From Film Sets to Eventing: An Inspiring Evening With Tila da Costa

Last Wednesday, our riding club welcomed Tila da Costa for a fascinating and entertaining talk about her equestrian journey, which has taken her from gymkhana and show jumping to eventing, teaching, online dressage and even the world of film!

With plenty of stories, experiences and a few unexpected adventures along the way, Tila gave us a real insight into the twists and turns of a life spent around horses.

A love of horses from the start

Tila’s equestrian journey began at a young age, enjoying gymkhana, show jumping and the occasional event when the budget allowed. Like so many riders, her passion for horses grew over the years, opening the door to new opportunities and challenges.

But horses weren’t Tila’s only interest. Alongside her equestrian life, she worked for a horse film production company in Watford, contributing to productions including the Ben-Hur remake. She also had experience working with a carriage company, providing horse-drawn transport for weddings and funerals.

And if that wasn’t enough variety, there’s even a ukulele in the mix! Clearly, Tila has never been one to stick to just one path.

Finding her competitive edge

A two-year spell working at Postcombe Stud helped Tila develop her show jumping, and it was here that the competition bug really took hold.

Her competitive journey even took her to Hickstead, where she had the opportunity to compete on Xani, her favourite horse to ride.

Those experiences helped shape her riding and fuelled her enthusiasm for competition, but there were still plenty of new chapters to come.

Back to Bristol: training, teaching and helping horses

Returning to Bristol, Tila began breaking, rehabilitating and schooling horses, putting her experience to good use with horses at different stages of their development.

From there, she moved into teaching, running local clinics and helping riders build confidence, improve their skills and develop their partnerships with their horses.

It’s not just about the riding, but about supporting each horse and rider as they progress together, something that has become an important part of Tila’s work.

Making the most of lockdown with TKEQ Online Dressage

When lockdown arrived, many riders found themselves looking for ways to stay motivated and connected with their horses. Tila came up with TKEQ Online Dressage, giving riders a reason to keep riding, set themselves goals and maintain their training during an uncertain time.

What started as a way to keep people busy and give them something positive to work towards has continued well beyond lockdown and is still going strong today.

It’s a great example of turning a difficult situation into an opportunity, helping riders keep their hand in and continue learning, wherever they are.

Taking on the eventing challenge

Although show jumping had been a big part of Tila’s competitive background, eventing brought a whole new set of challenges.

One of the biggest adjustments was learning to allow the horse to travel forwards towards the fences, rather than riding every fence with the more controlled approach often associated with show jumping.

Time penalties soon became a powerful incentive to adapt, and what began as a challenge developed into another passion.

A new chapter in Bath

Tila has now returned to the Bath area, where a new yard brings fresh opportunities and exciting possibilities.

Alongside her work with horses and riders, TKEQ Online Dressage continues, with plenty more to come. Her message is very much one of embracing change, making the most of opportunities and continuing to develop, whatever the challenges along the way.

And there’s some particularly exciting news on the eventing front: Tila has qualified to ride at Badminton Grassroots next year with her horse, Boogie!

What a fantastic achievement, all at VHPRC will be cheering you on madly!!!

A huge thank you to Tila for joining us last Wednesday and sharing her story with our riding club.

Keep your eyes peeled — we have a feeling there’s plenty more to come!