A rider from Grove, near Wantage, has been selected to represent England at the Home Internationals, following a remarkable two-year journey with her nine-year-old Arabian horse, JT Roulette.
Eva Maria Reichardt will compete alongside JT Roulette, affectionately known as Nemo, in the annual team competition involving riders from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
For Eva, the selection represents the culmination of a partnership built through patience, perseverance and a great deal of trust.
“If someone had told me two years ago that Nemo and I would be in this position, I honestly would not have believed them,” said Eva.
“At home, he is the most chilled horse, but we’ve had to work through a lot to get here. He gives me everything I ask of him and always tries his heart out.”
Based at a livery yard at the foot of White Horse Hill in Uffington, Eva and Nemo have trained extensively across the historic Ridgeway. Its combination of hills, tracks and open countryside has provided a demanding environment in which to develop the stamina and resilience needed for endurance competition.
A test of horse and rider
Endurance riding combines speed, stamina and horsemanship, with competitors following marked routes that can extend to 160km (100 miles) in a single day.
Unlike a straightforward race against the clock, the sport places horse welfare at its heart. Veterinary checks take place before, during and after rides, with horses required to demonstrate that they are fit and sound to continue.
The result is a discipline in which preparation and careful management are just as important as athletic performance.
For Eva and Nemo, reaching England selection has been the result of developing that partnership over time.
“Through the miles we’ve covered together, I’ve come to trust him completely, and I think he has learned to trust me too,” Eva said. “It’s an honour to be selected, and I’m so proud to represent England.”
A team effort behind the achievement
While endurance riding is ultimately a partnership between horse and rider, Eva says her achievement has been supported by a wider team.
She credits her partner Tim, friend and “voice of reason” Caroline, and members of her support crew, including Karon, Janet Kenward and Angela Percival, for their encouragement.
A professional team has also helped keep Nemo in peak condition, including physiotherapist Emily Graham, farrier Chris Willis, the team at Jeremy Rudge Saddlery and vet Giorgio at Donnington Equine.
The Home Internationals offer a particularly significant opportunity for riders competing at this level, bringing together teams from across the nations.
For Eva, the journey from working through early challenges with Nemo to earning international selection makes the achievement all the more meaningful.
Her story also highlights the accessibility and community spirit of endurance riding, a sport which ranges from local pleasure rides to elite competitions covering distances of up to 160km.
With the Ridgeway providing a natural training ground on her doorstep, Eva’s selection puts an Oxfordshire rider and her horse firmly on the national endurance riding stage.
