Pat Smythe secured her place in equestrian history as a prominent British show jumper, famously winning a team bronze medal at the 1956 Olympic Games in Stockholm. Beyond her achievements in the saddle, she authored an extensive collection of books, establishing a significant literary career that spanned from technical guides to popular children's fiction series.
Early Life and War Years
Born in East Sheen, Pat Smythe was the youngest of three children. Her childhood was marked by physical challenges, including a severe bout of diphtheria at age five that required her to learn to walk again. Her adolescence coincided with the disruption of World War II. During this era, her father traveled to Biskra while her mother worked for the Red Cross in London. Smythe was relocated to the Cotswolds for safety, where she famously encountered the King while managing a group of horses on a road.
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Smythe initially learned to ride on her brother's pony, Bubbles, before acquiring a Dartmoor/Arab-cross named Pixie. Her competitive rise began with the horse Finality, leading to her selection for the British team in 1947 alongside riders such as Colonel Harry Llewellyn. Her international success continued with mounts like Tosca, Carmena, and Prince Hal. Her Olympic participation included the 1956 and 1960 games, where she rode Flanagan to secure her bronze medal.
Literary Contributions
By age 30, Smythe had published 11 books. Her bibliography includes autobiographical works such as Jump for Joy: Pat Smythe's Story and One Jump Ahead, as well as instructional texts like Show Jumping and A Pony for Pleasure. Following her 1963 marriage to Swiss businessman Sam Koechlin, she moved to Switzerland, where she expanded her writing into fiction. She penned the multi-volume Three Jays series and a three-part adventure sequence set in Switzerland, Spain, and the Cotswolds.
Fast facts
- Born: 22 November 1928, East Sheen
- Died: 27 February 1996
- Olympic Medals: Team bronze, 1956
- Education: Talbot Heath School
- Spouse: Sam Koechlin
- Famous Mounts: Finality, Tosca, Flanagan, Prince Hal
- Total books published by age 30: 11
Questions readers ask
Did Pat Smythe have children?
Yes, she and her husband Sam Koechlin had two daughters.
What was the Three Jays series?
It was a series of fictional books for children written by Smythe, consisting of titles like Jacqueline Rides for a Fall and Three Jays Go To Rome.
