A LITTLE ABOUT ME

I came to riding late (at 24) which made me more aware of my first riding experiences and lessons.  I was lucky enough to have a trainer who took the time to explain the different muscle groups and the importance of activating these when doing different movements, but unlike those that ride from very young, I was always very conscious of the risks I was taking which I hope has made me a much more sympathetic instructor when people aren’t feeling confident.

I purchased my first competition horse who was exceptionally talented and taught me a great deal.  He went up to advanced eventing with a close friend of mine which put eventing at the top of my wish list as it was so exciting.

I then went on to purchase another young horse, to bring on.  Sun Phase (dark bay in the gallery photos) was also hugely talented as an eventer and I gained a lot of my affiliated eventing experience with him over a number of years at venues such as Tweseldown, Borde Hill, Stilemans and Lyneham.

After having my second child (and my first being desperate for her own pony), I decided to take a short break from eventing to help my daughter with her first pony, a 14.2 Connemara who had previously been an FEI driving pony.  I had to both teach her and ride/teach him to flatwork and jump but it was the greatest of fun and my first pony rides.

My daughter then competed BSJA with him for a number of years and it was fantastic to help the partnership grow from a hugely inexperienced pair to a competent duo who were usually placed in the top three at every show.

Around this time I purchased a horse who excelled in and introduced me to pure dressage, this was the first time I had had an opportunity to concentrate on dressage individually as opposed to forming part of eventing and I found I really enjoyed it, particularly dressage to music.

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Shortly afterwards, my second daughter loaned a difficult pony who had been quite a challenge in its previous home, but with careful guidance and support the duo competed in young riders dressage.  This gave her the confidence and knowledge she needed to go on to her own pony, another 14.2 Connemara just over from Ireland.  She, like her sister, grew together with him and with my help both teaching her and schooling the pony, they ended up competing in the PC SJ teams at places like Hickstead and Wales and West, right up to the Championships at Kelsall Hill.  She also took him Junior BSJA jumping.  

Over the years as my steed has changed a few times, I have learned that I am interested in all aspects of the sport and how everything begins with the basics.  Without the basics, problems can arise in the future often resulting in the need to start again.  I am currently looking to establish the basics with my youngster before I start competing once again next year.

Over the years I have had a passion for helping others with their horses across Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross Country, both for enjoyment and competitively.  I have used my experience and extensive training with the many top class trainers (some listed on the introduction page) to good use and more recently I have felt this is something I want to pursue further.  There is no greater sense of achievement than watching the development of a horse and rider and watching them achieve their goals as a partnership, no matter what those goals are.

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Until a couple of years ago I was Headmistress at an independent day school and when I finished there I was surprised at how much I missed the interaction with the students, the goal setting and helping them achieve their dreams.  I realise now how much I loved it and so I want to put this enthusiasm into my other great love, horses, and help people get the best from their relationships with them.

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In order to supplement my teaching I am currently training through British Dressage to be a dressage judge. As such, I am able to assess each horse through the eyes of those on the other end of the dressage sheet, as well as a trainer.

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I also recently worked with British Dressage as their Youth Representative which was hugely satisfying, helping the young dressage riders of the future achieve their dreams. 

Having learned to ride later in life and subsequently spending over 25 years with horses, I have experienced many changes and challenges which I have welcomed or overcome.  I understand first hand that regardless of whether you are looking to learn to ride, rebuild your confidence, build a relationship with a new horse or just make adjustments in an already successful partnership, guidance from the ground can make all the difference and I’m here to help you achieve your own goals no matter how big or small.

Please do look at my gallery photos to see all the wonderful horses that have helped me become the rider and instructor I am today.