Comments on: Lilo Blum, Hyde Park Equestrian

By: Diana Wainwright

Diana Wainwright — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 23:46:50 +0000

Wow,how lovely to come across this article. I worked for LILO in the early to mid eighties,I used to ride a palomino called JB ( Jimmie Bean) he was great fun,very bouncy and full of himself. LILO once remarked “ that horse is mad and he will be till he’s 40”. I starred in a film,took the horse that was filmed ( with me on top,although he was only filmed from the belly down,so you only saw my boots) for the TV advert for the huge spread they had in the Sunday Telegraph about the jockey Lester Piggott,when he was being prosecuted for non payment of tax. Every Monday lunchtime I would ride one pony and lead two others ( one on each side) and ride from Grovenor Cresent Mews to Buckingham Palace,which was interesting in all that traffic,to say the least!! I’d drop the ponies off at the indoor school at the side of the palace and Riding for the Disabled would take them to let the children ride for an hour. They paid me a few pounds,which I’d spend in the cafe around the corner getting lunch. Then I’d pick up the ponies and ride them back to LILO’s. Fantastic memories and I can honestly say,the most interesting and varied job with horses I ever had. LILO passed away last year,she really was like no one else I have ever met,I learned so much from her and I feel honoured to have been lucky enough to have known her

By: Mark Doane

Mark Doane — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 07:44:47 +0000

I spent a summer there in the late 70s doing very little grooming and mucking out in exchange for lots of riding. What a great time we all had at that stable and what a privilege it was to ride in the park! Great fun.

By: Traci Joseph

Traci Joseph — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 06:40:47 +0000

I used to ride with Lilo back in the late 60’s early 70’s. I also rode Zsa Zsa Gabor’s horse on a regular basis because Lilo bought him. Hs name was Haron. I would take out rides for Lilo when I was 12 or 13 years old It was a bit hairy iding accross Hyde park Corner and you had to put your hand up to stop the traffic coming up Knights bridge from Harrods direction. Those were great days and it is where my love of horses began.
I believe I also knew Wendy who posted a comment earlier. If I am right Cloudy was her favourirte Horse.

By: Adam Kinn

Adam Kinn — Sun, 26 May 2024 23:10:55 +0000

My sister & I lived in Lowndes Square in the early 60s, round the corner from Grosvenor Crescent Mews. We would ride regularly around the park setting off from Lilo’s stables. I remember how frightened I was riding out onto Hyde Park Corner before getting into the park. I was featured bouncing up & down on a pony on an Italian travel show called ‘Hello London’!
There’s wonderful footage of Lilo on a Man Alive documentary about Hyde Park from 1971 available on BBC iPlayer

By: Lyn A’Court

Lyn A’Court — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 20:45:19 +0000

I kept my horse Little Gem at Lilo’s Stables I. Grosvenor Crescent Mews and
at her yard in Richmond in the 1980’s. I really enjoyed those years and the
Great times we had.

Mobile 07754662438

By: Liz Bohlke

Liz Bohlke — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 20:10:14 +0000

Just found this article my sister and I lived in London from 1968 – 1974. Came over from America. Have fond memories of riding around Hyde park corner and onto the park. Never could believe we rode through hide park corner. Kind of Crazy. Was so fortunate to have known Ms. Blum

By: James O'Connell

James O'Connell — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 23:34:21 +0000

I enjoyed reading that, brought back a few memories.

I worked for Lilo, around 1975/6 mucking out the stables for a while,
I left, the early starts eventually wore me down.

I ended up selling hot dogs, at Hyde Park corner, Lilo would ride past,
I don’t know if she recognised me but never acknowledged me,
I like to think she didn’t know it was me, we were perhaps 25 yards away,
it was yards in those days.

Then one day she smiled at me and the rest of the week was the same, nods and smiles, the following week, she was on her own, and stopped, we chatted and she asked me to come back to work.
Sadly, I didn’t go back,
but after reading this I wish I had, she was a fine lady and good to work for.
Her brother Gerry, a racehorse trainer in Newmarket, used to send up some injured/sick horses, for Lilo to nurse back to health.
Fine memories, my love of horses has never wained and I think of Lilo, whenever I’m near them.

By: Claire Nichols Zimmerman

Claire Nichols Zimmerman — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 17:50:17 +0000

As a child in the 70’s we lived in London for a few years. I would go down to Lilo’s stable almost every day– after school or on the weekend- pretty much any time I could. I would help groom horses and muck stalls and help tourists get onto to their mounts. I got very attached to the horses I spent time with. And every now and then I would get a chance to ride — to help hold a lead rein, or I’d scrounge some money to pay for an hour, or Lilo would generously offer. She was so very kind to me. I was a mess of a child and I think she saw how much the horses meant to my survival. I am forever grateful.

By: Andy Hartman

Andy Hartman — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 19:11:54 +0000

My sister Cheryl and I rode with Miss Blum’s group in the early 1960s.
Cheryl rode Rocket
I rode Blue Boy ( a biter)
“Miss Blum, may I canter ahead?”
What a wonderful Lady who gave wonderful experiences to so many!!

By: Mandy Knight

Mandy Knight — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 23:35:01 +0000

A Wonderful lady. I met she and Georgina in the late 70s. Georgina taught me to ride. Fantastic people.