Amber O'Neill In The News

Salisbury Journal June 2012

Ridgeway Rider Magazine 2012

 Inharness Magazine 2011

 The Daily Mail

Former model and Strictly contestant Jodie Kidd, 33, had her first baby, Indio, with her Argentine polo player boyfriend Andrea Vianini, 40 in September. They split their time between England and Uruguay. Here, she reveals a few of her favourite things...

NEW LOVE

I’ve become completely hooked on carriage driving. My grandmother was a world champion at driving pairs, so it’s in the family.

It is an extraordinary sport. I had no idea how incredibly technical it is — driving four horses at a flat-out gallop through obstacles is amazing.

I was really hoping that I would slow down a bit after becoming a mum, but as soon as I got on the back of that carriage, I was like, ‘Woo-hoo!’.

RURAL VIEW

My favourite view is from my bedroom window. I can see my garden, as well as the paddock where we’ve just had two foals. We’ve called them Phantom and Spooky.

There’s something very relaxing and calming about that view. I live near Petworth and the South Downs, and it’s simply stunning.

 England call up for carriage driver Amber

Written by Sport4Salisbury Reporter
Friday, 09 July 2010
SHREWTON-based Amber O’Neill has been selected for the English Carriage Driving team to
take part in this summer’s Junior World Trophy event in Hungary.
The 16-year-old, who has been driving for eight years, won an individual dressage silver medal
at the event in 2008 but hopes to go one better at this August’s competition in Vecses, where
around 130 drivers from ten countries will compete.
Amber and her pony Fortune Teller, have attended numerous British Young Drivers training
camps over the past year in readiness for this summer’s contest and regularly take on more
senior drivers.
“The training is fun because you get to meet up with all your carriage driving friends without the
pressure of competition,” said Amber.
“Young drivers are spread all over the country so I regularly compete against adults at local
events. Some of them get a bit annoyed when the juniors beat them!"
Amber’s mum, Emma, who is also her groom at the competitions, said: “Hungarians are very
enthusiastic about horse sports in general and carriage driving in particular.
“The event will attract noisy crowds and there will be a great atmosphere. This is a great family
sport and each competitor needs a great team around them so all the family can get involved.”