Gemma Tinney and PHS Hilton. Image supplied.
Gemma Tinney laughs off the fact that she was often known only as “Stuart Tinney’s daughter” at the beginning of her UK venture. The 27-year-old is enjoying her time in the famed horse country of the Costwolds – and is certainly making a name for herself on the British eventing circuit.
Gemma and Hilly both travelled to the UK from Australia last year.
“The foundations were
all there and I wanted to give
it a crack overseas.”
Cirencester in the UK Cotswolds bristles with elite horse yards, quality bloodstock, titled landowners, and international equestrians occasionally making the news. But recently the local rider featured most in the media was Elizabeth Breton, who had just celebrated her 100th birthday. Every few days she hacks ‘Lily’ around the village.
“I feel at home on a horse and I’m not worn out,” the centenarian says. “It’s in my DNA.”
The same could be said about Gemma Tinney. It was almost inevitable the daughter of Olympian Stuart Tinney would lead a horse-oriented life. In the past she participated in a lot of Pony Club and Interschools competitions and successfully competed in bareback and in six-bar events.
“I like the challenge of eventing
where there are a variety of
things to do when training….”
“For a year I went showjumping but found it a little boring, as was the training during the week,” admits the 27-year-old. “I like the challenge of eventing where there are a variety of things to do when training. Showjumping and cross-country are my favourite elements (no surprise there) and dressage not so much – but to do well these days you have to be good at it.”
Gemma and Hilly competing in the UK.
Her older sister Jaymee, 30, was also a successful young equestrian winning major events and being part of elite squads. “But she was allergic to horses and had to take anti-allergy tablets all the time,” explains Gemma. “She’s working in HR now and has bought in Sydney.”
Over the years Gemma built up a clientele of pupils by giving lessons on her parents’ property in north-west Sydney. Stuart and Karen Tinney developed this Maraylya facility over several decades, although Stuart does spend time away from it due to his many commitments.
This gold medal Olympian, who’s represented Australia more than 10 times over 30 years and who still competes, is also a cross-country Level 4 course designer; and several months ago Equestrian Australia appointed him Australian High Performance Eventing Technical Lead. This role, as explained by the EA, “includes the planning and implementation of the technical elements of the High-Performance eventing program ensuring the national program has an international performance focus and incorporates leading edge practices”.
OVERSEAS VENTURE
When Gemma went overseas, most of the eventing people didn’t know her name; “They just referred to me as Stuart Tinney’s daughter,” she laughs.
Gemma left Australia in 2024 as did PHS (Performance Horse Sales) Hilton aka ‘Hilly’ (Jazz C out of Animae, bred in 2014). Owned by her parents and Tim Game, this brown gelding had been bought in early 2023 after a stellar career with Greer Caddigan, a young eventer from New Zealand. He was to be Gemma’s ride. She fell in love with him and they won many classes.
“The foundations were all there and I wanted to give it a crack overseas,” says Gemma. The horse travelled well. Coming from New Zealand he had taken a long time to settle; when arriving in the UK he was much more easy-going.
Gemma’s partner, Oliver Pocock.
“You can’t beat a tough
Australian Thoroughbred…”
He stayed at Sammi Birch’s yard in the Cotswolds. Formerly from the NSW Hunter Valley, Sammi is an international eventer based in South Cerney, a few kilometres from Cirencester. She admits to missing Australia when hacking out in the frozen countryside – she left home 20 years ago – but is grateful for the all-round grounding it gave her when in England, not least that many horses are truly happier living out in paddocks. “And by the way, you can’t beat a tough Australian Thoroughbred,” she adds.
Warmblood Hilly is not impressed with hard, frozen yards but generally he’s a low-maintenance gelding. “Which is what you need,” states Gemma. She not only took her horse overseas; her partner, Oliver Pocock, a plumber, also went with her.
While his expertise lies with sanitation not equitation, Oli, 31, is supportive of Gemma and goes to all her events. “He’s particularly good at putting in studs. And when he’s not at shows with me he works for a businessman who owns a lot of Cirencester,” explains Gemma. And to supplement her income Gemma has been working in a coffee shop.
Hilly is capable of a great test and has competed in straight dressage classes.
When the couple first arrived, they lived all over the country – in London; with relatives in Cornwall (Karen Tinney’s Cornish) and at family friend Jane Bailey’s property.
“I’ve been involved with the Tinney family for many years from when we lived in Sydney and I had Banco,” Jane tells Equestrian Life. “We’ve always been the British base for Stuart dating back to Bright Beacon, who I once owned, and Jeepster and Tex, right up to now with Leporis. I was delighted to help Gemma in any way and be her home away from home.”
They finally got a small apartment in Cirencester. “It’s about a six-minute drive to Sammi’s,” explains Gemma. “Jane also helped by lending me a float. It was tiny so I took out all the partitions. Thankfully Hilly, who’s 16.3hh, was so good about getting on. I pull it with a VW Passat.”
EVENTING SUCCESS
Gemma made her British eventing debut at the Nunney Horse Trials in Somerset last year. As she posted on her Facebook:
“I’ve done it! My first BE event with PHS Hilton at the beautiful Nunney Horse Trials. I was wearing all my Australian merch, so everyone knew I had no idea what I was doing! Learnt the wrong test so the judge gave me one minute to learn the right one. I managed to pull it off with no mistakes. Thank you ‘Hilly’ for being a good boy – second in the open novice (30-Dressage, clear-SJ, clear-XC). Thanks to Oliver for coming with me and getting drenched and to Sammi and the team at Birch Equestrian.’”
Gemma says that Hilly will be returning to Australia with her.
Her float might fade into insignificance in the company of luxury lorries, sophisticated goosenecks and fancy trailers, but over her time in the UK she and her horse have been making positive marks on eventing scoreboards. And in straight dressage competitions as well.
Horse trials are big in Britain, there are a lot of events many of which are held mid-week, not necessarily in front of stately homes or castles. Classes are enormous, often with over 100 participants, and Gemma has been placing in the top 10.
“Having just the one horse once every month is enough,” she says.
Each week away has been a learning curve – her equestrian knowledge has increased, she has advanced her riding and teaching skills, watched the best in the world at Badminton and Burghley and continues to learn.
HILLY SET TO RETURN
Prior to her and Hilly leaving Australia there had been the suggestion that the horse would be sold while she was over in England. Things have changed. He is on his way back to Maraylya and she will be continuing her campaign with him. Gemma is delighted. “He’s well and truly ready for four-star.”
She is presently taking regular lessons from five-star competitor Kylie Rodd who recently purchased Leporis, with whom Stuart made the team for the Tokyo Olympics before an unfortunate late withdrawal. “She’s based in Stokenchurch which is about an hour from Cirencester,” says Gemma.
“I do miss my students, I’m excited to share with them what I’ve learnt. I look forward to getting back later in the year to see my dog and my parents. In the meantime, I’m planning to work for a few different yards and get in as much riding and learning before I head home.”
Sammi Birch really enjoyed the time with Gemma. “She was a massive asset to our team, is an immense riding talent and her bubbly personality and sense of humour kept us all laughing. We’re going to miss her.” EQ
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