WEST RIDER QUALIFIES FOR OLYMPIC GAMES

Wedmore event rider Jo May and her horse Faere Vision (Spex) have come fourth in one of the world’s top three day events and have qualified for next year’s Olympic Games.

The event, which took place in Luhmuhlen in Germany on 15, 16 and 17 June is one of only five ‘four star’ three day events in the world – Badminton and Burghley in the UK being two of those events.

Jo and Faere Vision started in last month’s Badminton Horse Trials and were in the top ten after day one and a superb dressage test - despite a nerve-racking moment when Faere Vision put his tongue over the bit. However, on day two, Jo made the difficult decision to withdraw before the cross country due to the very hard ground conditions.

Happily conditions in Germany were good and Jo found herself in seventh position (46 started the competition) after the dressage vying for the top position with world-class riders such as Daisy Dick (UK), Clayton Fredericks (AUS) and Ingrid Klinke (GER). After a grueling 17-hour drive and ferry journey home, Jo is “shattered, but thrilled.

“Faere Vision is a super horse and has had a fantastic year so far. I am just thrilled that having made the difficult decision to withdraw from Badminton last month we have now be able to complete our first ‘four star’ event….and to have been placed fourth is just way beyond expectation.

“We had an amazing time in Germany. I was hopeful for a good dressage test because that is one of our strong points and after the first day we were lying seventh. Then came the cross country – a challenging course designed by Mark Phillips. Faere Vision made the jumps feel easy and we sailed around to find that we were lying fourth! And - on the last day - the show jumping which was truly nerve-wracking! We had one jump down…but that was entirely my fault.

“I am now looking forward to the rest of the year and will be working towards competing at Burghley in the Autumn.”

A new-comer to the ‘four star’ event circuit, unlike some other event riders, Jo does not benefit from a string of event horses and all of her rides have been bought on from scratch as unruly or unbroken youngsters or started their jumping career with her.

Her success is certainly ‘home-grown’ and is a real family effort. Her father, Peter May owns 13 – year old Faere Vision which he bought as a three year old from Diana Scott (horse breeder and ex-master of staghounds) on the Brendon Hills in Somerset.

Jo’s sister Alison is her groom and as such travels miles with Jo to events with horses and the lorry every year. And whilst Jo is away competing her other sister, Belinda attends the various youngsters and horses Jo is training for other riders in her stable yard in Stoughton near Wedmore. Even Jo’s trainers are local with her dressage trainer, Virginia Peters, at Mark and her jumping trainers, Alison Brown (Taunton) and fellow event rider Lucinda Fredericks (Devizes).

Jo is now looking forward to competing at Burghley at the end of August and is looking for new youngster horses to train. She is also looking for sponsorship to take her and Faere Vision into the next eventing year.

Notes for editors
Jo May can be contacted via her mobile phone on 07778 209824

Jo is sponsored by TopSpec horse feeds

HISTORY
Jo started riding as a young child in the Caribbean and then progressed to riding polo ponies in Hong Kong whilst her parents were working there. Boarding school in Somerset from the age of 11 saw Jo gain in experience, riding her own horse in various representative events at national level.
After A levels, Jo pursued her teaching qualifications at Curland Equestrian Centre in Somerset with Alison Brown and Mary Hunter. Jo then diversified into part-time secretarial work to fund her horses.
In the late 90’s Jo set up her own livery and teaching yard which is where she is today. Her teaching has not only been located at home but also around the county.