Career
Competing since the age of 5, Ellen has much experience in the equestrian world and qualified for HOYS at just 8 years old.
In 2006, Ellen and Her father/trainer Steven Whitaker were hit with a legal dispute over ownership of 13 horses, including her top horse Locarno. However, a few months later a peace deal was made.
In 2007, Ellen represented Great Britain in the European Championships and helped allow Britain to qualify for the Olympics after jumping triple clear. Unfortunately, she just missed out on being selected for the 2008 Beijing Olympics due to lameness in horse Locarno 62.
In 2010, Ellen Whitaker spoke to the press after refusing to jump for the British team due to a conflict with the British team manager, Rob Hoekstra. She told H&H: “I only have Ocolado at the moment and Rob wanted to interfere with the way I do everything.” Her father and manager Steven Whitaker added: "It’s not a matter of Ellen not wanting to jump for her country, but we won’t jump again until Rob Hoekstra is finished." But British Equestrian Federation World Class performance director Will Connell said: "The riders wanted stronger management and leadership and that’s what Rob is delivering." Mr Hoekstra did not wish to comment, saying: “I do not think team issues are best resolved through the press.”
Read more about this topic: Ellen Whitaker
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“Each of the professions means a prejudice. The necessity for a career forces every one to take sides. We live in the age of the overworked, and the under-educated; the age in which people are so industrious that they become absolutely stupid.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
“It is a great many years since at the outset of my career I had to think seriously what life had to offer that was worth having. I came to the conclusion that the chief good for me was freedom to learn, think, and say what I pleased, when I pleased. I have acted on that conviction... and though strongly, and perhaps wisely, warned that I should probably come to grief, I am entirely satisfied with the results of the line of action I have adopted.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)
“In time your relatives will come to accept the idea that a career is as important to you as your family. Of course, in time the polar ice cap will melt.”
—Barbara Dale (b. 1940)