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Vicky Collins, the five-star occasion rider, breeder and producer, died on 1 January following issues from an sickness, aged 69.
Vicky was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on 15 October 1954. She was the youngest of three youngsters, and grew up in East Malling, Kent, the place she attended Maidstone Ladies’ Grammar Faculty. Vicky’s household was not notably horsey, however she begged her mom for classes on the native driving faculty, the place her love of horses started. Day by day after faculty she would stroll to the driving faculty, excitedly checking the lesson board to seek out out which pony she could be driving.
At college Vicky was very educational, and dreamed of turning into a vet. When her household was unable to ship her to school, she centered on her driving. Vicky’s granny purchased her her first horse, a chestnut mare named Fanny, and she or he started eventing. She rented stables and would borrow a trailer to attend competitions, however as she didn’t have a college, she would leap into the farmer’s orchard to coach her horse, galloping out of sight when he appeared.
Vicky started producing, shopping for and promoting horses, and making connections within the equestrian neighborhood. In her early 20s she was a working pupil for eventer-turned-showjumper John Good, which was a turning level in her driving profession. She groomed at lots of three-day occasions together with Boekelo, the Netherlands, which helped develop her ardour for eventing.
In 1980 Vicky purchased four-year-old mare Molly Malone, who went on to compete at superior degree and have become the inspiration mare of Vicky’s home-breds. Molly’s offspring included high horses equivalent to Vicky’s most notable journey Welton Molecule, and Welton Romance who received particular person gold on the 1995 Europeans with Lucy Thompson.
Vicky produced Molecule over time they usually jumped clear at their first Burghley in 1995. He stood at 17.2hh and was identified for his bravery. The next yr they jumped clear at Badminton to complete sixteenth, and as they got here out of their showjumping spherical a staff selector handed her an envelope confirming she had been shortlisted for the Atlanta Olympics that yr. It was later deemed that Molecule was too younger to fly, and that he could be aimed for the 1997 Europeans as an alternative.
However provides from patrons quickly arrived for Molecule, and after “a lot deliberation and heartache” he was offered to Lucy Thompson. Vicky used the cash to purchase a house in Somerset, and in 1998 she welcomed her daughter Felicity. Molecule was offered to Belgian rider Carl Bouckaert, with whom he went on to win staff bronze on the 1999 and 2003 Europeans.
An settlement had been in place between Vicky and Lucy that Molecule would return to Vicky when he retired, and in 2007 Carl contacted Vicky to say he wish to honour the unique settlement, and the gelding returned to the UK. He loved a retirement ceremony at Badminton in 2007, and spent the remainder of his years with Vicky, turned out with Felicity’s now five-star journey RSH Contend’Or.
In 2000, Vicky and Felicity moved to East Sussex, the place Vicky continued to compete, produce horses and train. Felicity adopted in her eventing footsteps, and they’d compete on the similar occasions. Vicky stepped again from competing in 2015, and that yr Felicity took on the journey of Vicky’s home-bred Simply Superb III (Mazie), granddaughter of Molly Malone, whom she went on to journey at four-star degree. Vicky additionally started to breed once more, together with two foals from Mazie, who at the moment are two and 4 years previous.
“My mum liked Mazie, although she wasn’t essentially the most simple. Mum used to say ‘I bred the horse and the rider’, it was certainly one of her favorite sayings,” stated Felicity.
In time Vicky handed the reins of working the yard to Felicity, however she continued to be Felicity’s enterprise companion and assist with the horses each day. She was an enormous a part of Felicity’s profession and attended each occasion, typically driving the lorry, as her daughter climbed the eventing ranks – together with successful three European staff medals at junior and younger riders – to five-star degree.
“She was all the time there supporting me, she didn’t wish to miss any of it. We had a singular relationship,” stated Felicity.
“I initially needed to be a vet, however once I left faculty I made a decision I needed to occasion. At first I believe my mum was upset I didn’t wish to go to school, she needed me to have what she didn’t. However I believe she went on to be prouder of me than she ever might or would have been, had I finished one thing else. Having shared all of these achievements along with her, the medals, the outcomes, being on the rostrum, my first five-star, my first Badminton; all these issues, she was there for each one and she or he was so, so proud.”
Vicky was a revered horsewoman within the eventing neighborhood.
“Many individuals admired her,” stated Felicity. “She was quiet, and infrequently reserved, however she may very well be opinionated too. She had an actual character and a really dry sense of humour.
“She by no means needed to be the centre of consideration, and she or he’d fairly have her nostril in a e book. She was all the time identified for her kindness, and if she was keen on you she was essentially the most loyal individual you can ever have in your nook.”
Vicky is survived by Felicity, and much-loved German shepherd canine Inky and Sushi.
A service will likely be held at Wealden Crematorium, Heathfield, East Sussex, on 22 January at 1pm, and all who knew Vicky are welcome.
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