Stories from the Saddle: Emma Freeman

Emma Freeman rode her second winner at South Hill last Sunday on All Rise Malone, over four years after her first… and almost two years to the day since her last ride. She talked to Jake Exelby afterwards about the ups and downs of her point-to-point career with previous mounts Perpignan and Right Of Reply, how she always planned to come back after a break, and why her two winners should actually be three!

Emma is all smiles after winning on Sunday - trainer Will Biddick is far left (Tim Holt)

How old are you, where are you from, and where are you based now?

I’m 30, from Suffolk originally, and now live near Wincanton.

I know you don’t work with horses. What do you do for a living?

I’m a key account manager. It’s a sales role.

Talk me through your career with horses so far and how you got into point-to-pointing in the first place?

I’ve been riding as long as I can remember – Mum plonked me on a pony before I could walk. Apart from going to our local point-to-point at Higham and the Grand National, I had no interest in racing – I hunted and evented. My grandad, Peter Dixon Smith, had been a point-to-point rider in East Anglia and had horses with Caroline Bailey.

Emma out hunting on Right Of Reply

You were quite a late starter, not having your first ride until your twenties. Why didn’t you race-ride earlier and what made you decide to do so?

I went to work in a yard in America for a year and, when I came back, I was due to work for an eventing yard in Staffordshire. Before that, I rode out for Caroline Fryer, who said she thought I was good enough to race-ride.

I fell out of love with eventing, went travelling to Australia and – when I came back – randomly decided to start point-to-pointing the season after Covid. I was looking for jobs, had friends who rode out at Newmarket, and went for an interview with Hicks & Brown, the company owned by Ed Turner’s wife Rosie.

It was after that that Andrew Pennock helped me find Perpignan.

Tell me about your first season, riding Perpignan.

On my first ride, at Dingley, I missed the start and cantered round then second time out, I got to the front too quickly.

By the time of my fourth ride at Garthorpe, James Owen – who trained Perpignan – told me to get to the front and stay there, so I did! I won the race, but the judge placed me second. It was the best experience, but gutting at the same time, as everybody told me I’d won.

Do you think Emma (far side) won this race?

It was a strange season, with fixtures running without crowds, but with live streaming, which is why I knew I’d won.

What about your second season with Perpignan and Right Of Reply, leading up to your first win on the former at Fakenham?

I told James I wanted a second horse, and he had Right Of Reply as a schoolmaster, but I only had one proper ride on him, as I fell off him early on our second start, then he went wrong.

Perpignan was tough and game – no world-beater, but great to learn on. We went to Horseheath and I fell off at the second and had lost my confidence after two unseats. So, I was quite nervous at Ampton, but we plugged through the mud to finish second, which gave me back my confidence.

Talk me through that day.

Perpignan run poorly at Garthorpe but at Fakenham, where James had two runners, he told Connor Baker (Owen’s other jockey), he’d be in big trouble if he came past me, so I knew he was gearing me up to win the race. I remember him screaming at me to keep kicking and we bolted up!

Emma winning on Perpignan at Fakenham (Graham Bishop) 

You’ve had horses with several trainers, in East Anglia, the West Midlands, the South Midlands and now Wessex. Why is this?

The next season I moved to Newent in Gloucestershire, close to James Ridley’s. I liked the way he trained horses on grass and turned them out in the field, which suited Right To Reply, as he’d been injured.

James gave up at the end of my first season with him, then I lost Pablo (Perpignan) to colic on New Year’s Eve – a horrible way to start the year. I tried to train Right Of Reply myself, but with a full-time job, and the dark mornings, I couldn’t get him fit.

I knew that Fran and Charlie Poste were good with young riders, but they were a long way from me, so I could only go there on Saturdays. Right Of Reply had been going well, and I thought we could win at Fakenham again, but I missed the start, which was frustrating. Then we were flying at Eyton-on-Severn – which was due to be his last race before retirement, but he did a leg and we pulled up.

Emma on Right Of Reply

Your win on All Rise Malone came nearly two years to the day since your last ride on Right Of Reply. Why did you not ride last season and what made you decide to come back?

