Jennifer Saunders Q&A

What does your horse mean to you?

I have a horse but I don’t ride it. I have an event horse with Piggy French called Cooley Monsoon (Eddie) and she rides him and I watch in awe.

It was a dream of mine when I was young to be a top class three-day event rider but I lacked the nerve and the application and it probably wouldn’t have been possible on a fat pony, but just loved watching and going to the events. So when my children had left home and pony club mother days were well and truly over I was persuaded to buy a competitive horse and he brings me great joy and keeps me in touch with all things horsey. I think it’s a real privilege to be round a top class rider and horse and see the time and patience that goes into each stage of training and see the trust and friendship grow between them. I love seeing horses that enjoy the work they do and enjoy the learning and the partnership. 

Why did you enjoy riding?

Before I got my first pony I used to go home with a friend who had a farm and we would mess around on small ponies until we were called in for tea. I loved the freedom it gave you. We weren’t supervised and the ponies were like our friends. They galloped us round a field of tiny jumps but in our heads we were at Hickstead. Or we would go for a hack down some bridle path and just dream and chat or sing at the tops of our voices.

Horses and ponies do make you feel very happy and we had such freedom with them. The only things that were ever checked were whether we’d picked their hooves and fed them properly. I used to love just being in a stable with them talking to them and watching them pick their way through a hay net. I suppose it’s what nowadays might be called mindfulness. 

Have horses or riding got you through a difficult time?

I don’t remember any particular instance but when I was a teenager I got a pony called Topaz and he became the love of my life. I scrawled his name on my pencil case and on my arm and whenever I was emotional or upset or most likely angry I would just go for a ride for an hour or two and tell him everything and have a good cry if necessary and a bit of a canter and the world always felt better. They are great listeners.

“I’m supporting Brooke’s Every Horse Remembered campaign because…

“In remembering the selfless sacrifice of horses in the past we should reflect on the treatment of horses who work so hard today and help those animals and their owners - many of whom live in dreadful poverty. Healthy horses and donkeys and mules work better than sick ones. It’s a no brainer."