Caroline Bradley
Caroline Bradley
Caroline Bradley (* April 4 1946 in Buckinghamshire, England – † June 2 1983) was one of the world’s greatest lady riders. She made her debut in the British team already when she was 20 years in 1966. The following year she was second in the New York Grand Prix on Franco.
In 1973 she took the silver medal on True Lass at the Ladies European Championships in Vienna. In 1974 Bradley became the first woman to win the Puissance at Horse of the Year Show in London. That year she was also fourth in the Ladies World Championships in La Baule.
In 1975 she took a great victory in Hamburg Derby on New Yorker. She was only the second woman to win this prestigious competition.
In 1978 she won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the Royal International Horse Show on Marius. 1978 was a great year for her best horse Tigre. On him she won the team gold medal in the World Championships in Aachen ( in the team with Derek Ricketts, David Broome and Malcolm Pyrah). She also won the Nice Grand Prix and the Grand Prix in Calgary.
In 1979 she was again member of a gold medal winning British team, this time at the European Championships in Rotterdam on Tigre. In Calgary she won the President’s Cup and in Paris she won the Grand Prix.
She was elected Sportswoman of Year in 1980 and topped the money winner’s list. In 1980 she won the Grand Prix at Hickstead and again won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, this time on Tigre.
Tigre was sold in 1981, but she bought a new young horse, Milton. She rode and trained Milton until her sudden and tragic death in 1983. Milton went first to Stephen Hadley and then of course later became a legend under John Whitaker. Caroline Bradley was only 37 years when she died.
Caroline Bradley on Tigre in Aachen 1978
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