficulty and harmony found in eventing can’t be seen in other equestrian sports. That is why I love it so much.
Izzy and Rutherglen on the cross country at a previous event.
Photo supplied.
EQ LIFE: You recently gained the ride on Andrew Hoy’s four-star horse, Rutherglen. How did this partnership come about?
ISABEL: My mother is my biggest supporter. She comes to every show and gives me a hug before every dressage test, she listens to me when I am frustrated and she helps find the best opportunities for me. Both Andrew Hoy and my father grew up in the same town and my mum, as an Australian as well, knew of Andrew’s success. When I was living in England my mum called him and organised some lessons with my ponies.
Later on, Mr and Mrs Hoy met up with my parents at the races in Australia. My parents mentioned how it was time for me to start riding horses and that they were looking for the right one for me to compete on. Later, the Hoys came to my parents with the idea of riding Rutherglen. Less than five months later I was at Somerby Stables riding Rutherglen. The partnership that we had was amazing and the experience I gained in just two weeks was unheard of. The first day I sat on Rutherglen I knew that we were a match made in heaven. I am beyond honoured to ride him.
EQ LIFE: Tell us about your experience with Rutherglen. What have you learnt?
ISABEL: Riding Rutherglen for the first two weeks was an amazing experience in itself. The amount that I have learned is incomprehensible. Rutherglen has taught me aids for riding different movements and he has, over a very short time, helped develop my seat. While I was staying with Mr and Mrs Hoy I had the opportunity to compete Rutherglen at Lincoln horse trials in England. He did a very nice test of 34.8 and ended up finishing on his dressage score. That day the sixth place ribbon we received was a victory for both Rutherglen and I. He carried me around safely and was a fantastic schoolmaster. He went from being a four-star horse competing at Badminton and Burghley to helping me get around a BE100 in the best and most fun way possible. From the second I went down the centre line to the moment I crossed the finish flags during cross-country, there was nothing for me to be upset about and there was nothing that Rutherglen could’ve done any better. I cannot wait for more events as he has so much more to teach me along the way.
EQ LIFE: What is it like riding a four-star eventer?
ISABEL: Riding a four-star horse is an unbelievable experience. The understanding of having a horse that competed in the Olympics leaves me speechless. Rutherglen is a horse that professional riders work every single day to have. I ride a horse that has taken Mr Hoy years of training and I’m fortunate to have years of Rutherglen training me.
EQ LIFE: Andrew says you two have a very special partnership — what is it that you love most about Rutherglen?
ISABEL: Rutherglen is a polite gentleman. When I first sat on him he did literally exactly what I asked him, which was to zig-zag very quickly so I didn’t run over Mr Hoy! From then on out I understood that Rutherglen would help me through all of my riding. When I make a mistake or apply pressures for a certain movement that I am not riding, he simply does it and then goes back to doing what I am attempting to ask. He doesn’t get uptight or frustrated with me. He is patient and caring and he is a true sweetheart. There is something special about Rutherglen that can’t be explained. He is like my best friend while I am the boss. He is uniquely himself, which is something I haven’t found before.
Isabel Finemore, pictured here with Andrew Hoy following her first competition result with Rutherglen.
Photo supplied.
EQ LIFE: What are your future plans with Rutherglen?
ISABEL: I would love for Rutherglen to help me understand the technique I need to be a four-star rider. Rutherglen can help me move up the levels and have fun with him. I hope to compete my first one-star with him next season. I am not 100% sure what the future holds for us but I know that it brings me hope.
EQ LIFE: Where do you hope to be in 10 years’ time?
ISABEL: I would love to be going to the 2028 Olympics. I hope to be a four-star rider by then, running my own business, training horses and teaching riders. I hope to be like Mr Hoy, able to explain absolutely everything. I hope to be able to understand what Rutherglen taught me and pass it on to new horses. I hope to be considered a professional.
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