Ellen Whitaker’s experience Equine America Spacecake bought to Saudi Arabia

British showjumper Ellen Whitaker’s high horse Equine America Spacecake has been bought to Saudi Arabia after connections obtained a proposal that meant “we couldn’t afford to maintain her”, Ellen advised H&H.

Since teaming up in 2021, Ellen and the mare, owned by Tilly and Andrew Shaw, competed on the highest degree, together with representing Nice Britain on the Nations Cup Ultimate in Barcelona final 12 months and ending fourth and better of the Brits within the Longines International Champions Tour grand prix of London. They have been additionally shortlisted for the 2022 World Showjumping Championships in Herning, Denmark.

However the 10-year-old gray had began attracting loads of consideration from potential consumers and, stated Ellen, “the provides have been getting larger and greater till it simply turned unattainable to show down”.

Equine America Spacecake has been bought to the Saudi Equestrian Federation for one of many nation’s main riders, Khaled Almobty.

“They have been in search of an excellent horse so I hope she’ll go on and do nicely,” stated Ellen. “It’s an enormous disgrace, the entire group have been in bits, it was very unhappy.

“It’s all the time tough to let horses go – good horses even worse – so while you discover one as particular as she was… she was distinctive. She was most likely the most effective horse I’ve ever had, in that we have been very nicely suited and we grew a lot collectively in a brief time frame throughout final 12 months.”

“So it’s a pity to not reap the rewards of that this 12 months, however on the identical time I’m extraordinarily happy with how she stepped as much as the highest sport and proved herself in the best way she did,” stated Ellen, who took the reins on the Stakkatol daughter from Belgium rider Jeroen Appelen.

“The London GCT was good, I’m so proud of that, then Barcelona was the final Nations Cup she did and he or she most likely jumped that one the most effective, so she was nonetheless bettering. I’m tremendous happy with her.”

Ellen Whitaker: ‘Time was operating out’

“I began to attempt to search for choices to maintain her, I used to be in search of anyone to maybe purchase her for me to maintain, however time was operating out,” stated Ellen Whitaker, a European group bronze medallist and a part of the well-known showjumping dynasty.

“The worth of horses has simply gone by way of the roof previously few years and I don’t know if it’s due to the Olympics arising, however persons are determined for horses in the mean time. I bought 100 cellphone requires that horse. So I knew [the sale] was coming as a result of the provides have been attending to the purpose the place we couldn’t afford to maintain her.

“Once I work with my homeowners, I attempt to be as honest and as affordable as potential. So when my proprietor asks me if that was a great worth to promote the horse at, I can’t say no as a result of it’s! All of us should make a dwelling out of what we’re doing as nicely. I’m a single mom of two youngsters, I’ve to supply for them, so enterprise is massively essential to me and that is all I do – that is my sport, my enterprise, my profession. So it was a great enterprise deal for me too, nevertheless it’s nonetheless devastating to should lose Equine America Spacecake.”

Ellen nonetheless has the gifted 10-year-old Equine America Ivanhoe GPH and the thrilling nine-year-old J Famous person in her string in addition to some youthful horses, however is eager for “extra help, extra homeowners” to assist preserve her place as a frequent Nice Britain group rider and one of many nation’s most profitable riders.

“It’s getting tougher than ever to maintain our high horses and I’m desperately in search of as a lot help as I can get,” she stated.

“I’ve labored with improbable homeowners over a few years. Tilly Shaw and her father Andrew have been large supporters and we’ve had a good time up to now. However the actuality now could be that to tackle the most effective riders on the high of the game, you want as many good horses as you will get your palms on and a really sturdy group to have the ability to do this, and the worth these days means you want an entire group of householders or no less than ones prepared to spend some huge cash. I’m all the time in search of the subsequent high horse!”

You might also have an interest to learn…

Horse & Hound journal, out each Thursday, is full of all the newest information and reviews, in addition to interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and coaching recommendation. Discover how one can get pleasure from the journal delivered to your door each week, plus choices to improve your subscription to entry our on-line service that brings you breaking information and reviews in addition to different advantages.