Zara Tindall has revealed the parenting approach she has adopted to ensure her children escape the harshest criticism she endured growing up. Zara, the Queen's eldest granddaughter, offered followers a glimpse into her child-rearing philosophy during a recent appearance on the Talking Horse podcast.
A demanding upbringing
The 45-year-old ranks among Britain's most accomplished equestrians, securing a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics and gold at the 2006 world championships - the same year she claimed the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year accolade.
She started riding from an early age under the guidance of her parents, Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, both of whom competed at the sport's highest level. Their coaching approach could be 'harsh', she revealed.
"My father was quite critical," Zara recalled. "Very rarely, you would get a 'Yeah, that was good' out of him. So it was always striving to try and get that comment."
Breaking the cycle
The demanding upbringing also meant taking complete responsibility for her horses, she added: "We had to do everything with them."
"We had to clean our tack, muck them out. If we didn't do it, we were in serious trouble."
Zara, who wed England rugby union star Mike Tindall in 2011, says she has deliberately chosen to steer clear of the harshest criticism she experienced when training her three children - 12-year-old Mia, eight-year-old Lena, and Lucas, aged five.
"[My father] was a tough coach," she explained, "but I'm trying not to be quite that bad with my own kids."
Recent equestrian success
Recently, Zara has been making waves in the eventing world, clinching the British championship in August when she guided Class Affair to triumph in Hartpury.
Announcing the victory, Phillip Cheetham, Equine Director at Hartpury, said: "We also have to congratulate Zara Tindall on her fantastic CCI4*-S and British Open victory on Saturday. Class Affair was superb, and it was a very special result for Zara, Catherine Rivett and the whole team."
