Following my recent discussion with Ballinger Equine Ambassador, Charlotte Silcott-Niles as she prepared to depart the UK with her GB Horseball Squad teammates for the Fédération Internationale de Horseball (FIHB) World Cup in Saint-Lô, I get together with her again on her return, to discuss all things horseball and what makes a great rider/horse combination in this fast, exciting sport.”
An interview with Charlotte Silcott-Niles – part 2.
“What makes a great horseball horse or pony?”
“That’s a good question Andrew, and I think the answer depends very much on the type of player you are. I prefer defensive play over an attacking role so my perfect horseball horse is reactive to aids, fast, strong, brave and manoeuvrable. My Borawind has three of these attributes and we are making good progress with the rest.
“If you are just starting out with horseball, you need a horse or pony that you bond with and trust. And, of course, one that is comfortable with the horseball flying around. Regular team training sessions where the ball is thrown and passed from player to player soon familiarises the horses with the pace and distractions of the sport. A range of horse breeds can and do play horseball, although most of the horses at the top level are thoroughbreds for their speed.”
“How long have you been playing horseball? What initially got you interested in the sport?“
“I started playing horseball when I was 14 at Lee Valley Riding Centre in East London. I was in The Pony Club and riding a 14hh piebald cob called Puzzle and later a 14.2 Welsh Section D called Rhythm. I continued to play on the riding school horses and ponies until I reached 18. After a 3-year break to go to university, I bought my first horse at 21 after graduation. He was a lovely ex racer called Cocohatchee who helped me get selected for my first international back in 2017 and I’ve not stopped playing since. That was ten years ago now.”
“Obviously the horse or pony needs to be fit and in great condition, but what about the rider? Tell us about your fitness regime and training.”
“If I’m honest with you Andrew, I would say this is an area I could improve on. I am quite an active person, and as well as riding and training on my own two horses on a regular basis, I play netball for two clubs. I try to manage at least one 5km run each week and I have a peloton bike I also use 2-4 times a week, but my overall fitness could be improved by the addition of weight training and regular stretching. There are ladies in the GB team who train 4-5 nights a week, mixed cardio and weight training. We also have a gymnastics instructor who puts our flexibility to shame.”
“What do you enjoy most about playing horseball?“
“I love the speed and agility of my ex-racer and the thrill of the fast-paced play. The game makes you think and react quickly to different situations. At the top level it’s a fast-paced tactical game. You may not always have the fastest, biggest and most powerful horses but if you work well as a team, think fast, interact instinctively, pass the ball quickly and outsmart the opposition, you’re always going to be competitive and ready to win!”
“What is your day job and how do you manage to fit horseball into your time?“
“At the moment I am studying, chasing my dream career of becoming a veterinary surgeon. I am currently in my 4th year at the Royal Veterinary College but have already completed a bachelors and masters degree. I work part-time as client services coordinator in a 24-hour veterinary hospital and do some admin and waitressing work during the holidays to fund my hobby.
“I’m happy to admit that balancing part-time work, studying veterinary medicine, training with my horses, keeping fit and playing netball is challenging at the best of times and not for the faint-hearted. Self discipline and commitment is very important. Horseball training is twice every week; one weekday evening and one weekend day, and there is a lot of additional work to keep my main horse match fit and to bring on my youngster so she’ll be ready to play in a few years time.”
