From Pony Racing to Promoting the Sport: Jordan Peerless’s Point-to-Point Journey

For many involved in point-to-pointing, the sport becomes part of everyday life from a young age. For Jordan Peerless, now Media & Marketing Executive for the Point-to-Point Authority, her journey into the sport began long before her professional role, growing up around pointing and eventually finding her own way back into the sport from a different angle.

Peerless was first introduced to pointing through her mum, who had been involved in the sport for many years and had ridden in hunt races herself. It wasn’t long before she found herself following in her footsteps. “I probably became involved when I was about nine,”. “My mum had been around pointing for years, so it was something I was always aware of.”

Her early racing experiences came through pony racing, often using ponies that were also competing in other disciplines. “I never had a push-button pony,” she laughs. “They were usually ones that needed educating, so sometimes pony racing was the best way to teach them to gallop, even the show ponies”. Peerless rode in pony races until she was around fourteen, gaining experience along the way and building confidence in the saddle.

One particular early outing has remained firmly in her memory. Her first racecourse experience came at Penshurst, where she rode a pony she had previously competed in mounted games on. After getting around the final bend in front, she did something rather unexpected. “I remember actually pulling up even though I was in front because I wasn’t sure if I was doing everything right as I was so shocked o be out in front”, she remembers. “Looking back now it’s quite funny, but at the time I was so embarrassed”

While pointing was her introduction to racing, her path into the wider industry took a few turns along the way. After stepping away from pony racing, Peerless became heavily involved in mounted games, competing internationally before heading to university to study animal physiotherapy. Graduating during the COVID pandemic meant pursuing her physiotherapy career immediately proved difficult, leading her to take an opportunity working in racing with accommodation. That move saw her begin working for trainer Richard Hannan before later moving into a jump yard.

Her initial plan had been to take out her amateur licence, but the experience opened her eyes to a different side of the sport. “I actually fell in love with the medical and welfare side of working in a yard,” she says. “Being able to help horses physically improve and then ride them afterwards was really interesting.”

Despite exploring different areas of racing, pointing was never far away. Her partner has ridden in the sport for several years, meaning she continued to follow the point-to-point circuit closely.

When the opportunity arose to join the Point-to-Point Authority as Media & Marketing Executive, it felt like the perfect way to combine her background in the sport with her professional career. In her role, Peerless works closely with the PPA team, including Paul Miller and Tiggy Vale-Titterton, helping to promote the sport and keep participants informed about fixtures, stories and results from across the country. Her role largely focuses on managing social media and digital content, helping to bring the sport to a wider audience and showcase what happens behind the scenes. “You can’t be part of the sport if you don’t know about it!” Peerless explains. “Social media is a powerful tool which allows us to reach people who might never have come across pointing otherwise.”

A typical week during the season begins with reviewing the previous weekend’s results and identifying stories that can be highlighted, before turning attention to the upcoming fixtures and planning content ahead of the next round of racing. Weekends often see her attending meetings, particularly when the GB Pointing Bonus races take place. One initiative she has particularly enjoyed working on is the yard tour series, which gives followers a behind-the-scenes look at yards involved in the sport. The idea came directly from the GB Pointing audience, who voted for the content on social media. “It’s been great to show people what actually goes on in the yards,” Peerless says. “The horses are treated like royalty – they really want for nothing.”

Her background working in racing yards, combined with her physiotherapy knowledge, provides a valuable perspective when producing this content. Having seen first-hand the time and effort required to prepare a horse for race day, she is keen to highlight the dedication of everyone involved. Owners in particular play a huge role in the sport, something Peerless believes people often don’t see. “For many owners these horses are not just numbers – they’re part of the family,” she says.

For Peerless, the community aspect of point-to-pointing remains one of the sport’s greatest strengths. Fixtures take place across the country and offer a relaxed environment that welcomes both seasoned racing fans and newcomers alike. “It’s such a lovely day out,” she says. “You can bring your dogs, a picnic and spend the day with friends and family.”

Point-to-pointing continues to play an important role as the grassroots of British jump racing. Many horses begin their careers here progressing to racing under Rules, while amateur riders gain valuable experience in competitive race conditions. Initiatives such as the GB Pointing Bonus Series are also helping encourage participation by attracting young horses into the sport.

Looking ahead, Peerless hopes to see strong participation continue across fixtures and competitive fields throughout the season. For those thinking about getting involved for the first time, she believes the welcoming nature of the sport makes it easy to get started. “We’re a very approachable sport and there are always people willing to help. You won’t know if it’s for you unless you try it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions as everyone has to start somewhere.”

Ultimately, it is the atmosphere that keeps bringing her back weekend after weekend.

“The culture, the atmosphere and the horses. Whether they’re newcomers starting their careers or old favourites enjoying their time in the sport, it’s all part of what makes pointing special.”

And if Peerless has her way, many more people will soon discover exactly what that feels like.