Pro Secrets

Nina Barbour

In 2008 Bolesworth Estate, organised by Nina Barbour, put on a leading national show, which has since to grown to be a 3* International competition. This year’s event has been upgraded to 4* and the big names will be heading to Cheshire this week.

Bolesworth Estate has been under the careful stewardship of the Barbour family since 1856 and at the heart of the estate sits Bolesworth Castle, which was built in the 1820s. The Castle occupies a truly stunning position, perched on the sandstone ridge overlooking the Cheshire plain and is the backdrop to the events.

Nina Barbour continues her father’s legacy and continues to look forward to the next challenge as well as exploring the endless opportunities that exist at Bolesworth.

The Gaitpost caught up with Nina ahead of this week’s event following the launch of the new Liverpool show.

How has Bolesworth International evolved from last year?

This year we have got dressage for the first time and top names including London 2012 gold medallist Laura Tomlinson and Michael Eilberg on Woodlander Farouche (who was the 5 and 6 year old Champion), will both be competing in the Inter 1 Freestyle.

We have put in a new all weather arena for the 2* so both arenas are all weather now and we have had a really positive response with ticket sales. There will be almost double the number of shops with over 170 stands including fine food, lifestyle and fashion. We are delighted that the showjumping has been upgraded from 3* to 4*, which has attracted the bigger names including World Number 1 Scott Brash, John Whitaker, Edwina Tops Alexander and Laura Kraut.

At the last count 16 out of top 100 showjumpers in the world are coming.

Also a bit different to last year is the Express Eventing. We did our own Eventing Grand Prix last year but this week you will be able to watch riders such as Lucy Jackson, Jodie Amos and Alex Hua Tian go head to head in the Express Eventing.

How do you hope the dressage will develop in the future?

We are hoping if it works well and the dates work, we would like to put on an international at the same time.

How did Ashford Farm get involved?

Enda Carroll who runs Ashford Farm used to work with Dave and Shaz Quigley and they are based just outside Whitchurch. They have a big competition stables with leading riders and sales. We have done a few deals together and bought a few horses and are all quite involved with each others’ businesses. Ashford Farm wanted to get involved and we are thrilled that they are our title sponsor. Both our businesses have a good synergy together and Enda’s best rider, Marlon Modolo Zanotelli from Brazil is riding in the 4*.

The Elite Auction is a new addition to the event this year, what made you decide to organise it?

We have the Harthill Stud, which I run with Oliver Townend and we thought we would like to have the chance to do a real elite auction, which happen on the continent but not here. Our hope is to make a real success of it and put the UK on the map for attracting international buyers.

Why have you also incorporated Betting into the event?

We really want to engage the public more with the showjumping so ChesterBets, Chester Race Course’s in house betting company will have a stand, and hostess’s will be going around taking bets. It provides fun entertainment and we hope the visitors will have a go.

Olympic Gold Medalist Peter Charles and show president Nina Barbour pose with Douglas Delight in front of the Echo Arena, Liverpool

Last week, you launched your new event, the Liverpool International Horse Show, which runs from the 1st-3rd January 2016 at the Echo Arena on the Liverpool Waterfront. How did this come about?

We have been really keen to get something off the back of Bolesworth and identified a gap in the calendar for a premium indoor event, which will take place over New Year. It will be along the format of Olympia but we are giving it a Liverpool theme: the Bootleg Beatles are playing, and we also have Clemence Faivre performing. There will also be the Shetland Pony Grand National and great showjumping.

We were lucky enough to have Olympian Peter Charles, who comes from Bootle, at the launch last week. He jumped the Olympic Abbey Road Beatles fence in pretty tight conditions. Tickets are already on sale and there are lots more acts to be confirmed.

William Whitaker wins the International CSI***, world class show jumping at Bolesworth 2014

How do you think the sport can progress?

I think globally the sport is taking off and I don’t want Britain to get left behind. We need to do as well as other countries but with a different unique angle on it. Live streaming has really taken off and although people’s perception is that live streaming is inferior, we have to remember that it is about getting it in front of the audience and we need to change perceptions and see if it is a viable form of coverage. That can only help the sport.

How did you get into riding?

I don’t know really, I suppose it was by default as it wasn’t a family thing. A few friends rode and I got the bug.

Do you have a stand out moment from your riding career?

I used to event and I once won at Necarne Castle in Ireland, but the event doesn’t happen there any longer. More recently I have enjoyed some good 1.40m wins on my horse Calle over in Spain. We were also 2^nd in the 1* Grand Prix at Royal Windsor.

What or who inspires you within the equestrian world? Past and present.

I had a great few years when I was at university and trained with Lars Sederholm at Waterstock. In showjumping terms, Marcus Ehning would be up there on the showjumping front with Daniel Deusser and of course, World Number One, Scott Brash.

Is there an all time favourite yard/stables that you’ve been too? And why?

One of the most beautiful yards I have seen is Ashford Farm, our title sponsors. It is an immaculate set up and run impeccably well in Belgium.

Which country in your opinion does equestrian best? And why?

For breeding I think it is Holland but I think Belgium, Holland and Germany are so near to each other that access to them makes it the hot spot of Europe.

What would you like your legacy to be?

It would be to have 2 international events, Bolesworth and Liverpool, that are the best in the world.

Do you have an equestrian hero?

Andrew Nicholson: he is so driven and dedicated and you get to see what is really involved at the top end

What is the quality that you most like in a horse?

The will to want to do it, the heart has to be there

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have been given? Who gave it to you?

With respect to the breeding side of things and the sale of horses, Donal Barnwell, who runs the Billy Stud with William Funnell, taught me that when a horse doesn’t have a future, make sure you sell it to a good home rather than keeping it for a job it can’t do.

You should always take the 1^st loss and rehome it and not cling on and I think this is something I always have at the back of my mind.

Tell us something about yourself that only you know?

I normally tell everyone everything !

What would be your message to the equestrian world?

Always question what you do, remember why you do it and that you can change it. When I see people riding, I sometimes wonder if they are enjoying it. I started out eventing and I wasn’t good enough so I swapped to showumping and was better at it. You see people getting frustrated and I think it is important to remember that you can change things.