A huge and heartfelt congratulations to William Fox- Pitt on his second win at the Badminton Horse Trials on Sunday after an incredibly tense show jumping round. It must be more than twenty five years ago that I met the young Fox-Pitt an up and coming three day event rider at Gatcombe Park horse trials. I was so struck by his riding ability that I decided to sponsor him, it helped that he was a good looking fellow.
Credit: William Fox-Pitt photographed by Garda Tang for my book Mr Classic
The sponsorship ran for a number of years and during that time we regularly took Hackett trade stands at all the major three day eventing events. We introduced a William Fox- Pitt polo shirt in his cross country colours which was always a sellout, bought by his admiring fans mostly teenage girls who adored him.
I remember having riding lessons from him (long before he gave lessons to Madonna) and him being very patient when I rode one of his event horses very badly. Whilst we never had the good fortune to win Badminton, throughout our sponsorship I have fond memories of the time but as they say in the equestrian world " that's horses". Well done William.
Jeremy Hackett
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