Four-star eventer Piggy French has revealed she is expecting her first child.
Piggy and her boyfriend Tom March announced the exciting news today (Friday, 26 February).
“I am excited to be in this position even if it is a big change of plan for a period of time,” she said.
“My owners have been fantastic and I would like to thank them for their understanding and continued support.”
The 2009 European individual silver medallist added her horses will temporarily be campaigned by other riders and she wishes them “every success”.
“I am grateful to all of them for their help in continuing the progress and training of my horses for the time I am not riding,” she said.
“I look forward to returning to competitive action as soon as possible.”
Piggy’s first championship-level ride was at the young rider European Championships in 2001, where was part of the gold medal-winning British team.
A frequent sight at four-star competitions since 2002, Piggy came second at Badminton in 2011 with Jakata.
She won the under-25 CCI3* at Bramham in 2004 with Which Way II and first represented Great Britain at senior level at the 2009 European Eventing Championships after receiving a call-up from the reserve bench.
She won individual silver at the event with Some Day Soon and went on to compete at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, riding Jakata.
Her senior team debut came at the 2011 European Eventing Championships, where she finished ninth individually and also took home team bronze.
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Piggy was selected for the British team competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games with DHI Topper W and Jakata, but unfortunately both horses sustained injuries ahead of the event.
The 34-year-old, who is based in Northamptonshire, finished last season 13th in British Eventing’s rider leaderboard.
