OLIVER TOWNEND wouldn’t be the only rider, across the levels, to profess to getting on better with horses than humans (interview, p16). After all, as well as being capable of charm, intellect, humour and kindness, people can equally be challenging, contrary, hard to please, difficult to understand and even cruel. Horses are more consistent, less judgemental and easier to comprehend – even though we don’t speak the same language. Or perhaps because we don’t.
The nine-time five-star winner has plenty to say about two of his winning rides – cover stars Ballaghmor Class and Cooley Rosalent – from how he gets the best from them, to their individual characters and quirks, and how some of those mirror his own.
My favourite series, The way we were, features Geraldine Rees, the…
