Robson is developing own taste for success

SLINGSBY’s 48-year-old riding instructor Steph Robson has spent the majority of her equestrian life providing a platform for others.
Steph Robson pictured with her horse Tinas Gold IISteph Robson pictured with her horse Tinas Gold II
Steph Robson pictured with her horse Tinas Gold II

But in Tina’s Gold the Yorkshire ace is now making waves of her own – with the promise of another potential equine star to come.

Danby-born Robson has an equine background in coaching others and selling on horses that she has produced.

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But 2013 has seen the head of Queen Ethelburga’s College’s equine department enjoy notable eventing success on Tina’s Gold.

The eight-year-old, who was purchased from a remote field in Scotland, qualified Robson for this year’s Badminton Grassroots Championships with the duo going on to finish fifth in the BE90 event originally planned for 2012.

And as well as Tina’s Gold holding a bright future, the same is likely to be true of Robson’s recently-purchased five-year-old, Dark Knight – bought from the same field in Scotland.

Robson remains dedicated to coaching others but has two exciting horses of her own with the Whitby-schooled ace loving every minute.

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“I have spent my life sort of bringing on young horses, producing them and having to sell them on,” she said.

“I’ve had to do that to stay in it in – to be able to stay competing and to keep going really.

“Then I had my children Charlotte and Matthew, who are now 18 and 21 respectively, but I started again with this horse when he was five – three years ago really. I just did a few events but gradually he has done more and he’s a very talented little horse.

“Badminton was the best thing I’ve ever done in my competition career. It was just fabulous and it has been amazing to get back into it.”

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Robson and Tina’s Gold have continued their success since Badminton, notably by winning a BE100 class at June’s Skipton Horse Trials.

The aim now is to qualify for a repeat bid for Badminton glory in 2014 only this time at BE100 level.

All this from a horse plucked from a field in Annan, near the Solway Firth, with Robson returning four years later for Dark Knight.

“I bought Tina’s Gold as a three-year-old, totally untouched out of a field in Scotland,” said Robson, who thought her own eventing days were numbered 10 years ago when she broke her ankle.

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“The horse’s breeders had 14 broodmares and foals just turned out with these cows and calves in quite an old-fashioned type of farm.

“But I just looked at this horse and picked him out and it’s all turned out really. I’ve broken him in and produced him to where he is now.”

“Dark Knight has just started jumping so he’s hopefully another one coming up and he’s related to Tina’s Gold – he’s his uncle in horsey terms though I’m not sure how that works out. So far he’s done the odd dressage test, but I want to do something at the back end of this year with him.

“It was exactly the same with him but four years later – I went up and walked around the field and picked him out.

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“He’s probably a little bit behind where Tina’s Gold was now, but he was only broken last back end. I don’t rush them and there’s only so much you can do – you’ve got to do it slowly.”

Slowly but surely, with Robson seemingly assured of further eventing success in 2014 with Tina’s Gold.

And, in a break from Robson’s tradition, she is definitely not looking to sell this time around.

“I’m hoping not to sell him, unless I get an offer that I can’t refuse,” laughed Robson. “But I don’t want to sell him and I’m hoping we can qualify for Badminton next year though it’s not easy because a lot of the young, brave youngsters are up-and-coming and they have a lot of money and lessons and that.

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“Then sometimes you are up against the Olympic riders like Nicola Wilson and we are talking about mere mortals like me.

“We’ll see how we go. I’d certainly like to do the 100 next year at Badminton and I’d maybe like to go up to Novice, but I’m getting older now. I’ve no expectations to go any higher than that.”

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