5 mins with Madison Penfound
Welcome to the fold.....Madi Penfold #teamhuff! Get to know Madi a little better with my 5 min interview below.
Tell us about the horses that got you where you are today…
Every horse I’ve ridden or have had the pleasure of owning has taught me something different. My first competition horse was named Orion. He’s was this wild 4 year old and I was only 13 when I got him! We learned the ropes together. With many falls and fails, I definitely learned patience and how to get up when things get tough! If it wasn’t for Orion, I wouldn’t have heard of eventing, let alone be in England today. And because he’s done so much for me I kept my wild man and still own him to this day! I loan him out so that way he can teach someone else some of the same lessons he taught me.
How do you relax at the end of the day?
After a long, I mean very long day I love to get into my fluffy dressing gown, cook some food (I love food) and just sit back at watch a bit of TV. Nothing too fancy!
What do you do to keep fit?
Well not only do I help my grooms muck out, ride more than 7 horses a day, and work my butt off to make sure my horses live their greatest lives... I try to keep up with the gym. Especially when I have a 4 star coming up I need to make sure my fitness and my core can last a long XC round! My favourite thing at the gym would be the cross trainer or the bike.
What’s your biggest luxury in life?
Biggest luxury is a hard question to answer. I feel so lucky to be able to have a job that I’m passionate about, a family that is supportive and a fantastic team of horses and sponsors!
When the going gets tough, what keeps you motivated?
The going definitely gets tough... Any equestrian can tell you that! After multiple falls, disappointments and injuries, I find my motivation through the little moments. Seeing progress in a horse, an amazing XC round, making my family proud, the list goes on and on. If you can’t appreciate the little things then this sport isn’t for you, because with a lot of failure comes success. Try and try again!
What do you think is the biggest challenge you face as a professional rider?
The pressure of performing to such high standards. I like to put my horses first, meaning if the ground is too hard then I withdraw. Unfortunately this makes it hard as a professional rider and business owner to sell myself and the horses because people really go off of a record. When I withdraw, or go slow XC, it’s to give the horse experience rather than a win, but it does have an effect on both our records. But that’s the hard decision that a lot of professional riders make and for me I will always put the horses first.
