LESS than 48 hours after competing in the Paris Olympics, medalist Becky Moody was teaching dressage at her business in Gunthwaite.
The 44-year-old made her Olympic debut at the current games, winning bronze in the team event on Saturday then finishing eighth in the individual the next day on her horse Jagerbomb.
She was originally the reserve rider but was brought in after Charlotte Dujardin was suspended for a video which showed her whipping a horse.
Becky told the Chronicle: “It’s back to normal life and back to trying to earn some money.
“I had lessons booked in this week because I thought I was just going to have a nice chilled ten days in France then come home.
“A lot of us earn a living teaching and coaching as well as riding.
“I have had a lot of really lovely comments from my pupils.”
Moody, who set a personal best in the team event, was delighted to finish on the podium.
“It has been a whirlwind but it’s been amazing. We had an absolutely incredible team who were really supportive in quite challenging circumstances. The medal makes it more special. The team really deserved that. We were hoping for it but you just never know.
“I felt pretty on edge until we got the team medal. I was nervous. But then we got it and I was pretty chilled out for my individual the next day.
“The medal will have to go in a display box of some kind.
“It’s not something you can leave lying in a drawer.”
Becky is hoping to go to the next Olympics in Los Angeles.
“I am really lucky that Jagerbomb is quite young at only ten. I am working to improve him and develop him.
“Hopefully for LA he will be ready and raring to go. He’ll have a few months off now then compete in some World Cup shows over the winter and there is a European Championships next summer.”
While Moody was brought into the team in difficult circumstances, she hopes she has helped to change perceptions about dressage.
“I just hope we’ve shown the positive side of our sport. I feel we’ve shown it’s a very beautiful sport.
“My horse genuinely loves it.
“He relished being watched by that many people.
“I am very proud. Because I bred and produced the horse, it’s even more special. I hope it’s a really good story for a lot of people and maybe relatable.”
Becky and Jagerbomb – who performed to Sex Bomb by Tom Jones – competed in the dressage arena in the grounds of the Palace of Versailles.
“When you go out and do your test, you are that focused on the 20 by 60 area in middle that you block out everything. But when we did training in the arena, I was aware of the enormity of it. It’s an incredibly beautiful arena and very very cool.”
