C. David Barker

The son of a Yorkshire farmer, David Barker was riding horses from a very young age. He took part in local junior show jumping events, and raced over fences. However, after a fall-out with his father, Barker left the family home, and spent 18 months with the famous Chipperfield’s Circus.

As a show jumper, Barker was associated with two well-known horses, Mister Softee and Franco. He won the 1962 men’s European Championship at the White City, London, on Mister Softee. The horse went on to win the title on two more occasions (1967 and 1969) with David Broome in the saddle. In 1962, Barker and Mister Softee cleared 2.18m (7ft 2in) in a puissance competition at Madison Square Garden, New York.

At the 1960 Roma Olympics, Barker partnered Franco, a former thoroughbred race horse he bought in 1958. In the team event at the Olympics, Franco had three refusals which resulted in Barker being eliminated and, as the first British rider, put paid to their chances of a medal. However, Barker went on to enjoy success aboard Franco at notable events across Europe. Caroline Bradley also later had considerable success with Franco.

After selling Franco, Barker bought a stud in Buckinghamshire, and also devoted time to his first love of foxhunting with the Whaddon Chase, of which he eventually became Master. He later became huntsman of the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt. After retiring from hunting Barker and his wife kennelled hunting hounds.

During his time at the Meynell and South Staffordshire, the Prince of Wales used to ride with Barker, and on one occasion, Barker maintained he once told the Prince to get off his horse while Barker took it over a fence for him, saying: “You’re the heir to the throne. If you sit on the throne like you sit on that horse, you’ll not stay there long.” The prince attended David Barker’s funeral at Ellastone, Staffordshire, in 2018, and when he was the guest editor of Country Life in 2013, the Prince had nominated David Barker as one of his “heroes of the countryside”.