The Scoop with Hilary Scott

As seen in the June 2019 issue of Horse Deals.

Age: 31.

Lives: Roermond, Netherlands.

Occupation: Owner, Rider Oaks Sporthorses.

What age did you start riding? About three or four.

Tell us about your first pony. She was a grey mare named Mrs Bouquet, who fondly became Mrs Bucket. She was between 12 and 13hh. I did everything at pony club with her, from sporting and campdrafting to jumping and cross country – she used to bolt in the cross country every now and again, which always made it interesting. She was a fantastic mare who put up with all my early learning.

What was it like growing up in an equestrian immersed family? We always had horses for not only enjoyment, but also to work cattle and go mustering on the farm. So long days or afternoons together with your horse meant really getting to know them and enjoying them. I wasn’t from a really competition sport horse family. We were a cropping and cattle farming property, so the horses were always something on the side and more for fun when I was young. My parents are very competitive, but in different industries or sports, so they never pushed us in any particular direction. Going to pony camp in Moree was always the highlight of every year for me, and I was lucky that my mum and sister were also really involved in it.

When and how did you decide to pursue a career in showjumping? When we moved to The Oaks when I was 10, I began going to The Oaks Pony Club. There I started to enjoy the jumping more because we would do it on a regular basis (one or two days of pony club a month compared with one week a year!) and had more access to clinics etc. I met John and Michelle Kelly who were down the showjumping path and so naturally began to steer in that direction by the time I was 13. I love that in showjumping the result is black and white. There’s no question why you did or did not win and it involves so much attention to detail.

How did it feel moving away to Europe in 2012, especially since your mother Alice Cameron has been a driving force in your career? I always loved traveling from a young age when we would go as a family to the USA, because mum was born in California we have a lot of family all over the US. So the tendency for travel and moving abroad I would say is a little in our blood. It is extremely hard to start a whole new existence in another country – language barriers, lack of friends and family support, learning who to work with, how to make it all work, etc – however I always like to challenge myself and learn more, so I really saw this as an opportunity to grow, not only in my riding career but as a person. There is so much to learn all over the world, I was excited to get into that and see where it would take me. I am incredibly lucky to have my mum as such a major support and encourager of new things. Alice has always been extremely confident in my endeavours overseas. She’s a very intelligent and wise woman, so I had faith it would get better and be worth it in time.

What were the plans you set in place to make the move as easy as possible? To be honest, in the very beginning there weren’t a lot of long term plans in place. It was with the vision to come for a year and go from there. So we planned thinking in that time frame. Luckily we knew some other Australians already overseas, so we contacted them so that we had a place to initially “land” and get settled. We developed a show plan for the initial six months with the horses we had at the time, purchased a truck early on so we were independent and went from there. Communication was and always is key so that everything was in place on arrival and organised. First and foremost is the care of the horses, so everything around that was most important to organise – from feed, supplements pre and post arrival, farriers, paddock space, etc. There has been an extreme amount of learning through the entire process and it is so important to keep that in mind because plans can change, and the focus for me shifted. I didn’t want to only focus on my own career, but also the international pursuit of Oaks Sport Horses and their validity worldwide.

What are some of the highlights of your riding career? They were a long time ago but winning both the Australian Young Rider Championship and Tonimbuk World Cup on the same horse Oaks Miss Scarlet were both very special moments. More recently with Milky, 8th in the Grand Prix of Donaueschingen 3* 2018, as the German international shows are always very big and competitive. This year has already been a big highlight with the 4th in the Ocala Million Dollar Grand Prix and 6th in the Kentucky 3* Invitational Grand Prix.

Who has had the biggest influence on your riding career? I have been incredibly lucky and fortunate to have had training and advice from various high-level riders and coaches worldwide who have all made a lasting impression on my riding; but I would have to say the most ongoing and direct influence has been my family, in particular my mum, stepfather, brother, and sister. Their ongoing support and direction have pushed me to challenge myself and not give up when times were tough.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learnt whilst competing internationally? I wouldn’t say I have a lot of international experience, I still feel l have a lot to learn! Definitely though, I do feel I now am so much more comfortable, relaxed and calm whenever I canter into the ring. When I was younger I used to overthink, stress and put far too much pressure on myself. For me, the most important thing I’ve learnt is to be confident in the training I’ve put in at home; so that at the show all I need to focus on is being calm, relaxed and feeling my horse – the more rounds you do, the more each one becomes just another round. Knowing and feeling your horse is by far the most important thing – then you know subconsciously through training which skills are needed at which moment.

What was it like to watch two Oaks horses compete at the World Equestrian Games last year? I was so proud to be sitting next to my mum as we watched Billy (Raymont) and Basil (Oaks Redwood) jump a clear round on day one. She had a vision which she created, began and has seen through for the benefit of many others – which was her goal in the very beginning – to provide Australian riders access to the same quality horses as that of riders in the most competitive countries historically. This sums up Alice – always doing things for others. In answer to your question, it was an extremely emotional and humbling experience – remembering how it all began, what went into it and how it’s continuing to grow on so many different levels. To see them also still in the hands of incredible Australian riders; knowing how invested all the teams surrounding those horses have to be to get them to that level, was something we will always be grateful for and admire. It made me so excited to see what the future Oaks horses will do and what an incredible foundation Alice has created.

