LOUISE BELL

Louise Bell could have been an athlete or followed her father’s footsteps in the film industry. Instead she decided from an early age that horses would play a major role in her life.

Despite surviving a horrific road accident in 2002, breaking her leg in multiple places, Louise is one of the most successful lady riders to grace the world of working hunter competitions. Louise has even extended her talents to riding side-saddle more recently. She is married to former show jumper, Robert Bell, and the Warwickshire based partnership has gained an enviable reputation in producing top class working hunter and show hunter horses.

Louise recalls having her first pony at the age of seven. As she grew up, Louise was to be familiar face in all sorts of equestrian disciplines from gymkhana games to dressage, show jumping and eventing.

At the age of 17, she worked for Daphne Wyatt and it was then that she experienced her first taste of working hunter competitions. The showing ‘bug’ well and truly set in. It was not long before Louise’s showing career really took off.

When Louise and Robert survived their horsebox crash, Louise was told by doctors that she may never ride again. Airlifted to hospital, Louise spent months with a metal case in her leg that went from thigh to ankle. Incredibly, that same year, she went on to qualify eight horses from her yard for Horse of the Year Show taking the Working Hunter Champion Horse of the Year title with Out of Sight, owned by Mrs Sarah Gallagher.

In 2005, Louise was thrilled to take Reserve Champion of the Year riding Rock Star at Horse of the Year Show and in 2008 she won the honours of Working Hunter of the Year riding Out of Sight. Other titles include winning the Supreme Working Hunter Champion title at the Royal International Horse Show on no fewer than nine occasions on Out of Sight, Rock Star, Crest Cavalier and her beloved Rocky IV.

Throughout her career, Louise has also won the Supreme Working Hunter Champion title on many occasions at The Royal Windsor Horse Show on Out of Sight, Cruise Control, Man on Fire and Get Smart.

Another “character-building time” has in recent years been the loss – in fairly quick succession – of her beloved Out of Sight, Man on Fire, Rockstar and Cruise Control.

Thankfully, happier times lay ahead and Louise’s top horses today include Cracker, Get Smart, Working Girl, Into the Blue and Flannon Vision, all of whom are in tremendous form.

When out of the saddle, her interests include cookery and gardening. A self-confessed ‘film addict’, she also likes to name her horses after films where possible. Her other passion in life are her fish; her dogs –Alfie, Doug the Pug and Percy Pug! She also has her beautiful cats – Eric, Ernie, Dixie, Pixie, Beebie Cat and Fanny Puss who complete the Bell household.