Amy Woodhead has resigned from her position as head assistant trainer for Carl Hester and has returned back to her family's yard in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, UK, where she is developing her own business.
The 25-year old Woodhead worked at Hester's yard from September 2013 till October 2016. Hester once told Eurodressage that Woodhead would be his "next Charlotte Dujardin" but their collaboration has now ended.
"I left to go back home and run the family business as we have a beautiful yard of our own," Woodhead told Eurodressage. "I loved being at Carl's like it was my second family and I am still very close to everyone now and still go and see everyone and go help ride when I can but I am extremely busy at home now and it's great to be working with my parents now also."
Woodhead has represented Great Britain at two international championships, the 2008 European Pony Championships in Avenches, Switzerland on the bay pony Languard, and the 2013 European Young Riders Championships in Compiegne, France, with Pardon. The latter show was Woodhead's last international competition. On a national level, Woodhead's biggest achievement since then is winning the 2015 British Young Horse Championships on the 4-year old Hawtins Duchessa.
Amy has currently set her sights on Sir John and Victoria Peace's Hanoverian stallion Branduardi (by Breitling x Weltmeyer) as her future Grand Prix horse.
"He is currently at small tour and we have been getting 70+ % at PSG on our first few competitions, but at home he is working towards Grand Prix," she explained. "My ambition is defiantly to compete in internationals but I was also so busy at Carl's as the home rider for when they were away competing I never had the chance to get to any.
Woodhead cherishes her experience at Hester's stable and says that, although she had no international show exposure since then, she built up a base of knowledge for the future of her career.
"I wouldn't change my experience for the world and I have gained so much from been there and Carl will always be my mentor, but I am ambitious to have a good string of my own all working towards GP for the future," she stated.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Amy Woodhead
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