Rome, ITALY – Nick Skelton received the Men’s style award and Molly Ashe was presented with the ladies style award presented by Longines in Rome this afternoon. The selection was announced just after Molly had come dangerously close to scoring a double of wins with Lutopia, winner of Thursday’s speed event. “That was a cheap rail we had down in the jump-off” she said in disgust after putting in the quickest round but leaving one on the floor to finish seventh in the Mini Grand Prix. “And yesterday it was just the same - she had one down and didn’t deserve that either”. Today Molly still had something to celebrate however. The judges had chosen her from a world-class field for the special award that recognizes good horsemanship, and as Britain’s Nick Skelton accepted the men’s award Molly took the ladies prize with grace. It was quite a nice moment for her.
“I’ve been painstakingly working on my riding style so this is wonderful” she said. “I used to ride by the seat of my pants but I’ve been training with Conrad Homfeld, and you can’t get more classic than his style on a horse. He has been unbelievable, he’s given me invaluable support without being over-bearing and it’s such a gift to have that kind of help - I’m very lucky” she pointed out.
It’s all a long way from Knoxville, Tennessee and spinning around on ponies as a five year old child. “I loved riding from the very beginning and trained with George Morris during my Junior years, then went to college to do a business and marketing major for three years and came back into the horse scene when I was about 22″ she explains. “I worked for Leslie Burr-Howard for six years before starting my own business and I’m now based in Wellington from November to May and in Connecticut between May and November”.
Molly is passionate about her horses. “I just love Lutopia. She is owned by Jane Clark and we finished second in the Spruce Meadows Masters and won the Queen Elizabeth 11 Cup in Hickstead in 2003 but she’s been off work for a long time because she has had blood clots in her legs so we’ve taken the time to get her right and she’s feeling really good again now. She’s been in fantastic form this week - you can tell she’s really enjoying herself and it’s great to ride a horse that is such a fierce competitor. She can’t wait to get in the ring and she always wants to win for you”. In fact Lutopia seemed think that she had won today, restlessly barging about during the Mini Grand Prix prize-giving and creating havoc with the photographers as she tried to sweep the other horses aside and take centre stage herself. “She does like the attention!” Molly said with a laugh afterwards.
Her Nations Cup ride, Neuville, also owned by Jane Clarke, produced a perfect first-round performance in yesterday’s Super League team event in which the USA finished joint-second with the British as the French came out on top. But Molly is not sure how long she will have the horse to ride. “I really only have him on loan because Jane picked him out for herself. She saw him being ridden by a Saudi Arabian rider who leased him from McLain Ward for last year’s World Cup final and she bought him. Jane has been very gracious and I appreciate it very much that she has given him to me this season” she explained.
Molly also has some exciting young horses on the way up including Vicomte D which she is taking to next week’s Super League event in Lucerne and another eight year old Accanto. “They are looking very promising” she said.
She is thoroughly enjoying her trip to Rome. “This city just leaves you speechless. The beauty, the history, the detail, the quality - I can’t wait to do some more sight-seeing before we leave on Monday. And this is such a great show. Lutopia feels good again and that makes me feel good” she pointed out, returning to the theme of her relationship with her horses. “I love to build up an understanding with the horses I ride - then they talk to you. Like I knew that Lutopia wasn’t right when we tried to bring her back last year but this season she’s herself again and it’s great. And I do love mares a lot - they have such great individuality. When you get to know them well you understand exactly what they are thinking and you go into the ring then as a team. My horses try for me - they know I’m there for them and they appreciate being appreciated.”
Horsemanship is not all about how good you look in the saddle. Today’s Longines award highlighted Molly’s talent as a rider, but it is her sympathy and respect for her equine partners that are her greatest assets.
I was lucky enough to train with Molly for those six years at Fairfield. Aside from being a great trainer she is one of the nicest, and funniest, peaople I have ever met. She is also an outstanding horseperson. While certain other trainers would send you to the ring in foot deep mud ‘because you can win if others scratch’, Molly always cared more about the horse. Her recent successes, while so well deserved, are no surprise to anyone who knows her. I am very proud to call her my friend.
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