Dynamic Duo: Paul Sims & Hannah Bate

Paul Sims and Hannah Bate are both competing at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials next week. Together for 10 years, they are based in Cheshire and will be taking 3 horses with them.

It will be Hannah’s 5th Badminton, and Paul’s second, having gone clear in 2014 on Jolyon Chambers’ Glengarnock in terrible conditions.  This year he will be returning with Glengarnock as well as Calador, and Hannah will be riding Finbury Hill for the second time.

The Gaitpost caught up with Paul and Hannah before they left for Gloucestershire and heard about their own inspirations and what they are expecting from the 4* course.

4th May 2015: Sadly Paul has had to withdraw Calador, so will only be riding Glengarnock.

Tell us about your horses and your preparations?

Well preparations haven’t been ideal, with Gatcombe getting cancelled and a bug on the yard before Weston both Finbury Hill (Finn) and Calador (Sherman) have only had one run each.

 My other horse Glengarnoch (Billy) has been on great form and is fitter than ever so I’m hoping for good things from him. 

How do you deal with competition day when you are both competing?

We deal with it as we do for any other event on XC day, Hannah likes to get up early and go walk the course on her own. We would probably watch the first few but with me being 12th this year Hannah will probably watch and report back to me. We both tend to not say a lot until we have completed, we are both very supportive of each other and just try to keep each other relaxed and in the zone.

Do you have an equestrian hero?

Paul: My hero has always been John Whitaker, he’s and absolute legend and a complete genius on a horse, you can learn so much from just watching him. What he can’t do on a horse is not worth knowing!! 

Hannah: My hero was the late Caroline Pratt, she was a great person, she worked so hard and had no airs or graces about her. I had the privilege of working for her for 2 years.

What do you think of the XC course?

We think that it looks a lot softer than last year with no Vicarage V, Outlander Bank or Beaufort staircase but I’m sure when we get there and walk it, it will be big, bold and a real challenge.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have been given?  

Paul: I can’t think of anything that sticks out in my mind but I’m always asking Hannah for advice about everything and I always run everything past my father before any big decisions are made.

Hannah: Always listen to your gut instinct, it’ll never let you down. 

Do you have a secret superstition before an event?

Paul: I’m a very superstitious person but I don’t have any routine before an event. At a 3 day, if I get a good dressage score I’ll wear the same ‘lucky’ socks for the next day. If not I’ll wear a new pair! 

Hannah: I have to walk up every step into and out of the truck, I can’t miss any ! 

How do you unwind/relax? 

Paul: It doesn’t take a lot for me to relax! I find it very easy, as soon as I get in, grab a beer, sofa, that’s me done, relaxed ! 

Hannah: I like to have a glass of rosé, catch up with the soaps and mooch on the Internet 

What are your top 5 indispensable pieces of kit, for you or your horse? 

We both love our Equipe tack, they are the most comfy saddles and we wouldn’t ride in anything else, sponsored or not ! 

We both like to look different from everyone else and our Mears jackets are bespoke to us. We work together to make sure every party is happy with the finished product.

Our Charles Owen hats , the safest and most stylish hats you can buy.

Our I-Quip bespoke gloves, we both have our own coloured Xc gloves. They have great grip in wet and dry conditions. 

This year we have started to feed Gain horse feeds, the horses feel and look fantastic on it.