Last year, Emma Thomas had to walk the Defender Burghley cross-country course with a cane after being kicked in the thigh and rupturing a muscle.
She still has that hole in her leg, but is now pain-free, and bidding for a third consecutive placing with Icarus, whom she has produced from a five-year-old.
“I’m so much happier this year. I didn’t realise quite how much that stressed me out last year,” said the 26-year-old rider. “The hole is permanent, but it isn’t sore. I’ve done a lot of strength work with it and tried to scaffold around it.”
Emma studied biological sciences at the Royal Veterinary College, but opted to event professionally after being selected as a Wesko Foundation rider in 2021.
She made her five-star debut just two years later, finishing 18th at Burghley on Icarus with one of only three double jumping clears, but has struggled with imposter syndrome.
Following the dream
“I was going to go off and have a very normal career, but I had these two horses that went all the way to the top of sport, and why would I not follow that dream?” said Emma.
“It’s been a journey, but it’s helpful I have a lot more friends at this level now, and I’ve had some success.
“Winning the under 25 championships [at Bramham] last year was a big moment for me. A real watershed moment for the imposter syndrome, because seeing all the other incredible names on that trophy can’t be that bad.
“I’ve got another couple of young horses now and seeing how much better I am at it this time around, with all the experience that these guys have given me, that’s really validating as well.
“This is, I think, my fifth five-star. It’s obviously a huge deal, but it doesn’t feel like an impossible dream anymore.
“Pressure is a privilege and it’s a privilege to come. I have to remind myself of that when I’m getting nervous.“
Imposter syndrome
Icarus is one of two horses that she she has ridden since she was a teenager.
“We’ve had to learn together and so, unfortunately, we were learning the ropes together. It’s taken this long for me to feel established at this level without imposter syndrome and to trust my system,” said Emma.
“It’s really hard when you see everyone else who are much more senior and more successful than you are doing their thing.
“It’s really hard not to think, ‘Oh God, should I be doing that?’ But actually, each horse is different, and he [Icasrus] needs me to hold his hand.
“That’s all Ian Woodhead, who trains me, says. He’s not coaching me through any movements. It’s just to be there for him, because that’s all he wants from me.”
All of Emma’s horses live out 24/7 at home, and so her groom, Will, has been spending long periods of time hand grazing Icarus at Burghley.
“Will is his one of his favourite human beings. Will will just sit and hand graze for two hours. They’re in love with each other,” smiled Emma.
She added that the KWPN gelding measures 15.2hh — or 15.3hh with shoes on.
“Everyone who meets him says he’s so small! That’s not a secret, but I think A, I don’t make anything look big, and B, he has the longest stride of anything I’ve ever ridden, so he doesn’t look small when he’s going and he jumps so big.”
‘It stops me faffing’
Dressage has been a tricky horse for the pair, but Emma was pleased with their test yesterday.
“He was so much more relaxed and really listening. I knew as we were cantering around the edge that we were going to have a better time,” she said.
“He’s pretty easy to read in that way and he just loves it here, the crowd is slightly further back here too, which helps.”
Improving their performance on the flat has involved taking the pressure off, especially in the warm up.
“He’s been really tricky to bring up through the grades, because he panicked anytime there was anything new to learn.
“But he’s great with his changes, and he knows exactly what he’s doing with his half pass and his lateral work. So actually all I do now is pretty much long and low, because that’s the only thing that’s really going to improve from this point, his relaxation and his suppleness.
“I did one change each way and one half pass each way.
“The rest of the warm up is how supple can we be, how relaxed can we be. It’s great for me as well — it stops me faffing.”
Loads of stamina
Having been around here twice before, this pair are familiar with the cross-country track, although it is the first time they will tackle it in this direction.
“It is a completely different feel, but I think it might suit him. Having the water early on might just make him clock on and concentrate,” said Emma.
“He slightly ran off with me down that hill last year, so the uphill climb will really help, and he doesn’t run out of stamina, so having the Trout Hatchery, Defender Valley, and the Leaf Pit, in the second half doesn’t worry me.”
Main image by Tim Wilkinson
