India Bussey
Rider, Trainer and Sales Manager
India has known from day dot that she wanted to be a showjumper, and has devoted every day of her life since to making that dream a reality. Lucky enough to share that passion with her mother, Louise, India grew up with horses on her doorstep, starting with her very first pony, a charming strawberry roan gelding, called Bertie.
Growing up on the farm, India benefitted from riding a wide variety of horses and ponies very early on in her career, making her naturally very adaptable and developing feeling for the horses from a very young age. As a member of the South Norfolk Pony Club, India took part in lots of different disciplines, from riding gymkhana, going hunting, riding cross country and dressage at Pony Club Camp and even playing chukkas with her father, Paul, at The Norfolk Polo Club. Her deep love for horses was consistent throughout, but it was clear always that showjumping was her true passion.
India produced the majority of her ponies herself, and had a tendency to attract the spirited ones! She backed her first pony from scratch with help from mother, Louise, when she was just 10 years old, and producing young horses has been a passion of hers ever since and something that she thoroughly enjoys.
In 2012, at 11 years of age, India was selected to compete in the Mini Major at Olympia, The London International Horse Show. The 5* rider that India was paired with was no other than true showjumping legend, John Whitaker, and they took home second place. A truly extraordinary experience and a wonderful result aboard sister Atiya’s piebald star, Lackamore Flyer.
At the age of 12, India wanted to contest the Children On Horses classes. Without a horse of her own, she brought all 17 hands of mother Louise’s Stallion at Stud, Vrielink Vans Gravenstafel, out of retirement to do just that – with the dream of getting the Team GB jacket and representing her country.
In 2015, India realised that dream and helped Team GB to win a Silver medal at the Youth European Championships in Austria aboard Westwinds Ego. Her first international experience, and one that solidified her ambitions for a career in the sport.
Whilst still at home, India went on to be selected for Youth Nations Cup shows at Junior and Young Rider level. She qualified home produced ponies for the prestigious finals at HOYS, and even contested the Puissance there at just 17 years old, jumping a huge 2m15 with Florida VDL, who was later sold to the US. With Florida, whom she produced from scratch, she competed in her first CSI** World Ranking classes at home and abroad.
Directly after her last A Level exam, India moved down to The Billy Stud in Surrey where she spent a year learning from William & Pippa Funnell about the breeding and production of their young horses. During COVID, she spent some time in Germany and also in Belgium learning from and riding for Belgian Olympic showjumper, Pieter Devos.
India then spent a year riding for the ESM Equestrian & Evan’s & Barham Showjumping teams in Derbyshire where she developed horses all the way through upto 4* 1m50 level and represented Team GB on the Young Rider Nations Cup team in Fontainebleau.
With successful sales as a result of this, India then made the move back to Europe to join the world renowned Stephex Stables in Belgium. Here, India was able to learn alongside some of the top riders in our sport, with guidance and support from the likes of Daniel Deusser, Kendra Claricia Brinkop, Michael Hughes & Petronella Andersson. These 2 years were invaluable for India, gaining a wealth of knowledge and experience developing a vast amount of horses in the ring upto CSI 3* level.
Feeling equipt and motivated, India made the move back home in August 2024 to take over the reins of the Stud alongside Atiya & Louise to develop our own horses and take on new horses from owners at our Norfolk base.
Since then the business has been thriving and the success has been shared both in and out of the show ring. With lots of successful transfers and sales in the first year, as well as much success inside the show ring, picking up valuable World Ranking points on numerous occasions throughout the season competing up to CSI4* level, our operation is going from strength to strength and we couldn’t be more excited for the future. Watch this space!
Member of the World Class Podium Potential Pathway 2019-20
Member of the Sport England Step Up to Gold Programme 2018
Member of the British Equestrian Excel Talent Programme 2016-18