At 46, Jodie Kidd radiates health and vitality, gently stroking her horse’s mane as she stands in a peaceful field surrounded by her beloved animals. For Jodie, horses have always been a passion, but they’ve played an even more vital role in her life by helping her overcome crippling anxiety.
“Animals helped me through some tough, scary periods of anxiety and low points,” Jodie shares in this exclusive interview at her home in West Sussex. “They bring a huge sense of calm, happiness, and love.”
Known for her iconic modeling career, where she shared the runway with legends like Kate Moss, fronted global campaigns for Chloé, and walked for Chanel in Paris, Jodie first began struggling with anxiety during her rapid rise to fame. Scouted at just 15 by photographer Terry O’Neill on a beach in Barbados, her career took off quickly. By 16, she was drinking champagne backstage at fashion shows.
“I didn’t understand what was happening to me. I was just a late teenager, and at that time, no one really talked about anxiety,” she recalls. “I thought I was going crazy. I had to stop my career, quit modeling, and move to the country. It was terrifying.”
Her rural retreat provided the refuge she needed after leaving the high-pressure world of modeling. “I really think that getting back into riding after modeling helped cure my anxiety,” she reflects. “There’s something incredibly powerful about being on horseback. I did some research, and I learned that when you rock on your coccyx, it activates the vagus nerve in the brain, which puts you in a very calm state.”
After stepping away from modeling, Jodie—now a mother to 13-year-old son Indio—turned her attention to a successful sports career, representing England at the Women’s World Polo Championships. “I loved polo for about five or six years. I played absolutely non-stop,” she says.
She also had the chance to play alongside members of the royal family at charity events. “I’d often get called in to do charity polo events, and Prince Charles, William, or Harry would play too,” Jodie shares.
For Jodie, the horse-riding life has been a source of joy, and she’s had the privilege of riding with her close friend Zara Tindall, the daughter of Princess Anne. “Zara is an incredible horsewoman and a lovely person. I totally adore her,” Jodie says. “We’ve done a couple of charity polo days together, and I love every minute of it.”
Growing up surrounded by animals, Jodie’s connection with horses started early. “I think I was a baby when my dad first put me on a horse,” she laughs. “I grew up in the country with a farm, dogs, and horses all around me. My family had a very naughty Shetland pony called Mr. T, who used to bolt off and then suddenly stop to eat grass, and we’d all come flying off. But at least you didn’t have far to fall!”
Animals, Jodie believes, bring a sense of stability and responsibility to life. “As a child, you learn that you have to feed, water, and take care of them. It teaches you a lot about responsibility,” she says.
