United States Eventing Association

Check out this great article in the British newspaper The Telegraph about the famed mother/daughter duo of HRH Princess Royal and Zara Phillips. “Zara Phillips equalled her mother's achievement when winning the European eventing championship, though the sport is radically different now from the endurance tests of the Princess Royal's sporting heyday,” reports Telegraph writer Pippa Cuckson. “As they prepare to stage their own competition at Gatcombe this weekend, the two champions share their views on the changing demands of cross-country riding.”

The technical demands of the sport have been transformed in 30 years. How would Doublet, the Princess's championship horse, have measured up against Zara's Toytown?

HRH The Princess Royal: Doublet was quick and not very big. If you were going to buy him now – well, you wouldn't. Doublet "thought" his way across country, and he had to like you, or you'd get nowhere. He was like Toytown in being light and a bit angular and they were both virtually Thoroughbred.

Toytown is more similar to Columbus [HM the Queen's horse, with whom Capt Mark Phillips won Badminton in 1974]. When we sorted out his bitting, I rather enjoyed riding Columbus, but I wasn't allowed to continue with that!

This may sound outrageous, but lots of people couldn't have ridden Toytown.

You, Zara, grew up with him and so you taught each other. If he'd come along later, when your expectations about getting to the top had changed, you might not have found Toytown so easy.

Zara Phillips: He wasn't easy then! In hindsight, Toytown was definitely a one-off and not necessarily very good for the way I rode my other horses.

It's been hard to keep his legs right, and he won't be defending his world title in October. So last year was definitely a transitional one. I had to look for replacements for Toytown and re-educate my riding. In terms of "horse time", London 2012 is still a long way off and so you want several coming through.

I tend to collect thoroughbreds, as I've always been brought up with thoroughbreds and racing. I enjoy riding them – it's also rewarding to teach them a new way of life.

Check out the rest of the article here