Rider Biographies

Piggy French

Country: Great Britain

Age: 31

Piggy (Georgina) French is a busy professional rider based in Lubenham, Leicestershire.

After a successful season in 2009 that included winning individual silver at the European Championships (with Some Day Soon) she was fourth in the BE rider rankings and leading lady rider, a place and distinction that she maintained at the end of the 2010 season.

Piggy’s second place at Badminton this spring with Jakata earned her a place on the British team for the Luhmuhlen European Championships.

Piggy comes from a horsey family – her mother Kate and sister Nini have both competed in the sport. Piggy ran her first yard while based at home in Norfolk, producing young horses for the sport. With Rebecca Finch’s Flintlock II, Piggy achieved her break-through winning Young Rider team gold (2001) and competing at her first Badminton in 2003 and in 2004 won the National Under-25 championship (Which Way II).

She is currently a member of the UK’s World Class Squad and trains with dressage trainer Ian Woodhead. In her spare time Piggy enjoys eating and sleeping as she says ‘there is no time for anything else’.

Piggy has brought her Burghley ride Flying Machine through the levels. In 2009 the won the 8/9yo  three-star at Blenheim and earlier this spring the gelding finished fourth in his first four-star in Luhmuhlen.

Earlier in the summer Piggy won the London Olympic Test Event in Greenwich Park with DHI Topper W.

Notable achievements

• 2011 – London Olympic Test event 1st DHI Topper W
• 2011 – Barbury CIC*** 2nd Jakata
• 2011 – Luhmuhlen 4th Flying Machine
• 2011 – Saumur CCI*** 3rd DHI Topper W
• 2011 – Badminton 2nd Jakata
• 2010 – WEG 16th Jakata
• 2010 – Hartpury CIC*** 1st Jakata
• 2010 – Bramham CCI*** 3rd Jakata
• 2010 – Chatsworth CIC***W 23rd Some Day Soon
• 2010 – Burnham Market CIC*** 2nd Some Day Soon
• 2009 – Fontainebleau – CCI*** Eu Ch 2nd (Some Day Soon)
• 2009 – Hartpury CIC*** 6th Some Day Soon
• 2009 – Bramham CCI*** 3rd Some Day Soon
• 2009 – Blenheim CIC*** 8/9 1st Flying Machine
• 2009 – Blair Castle CCI** 3rd Picasso
• 2009 – Knaptoft CIC** 1st Envoy
• 2009 – Barbury Castle CIC*** 6th What A Performance, 8th Chase The Moon
• 2008 – Bramham CCI*** 7th What A Performance
• 2008 – Blair Castle CCI** 6th Direct Approach
• 2008 – Thirlstane CIC** 1st Chase The Moon)
• 2007 – Le Lion D’Angers CCI** 1st Cast Away
• 2007 – Burghley CCI**** 12th Paris