About Me
I have been involved with horses all my life from the age of 3 in lead rein showing classes, I graduated up through the showing and perfomance pony ranks and then decided to specialise in dressage at the age of 20.
I was born in Bolton, Lancashire and spent many years of my childhood travelling around the world. After leaving South Africa aged 10, we returned to the UK, via Cyprus, where my passion for all things equine grew. I convinced my parents after riding lessons in Africa, I was desperate to have my own pony again. Being a resourceful family, I had to prove my commitment so at only 14, I got a job making sandwiches and at a local restaurant washing up to pay for the keep on my loan pony, Mockbeggars Talisman (Jane). I ended up with so many jobs that my poor father never knew where he was collecting me from at night!
My parents kept their word and after we had travelled thousands of miles, we finally found the perfect pony less than 5 mins walk from our suburban home. Farriers Full Cry (Harry) was a star and there was nothing that he couldn't turn a hoof to, from eventing and jumping to dressage and showing. Among some of his achievements, he was Champion Mountain & Moorland at the Bath & West County show, was invited to do the Knightwood challenge at the New Forest County show and was crowned performance pony of the year in 2001.
Sadly, he was only 13,2hh, so the search began in 2001 for my first horse. I had started to train with the BYRDS regional trainer, Claire Morrison, and with her support, found that I had a passion for dressage.
Remmington, a 16,1hh KWPN, came from the Brightwells dressage horse auction in 2001. He taught me so much and he owes me nothing. We emigrated to Southern Spain in 2003 and I started with a new trainer, George Prause. Sadly Remy developed navicular disease at the age of 6 and after spending 4 years fighting for him, he was put to sleep in July 2008. R.I.P Remy.
In the meantime, with nothing to ride, my mother and I started to search for some new projects and along came Kir, Ruben and most recently Hugo, which has left me with an exciting team of horses with a great deal of potential for the future. Training with George Prause, a German dressage expert and former trainer of the Japanese Olympic eventing team, who is based just ten minutes from my stable yard. Together with George, I am developing into a successful rider, well on my to Grand Prix dressage. I have enjoyed many highlights throughout my journey to high level dressage so far, including attending a clinic held by Olympic bronze medallist Heike Kemmer and some encouraging results at the National Spanish competitions.
In order to cover the costs of keeping and competing the horses, I am building up a business as a remote Personal Assistant and Marketing advisor to professionals in the medical industry. I also started teaching dressage lessons. On top of all this, I care for the horses single-handedly, though Mum and Dad do occasionally lend a hand!
I believe that with enough hard work and support from my family, anything is possible. The sky is the limit!
