Pat Smythe was one of the earliest women British showjumpers, in an age when the sport was dominated by cavalry officers. She travelled a lot and won an Olympic medal in Rome.
Pat had both hips replaced before she was forty. She had no children but wrote about her horses, her travels, and some young people's adventures. She married twice, because her first husband died young. Her Swiss husband travelled for work so Pat took a job reporting for the United Nations on what she saw when she accompan
Pat Smythe was one of the earliest women British showjumpers, in an age when the sport was dominated by cavalry officers. She travelled a lot and won an Olympic medal in Rome.
Pat had both hips replaced before she was forty. She had no children but wrote about her horses, her travels, and some young people's adventures. She married twice, because her first husband died young. Her Swiss husband travelled for work so Pat took a job reporting for the United Nations on what she saw when she accompanied him.
Pat's full life story is told by her in 'Leaping Life's Fences' which combines her early autobiographies such as 'Jump for Joy' with later personal reminiscences. I find this an excellent read and consider Pat an admirable person in many regards.
...more