All about Sasha
Up next in our interview series, we are chatting with Sasha Hargreaves, the ex professional 4* event rider turned marketing maven.
We loved hearing all about her inspirational journey and we wish her all the best in her new path.
Sasha, please tell us a bit about yourself and where are you from?
I’m 25 years old, from Oxfordshire and have ridden my entire life. I set my sights on being a professional event rider when I was 13 and worked very hard to make that happen. I had a place at Bristol Uni when I left school but decided not to go and instead to set up my own yard. I rode up to 4* levels and had some really amazing results along the way but also some very challenging moments. I now have a full-time marketing job for Beyond Weddings which I absolutely love!
You have had an amazing career as an Event rider, spanning over 12 years, and riding all your life. How did you get into riding and where did your love of Horses come from?
Both of my parents rode when they were younger. My Dad has family in the US who have a yard, so he used to go over in summers and ride there. My mum was in Pony Club, rode her whole childhood and had her own yard in her early 20’s. Our family home is on the ridgeway so there is access to amazing hacking and my parents decided that leading a pony would be easier than trying to push a pram, so we got our first pony, Rupert, who we shared with 3 other families. I then started at a local riding school and loved it. I went on to join OBH pony club which I stayed a member of for years and which really kickstarted my career.
Both of my parents rode when they were younger. My Dad has family in the US who have a yard, so he used to go over in summers and ride there. My mum was in Pony Club, rode her whole childhood and had her own yard in her early 20’s. Our family home is on the ridgeway so there is access to amazing hacking and my parents decided that leading a pony would be easier than trying to push a pram, so we got our first pony, Rupert, who we shared with 3 other families. I then started at a local riding school and loved it. I went on to join OBH pony club which I stayed a member of for years and which really kickstarted my career.
What has been the highlight of your Eventing career and the lows?
I was fortunate to have some real highs including representing GB at two European championships, coming 5th at the second and winning team silver. However I think my biggest achievement was finishing 3rd in the U25 4* Championships at Bramham in 2023 on Desmond, who I had produced from an extremely green Novice horse over a 6 year period. There were also a lot of lows! I had a very tough period in 2020 where I had one of my good horses do a leg and my other good horse had to have emergency colic surgery in the same week. A month later I had to retire my European horse. I went from having 3 horses at 3* level to none within 3 months which was really challenging. However, the biggest low was losing Desmond last year. He injured himself in 2023 and I spent a year doing everything possible to get him right again. We finally got him back to work and the week that he was ready to start jumping again he picked up an injury in the field which he would never recover from and I had to have him PTS. He was only 13 and I had owned him for 7 years so that was utterly heartbreaking.
You have recently decided to give up Eventing, that must have been a very tough and scary decision and well done for sharing this with everyone. I think it’s important for people to see that it’s not all jumping on a horse and off you go, it’s hard work and a brutal sport, with all the long hours behind the scenes. Can you share some of your reasons for making this change?
There were so many reasons for making the change. I think I realised that although I absolutely love horses, I no longer loved the sport. The highs are so high, but the lows are so low. We work 7 days a week, 365 days a year, rain or shine and it can be absolutely brutal. I had sacrificed so much throughout my life to make it work and I just got to the point where the sacrifice wasn’t worth the reward. I was no longer enjoying the competitions, and that was what I did it all for. The falls, the injured horses, the bad days all started adding up and I realised I wanted something different for my life. I am still so young and just because I had always said I wanted to be a professional rider, it didn’t mean that I had to continue to always want to be a professional rider.
There were so many reasons for making the change. I think I realised that although I absolutely love horses, I no longer loved the sport. The highs are so high, but the lows are so low. We work 7 days a week, 365 days a year, rain or shine and it can be absolutely brutal. I had sacrificed so much throughout my life to make it work and I just got to the point where the sacrifice wasn’t worth the reward. I was no longer enjoying the competitions, and that was what I did it all for. The falls, the injured horses, the bad days all started adding up and I realised I wanted something different for my life. I am still so young and just because I had always said I wanted to be a professional rider, it didn’t mean that I had to continue to always want to be a professional rider.
I know this will help a lot of people to know that if something in life doesn’t feel right for you, you can make some changes and you have the power to take control. Do you have any advice for anyone who is also thinking about making some changes in their careers or just everyday lives?
That it is absolutely okay to make a change. It took me two years from when I first wrote in my journal that this wasn’t what I wanted to do anymore before I was brave enough to say it out loud. Nothing is forever but if something doesn’t bring you joy then it isn’t necessarily right. And just because something used to be what you always hoped for, it doesn’t mean you are tied to it. Dreams and aspirations change as we change and grow, and that’s okay!
That it is absolutely okay to make a change. It took me two years from when I first wrote in my journal that this wasn’t what I wanted to do anymore before I was brave enough to say it out loud. Nothing is forever but if something doesn’t bring you joy then it isn’t necessarily right. And just because something used to be what you always hoped for, it doesn’t mean you are tied to it. Dreams and aspirations change as we change and grow, and that’s okay!
Do you have any plans for what you would like to do next? We have seen you are now working in marketing, how did that come about?
I have always had an interest in Marketing, partly as a result of the work I had done with brands and with my own brand through my Eventing career. I also have experience running a business from when I had my yard and I am very fortunate that my Mum has a business that I have been involved with for a few years on the side and that needed someone else to come in and help run. I am doing a level 4 marketing apprenticeship on the side because I didn’t go to Uni, so I want to get a formal qualification.
I have always had an interest in Marketing, partly as a result of the work I had done with brands and with my own brand through my Eventing career. I also have experience running a business from when I had my yard and I am very fortunate that my Mum has a business that I have been involved with for a few years on the side and that needed someone else to come in and help run. I am doing a level 4 marketing apprenticeship on the side because I didn’t go to Uni, so I want to get a formal qualification.
Will you continue to ride horses for leisure and go off and help at events?
That is definitely my plan. I have my retired European horse at home but don’t own any ridden horses, however I have friends that have offered for me to go and ride theirs which I will definitely be doing! I am continuing to teach and help out and I am hoping that next year I will be able to go and volunteer at some events.
That is definitely my plan. I have my retired European horse at home but don’t own any ridden horses, however I have friends that have offered for me to go and ride theirs which I will definitely be doing! I am continuing to teach and help out and I am hoping that next year I will be able to go and volunteer at some events.
What is your ultimate Hiho love and why?
I love the elegance and simplicity of the Sterling Silver Double Chained Snaffle Necklace.
I also love the Sterling Silver & 18ct Gold Plated Stag Head Necklace as I think it is unique and just beautiful!
I also love the Sterling Silver & 18ct Gold Plated Stag Head Necklace as I think it is unique and just beautiful!
Where can we find you online/on socials so people can follow your journey if they wish?
Instagram: sasha.hargreaves
TikTok: sasha.hargreaves
Instagram: sasha.hargreaves
TikTok: sasha.hargreaves
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