Piggy March
We are absolutely delighted that Piggy March (nee French) has become our patron.
A huge and warm welcome to Piggy.
I am very proud to be a patron of the Norfolk Coast RDA. They do such fabulous work and I am delighted to be able to support this excellent cause. 2019 is the 50th Anniversary of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and I am looking forward to being a small part of their continued success in my home county of Norfolk in the years to come. Piggy March, Maidwell April 2019.
Piggy is one of Britain’s leading event riders, with numerous wins and placings at the top level of eventing. These include being a team member for Great Britain at World and European Championships as well as winning the Individual Silver medal at the 2009 Europeans at Fontainebleau. She was part of the 2018 World Championship gold medal winning British team at Tryon, North Carolina. She is the reigning Badminton Horse Trials champion.
Piggy won Bandminton 2019 and is having a fabulous year.
Piggy is a past winner of CCI/CIC*** events such as Barbury, Blenheim, Bramham, Burgham, Burnham Market, Hartpury and Houghton as well as being runner up at both Badminton and Burghley, and 4th at Luhmühlen CCI4*s. She is hugely grateful for the support of her sponsors.
Piggy grew up surrounded by ponies, whilst living in Norfolk. Her real name is Georgina, but she was given the name Piggy by her sister who thought her sibling resembled Piglet from Winnie The Pooh.
She initially considered a career in art and photography, but left her course after a term when she discovered she couldn’t live without being competitive – and that involved horses. The decision quickly paid dividends and once in the senior ranks, she made her debut at Badminton Horse Trials in 2003 finishing 31st aboard Flintlock II.
In 2004 Piggy was crowned the Under 25 Champion at Bramham. She benefited from a giant payday in 2006 when she pocketed £25,000 for winning the Liberte Shropshire Slam, a prize for any rider (or owner of a horse) with three consecutive wins in any international section at Weston Park’s autumn fixture and the Sansaw CIC2*. In 2007 she won Le Lion D’Angers seven-year-old championships with Castaway II and was 12th at Burghley three-day event on Paris.
Piggy received her first senior squad call-up when she was pulled off the reserves bench to represent Britain at the 2009 European Championships, riding Some Day Soon. She made a dazzling squad debut, claiming the individual silver medal behind fellow Brit Tina Cook. A year later, Piggy rode as an individual at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky on Jakata, finishing 16th.
Piggy gained her first success at senior three-star level with DHI Topper W at Blenheim in 2011 and they won the Olympic test event the same year. The same combination was selected for London 2012 along with Jakata but both horses were injured, ruling Piggy out of the Olympics.
In 2013, Piggy was selected for the European Championships at Malmo with Tinkas Time, on whom she had won Barbury CIC3*, but cruelly equine injury once again prevented her participation. However, Piggy was able to compete at CIC3* level at Burgham Horse Trials in 2014 with Westwood Mariner.
Despite having missed the 2016 eventing season in order to care for her newborn baby, Max, Piggy was thrilled to be selected in July 2017 to represent Team GBR at the FEI European Eventing Championships in Strzegom, where she competed as an individual. Piggy’s best result in 2017 was her fantastic second place at Burghley CCI**** riding the mare Vanir Kamira.
Piggy and her horses are based in a purpose built yard at Maidwell, Northamptonshire. Set in 24 acres of breathtaking countryside, the former working cattle farm was redeveloped to a superb standard in 2013 by Willowbrook Construction on behalf of Mr & Mrs David Keir.
The fabulous facilities include an American barn containing 24 Monarch stables, wash boxes, solarium, large tack room, feed room, rug room and laundry, plus a separate six box quarantine block. A spa, by Horse Spas UK, and weighing machine, are on loan to Piggy from UK Sport Lottery,
There is a 60 x 40m manège, a 4 furlong gallop and a lunge pen, all with Andrews Bowen surface, and 24 acres of turnout, which also provides excellent hacking. The cross country jumps include a water complex. Last but by no means least, there is staff accommodation for six people.
To support Piggy and keep up to date with her progress view her calendar here.
