Pint-sized mare gallops to Hickstead win
Sunday 27 July 2025
Canterbury-based Pippa Goddard piloted the pint-sized PDV Constanza to victory in the Breen Equestrian CSIYH1* Final on the final day of the Agria Royal International Horse Show.
Nine combinations went through to the jump-off, with Pippa stopping the clock on 36.01 seconds – nearly two-and-a-half seconds faster than second-placed Holly Smith and Nike van het Singraven.
“I just absolutely love her – she tries so hard,” said Pippa, who has had the ride on the diminutive grey mare since May.
Despite their fledgling partnership, they’re already proving a formidable pairing in the ring – and Hickstead’s International Arena is proving a formative happy hunting ground, too.
“She was second in the seven- and eight-year-old final here at the Derby Meeting, which was how we qualified for this show, so that was really good,” said Pippa. “It’s a great chance to ride in a five-star show, which I’d never normally get to do, so that’s really special.”
Like many high-flying mares, Constanza’s talent is bolstered by her innate sense of self – and that’s something that Pippa and her team make sure to foster in their training and management of the young horse.
“She’s really brave, she’s super careful, and she wants to do it, so she tries really hard – and she’s governed by her stomach, so she’ll do anything for food,” joked Pippa. “But she also has her own mind, and you have to go with her rather than interfering and telling her what to do. At home, we don’t actually do a lot with her – we hack her out a lot, and she goes in the field. It’s all about keeping her as happy as possible.”
Striking that balance has helped to create an athlete who’s not just fast and tidy in the ring – she’s also confident about making her own decisions. “If we ever have a rail, I’m always kicking myself, because she never lets me down,” said Pippa. “It’s always just me going too slow or doing something silly!”
Image: Boots and Hooves Photography
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