Missing last season was unintentional. I had a horse to ride, but he had a lot of problems. I was always hoping to ride this year – it was never a case of if, but when and how – but I needed a horse.

How did you come to buy All Rise Malone?

I’d moved to Somerset and discovered Will Biddick was nearby, so rang him up and asked him to find me a horse and train it for me. Bloodstock agent Dan Astbury found him at the Goresbridge Sales in December and thought he’d be perfect for me, as he’d won a Maiden in Ireland for a Novice Rider. He’s a big horse, and Dan thought he’d fill out and progress.

Why has it taken him so long to make his debut for you?

He came over on a stormy night in December, slept for a week, and wasn’t right for a while, so it’s taken a long time to get him ready. He hasn’t done very much – I’ve only schooled him twice, once in January and once last week.

Emma schooling All Rise Malone at Will Biddick's

Talk me through Sunday.

I walked the course with Will, who gave be a full breakdown of how to ride it. He told me to sit second but that it would be fine if I got to the front, so I decided to make it alongside Darren Andrews. But All Rise Malone jumped me into the lead at the first, then tried to run out at the third – luckily, I heard Will shouting at me to get onto the inner!

We travelled nicely on the second circuit, then hit the fourth from home and I lost a stirrup, and the others came upsides when I was getting it back. He picked up again three out and kept going – I’d had a session on the Equicizer with Rodi Greene, and I was trying to remember what he told me when I was riding a finish.

Emma en route to victory on All Rise Malone at South Hill (Tim Holt)

It was an awesome feeling – I was so emotional, I was crying.

Do you have plans to run and ride All Rise Malone again this season?

We’re hoping to go to Upcott Cross on Bank Holiday Monday, but it depends on the ground, as he needs it Good at best.

Which horse (not one of your own mounts) would you most like to ride?

Regatta De Blanc. I was lucky enough to school her round Dunsmore, and she was an absolute dream. I’d love to ride her.

Emma giving Regatta De Blanc a racecourse school at Dunsmore

Which other jockeys do you admire?

Will, obviously, although I’ve never ridden against him. And Alex Chadwick helped me loads when I was at James Owen’s.

Alex Chadwick (right, with Gina Andrews) - great help to Emma (Graham Bishop)

What's your favourite course?

It has to be Fakenham. I haven’t ridden many tracks but love it there, and it’s so much fun to ride. I also like Larkhill.

What do you enjoy most about pointing?

I started team chasing and doing hunt races, but pointing’s an adrenalin rush. When I get to the start, I’m terrified but, when I get to the finish, I love it!

Emma team chasing her grandmother's Howya Hun

What are your ambitions in pointing and racing?

Because I started late, I want to make the most of it while I can. I would love to get some outside rides, and ride more for Will, maybe even go for a novice riders title. I’ve got no grand ambitions but would like to get my Category A licence and ride All Rise Malone in a Hunter Chase.

What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?

That’s a tricky question, particularly with the restrictions on hunting, but I like to think I’ve already had an effect myself, as the iPad on the line (which was introduced after Perpignan was ‘beaten’ at Garthorpe) has made a big difference.

I also like the introduction of the 5lb claim outside Opens for novice riders, as I think it’s better to learn by riding against more experienced jockeys.

I don’t know how to get more owners. The Young Horse Maiden Series is great, but it doesn’t keep horses in the sport and pointing costs the same as it does under rules, but there’s no prize money, just a fun day out.

I think jockeys should have to do a racecourse school when they first take out a licence – I never did one until I went to Will’s – and I’d like to see Will Ramsay’s Jockey Start initiative extended to the South, as most people don’t have the means to buy a competitive pointer.

I understand your colours have jumped round Aintree. Tell me about that.

Grandad owned Takeover Bid, who was sixth in the 1972 Foxhunters. He was ridden by Hunter Rowe, as grandad had retired by then.

Do you have a sponsor? Who?

Chris Gregory, of CG² Chiropractic, a human and equine chiropractor. We wouldn’t have got to the races without Chris – he’s been a godsend. He’s worked wonders with All Rise Malone, who’s had a few setbacks.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I can’t believe I’m back doing it – it’s been a long time coming. Sunday was a dream – I’m so happy.