Tell us about the very special homebred horses you are currently competing. At the moment I only have two homebred horses with me in the USA. Oaks Milky Way, 11yo grey mare; she is competing at 1.60m level and looking to do our first 5 Star Grand Prix’s together this summer. She is a daughter of Galaxie Piereville (Jalisco B x Grand Vaneur) one of the last Jalisco B’s ever bred, she was a special purchase as one of the foundation mares for Oaks Sport Horses. Galaxie is also the mother of Yandoo Oaks Constellation (Jamie Kermond), and Oaks Kosmo (Madi Sinderberry) two horses that are extremely successful in their high-level careers. Milky is by Clearway (Captiol I x Lord x Ramiro Z). On paper she is extremely well bred, combining strength, lightness, endurance, and scope from some really key foundation jumping sires. She’s a funny thing to look at, not what you would normally look for in a type – but has the biggest heart and will to jump, she just loves it. If we start getting the truck ready for a show, she’s already been staring at it backing towards the stables with her eyes popping out of her head since the engine started! Her enthusiasm and happiness is actually infectious; we have quite a few children from her in Australia that we are really excited about and only hope they have the same work ethic and talent that she has.

Oaks Clovelly is an exciting 7yo bay mare. She is sired by Conquistador who has had a remarkable influence on the breeding of Australian jumping horses in the past 13 years. Both Oaks bred horses at the WEG were by Conquistador – he has proven to be a producer of quality horses at all levels in the industry. From Conquistador, Clovelly gets her sharp technique with a great back end and more scope than she looks. It is hard to know what will be the end level for this mare, she is deceiving because of her size, but has the stride of a big horse and a real fighting attitude. She loves to jump clear rounds and is a lot of fun. Clovelly is out of Oaks Visionary (Vivant x Landadel) so is that all desired Conquistador/Vivant cross that Helen Chugg was always looking to breed. Clovelly is extremely stubborn, but that makes her a Trojan, she never tires and is always giving 150% to her job.

It’s a very exciting time at the moment, as we have many looking to come overseas within the next 12 months.

Congratulations on your fourth place in the Million Dollar Grand Prix at Ocala with Oaks Milky Way. What makes your partnership with Milky work so well? Thank you. I have known Milky since she was born, when she used to stay in the paddock when we’d try to bring her mother up to be scanned – I knew then she had something I loved, her independence and confidence in her self. I broke her in with a hand when it came to the first rides; rode her until I came to Europe initially and then she came only a year later. In my opinion, this is why we work well together, we know each other so well and have confidence in one another. I know her quirks and can allow her to be herself, and in turn, she gives me so much confidence not only on her but when I ride other horses because there’s never a doubt in her mind about anything we endeavour to do or work on.

How many horses do you have in work? Quiet at the minute – only three in the USA. I have a few other horses in Europe with other people that I’ll ride when I get back.
Share a typical day in your life. At the moment it’s like Australian on the roadshow life! However, I try to keep in a routine. Wake up around 7am, breakfast, attend to any urgent emails or conversations from Australia, or abroad (as I am still very involved in the progress of the Australian arm of Oaks Sport Horses). Work as many horses as are currently in work, with lunch in between or after. Afternoons are allocated in priority order to appointments, scheduling, show planning, logistical planning, farm jobs, extracurricular exercise or administration/bookwork. Try to finish as close to 5.30-6pm as possible.

What is the best part of a career with horses? The friendships you build through horses are life long. Almost all my lifelong friends I have met through having something to do with horses, some still involved with horses and some not, but it seems to be a passion that is binding. Also, it is so humbling and special being able to work every day with animals that are so large they can seriously damage or hurt us, yet they strive to please us, learn what we teach them and put up with what we ask them to do. They are incredible animals that deserve the utmost respect.
I am so grateful for the horses themselves, and the people I meet because of them.

What is the first thing you have to pack to take away to a competition? Maggie, my miniature dachshund.

How long are you staying in the US and what are your plans? At the moment it is undecided whether I will go back to Europe after Spruce Meadows mid-July or end of September. I am looking to do more 5 Star shows for the rest of the year, so where I can get into those will determine where I will be.

How does American competition differ from Europe? America for me feels like a real combination of home and Europe. There are many high-level international shows regularly like Europe, however, you have to travel to them like Australia. I find it a little more laid back in the US, and much more familiar purely because of the language. This is what I love about Europe though, the professionalism and the level at which everything is conducted. In Europe, everything is so accessible, so for running a business of producing horses, it is great because in one week you could go to a selection of different places nearly each day of the week within an hour of home. This makes the competition in Europe on a much larger scale. The numbers in classes and at shows are much larger therefore extremely competitive. They ride really fast in America though, so that is something I have to work on!

Do you have a competition ritual? Not really, before I go into the ring my groom, Siobhan, will always say, “You’ve got this.”

What do you like to do outside of horses? Cooking, running, travelling, other sports, spending time with friends and family and making sure I have some time to myself.

What are your long term goals? To produce horses from a very young age through to the highest level of their ability. In the shorter term, compete at the highest level with Oaks and Oaks sourced horses, and continue to breed Oaks Horses for both domestic and international sales.

3 things we don’t know about Hilary Scott?
1. I can sleep anywhere, time or place!
2. I’m a feeder, I love giving people food.
3. Last weekend in Kentucky, I embarrassingly won the $1,000 Fist Pump Award!

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