The paparazzi were out in force at Royal Windsor Horse Show (11-15 May), on the look out not only for The Queen, but also the legendary US rockstar Bruce Springsteen.
“The Boss”, who cheerily waved to fans, was at Windsor supporting his 19-year-old daughter, Jessica Springsteen, who is making her mark on the showjumping circuit.
Jessica is based with US Olympic gold medallist Laura Kraut in Warwickshire for the summer, before she returns to the US for college in the autumn.
It was her first time competing in the UK and she told H&H that she “loved it”.
She finished joint first in her first attempt at a six-bar riding Vornado Van Den Howendrik, alongside fellow US rider Catherine Pasmore on Vandavid and Britain’s Tim Stockdale and Fresh Direct K2.
“The six-bar was so much fun — and it’s great to win here. It’s so lovely, especially with the castle in the background, and there’s so much to see — it’s great to be able to go around to the other rings. It’s not like this at shows in America,” added Jessica.
Tim Stockdale was impressed. “I saw her jumping in New York when she was about 15 or 16 and thought she was an excellent rider then. It’s also a great boost for the sport having Bruce there, making headlines in newspapers, and I think a few people turned up just to see him. But she’s a good rider in her own right, regardless of having a famous father,” he said.
Jessica also finished fifth in the Martin Collins Equine Services grade A class aboard the same horse. She will soon set off on a young riders Nations Cup tour in Europe, before coming back to compete at the British Masters event at South View, Cheshire, in July.
“Jessica is very talented and I have high hopes for her,” said Laura Kraut. “She’s an outstanding rider and hopefully she’ll make a great addition to the US team. She did very well at Windsor, she wasn’t fazed at all.”
For full showjumping report from Royal Windsor and Laura Kraut’s comment see the current issue of Horse & Hound (19 May, 2011)
