Every horse teaches us something new and I have been so lucky to have had some wonderful horses and their owners in my life that have taken me to over 40 regional and national championships. I believe all horses come into our lives for a reason and it has made me believe that anything is possible with love, empathy and sympathetic training.
Finigans Rainbow. Where my love of dressage all stared in 1993 when along with the rest of the South Berkshire pony club team we were reserve champions at the National Championships! After a rotational fall jumping we were both put off jumping and decided to concentrate on Dressage and luckily we were both pretty good at it getting to medium level and doing our first regional championships.
Caitano was bought as a 3 year old he and was the first horse I trained to Grand Prix. He was never a world beater with very ordinary paces but he always tried so hard and was a joy to train. He went to the Nationals up to PSG and Premier Leagues at Inter II. He also did a few international Para shows! Such an amazing horse and taught me so much!
Windhover (Solly) was purchased as a just backed 4 year old by my wonderful friend Sarah Harhill Glithero who sadly passed away from cancer shortly after his purchase. Her husband Stan kept Solly in training with me and we won several regional titles and achieved my personal best score of 82% He was a quirky boy but so talented and taught me how to ride more powerful hot horses! He has gone on to be a very successful PSG horse which makes me very happy!
Absolute (Alfie) came to me as a Para horse and after doing some international shows he also was a schoolmaster for a junior rider. He taught so many people how to ride, he was big and strong and would only go on the bit if you rode him from behind and got his back up! With me he came 4th at the Nationals at PSG as well as winning several regional titles along the way. A saint to ride he was also a monster to bath as he hated the drips of water on his belly!!
Rommert HW. One of the most nervous horses I have ever worked with! His fear reaction was to bolt especially when getting on! He taught me so much about horse behaviour and introduced me to the TRT method for which I am truly grateful! A powerful horse with a super trot but a weak canter he challenged me the most but I didn’t give up and we got to Nationals, 69% at PSG and working at Grand Prix before I retired him at 14 and sold him to a wonderful lady who worked through his issues and now happily goes on pleasure rides with him!
Langdale Meridain (Harry) was another para horse that came in for training and I fell in love with his heart and how hard he tried. He was a little croup high and taught me how to train horses that don’t have the ideal conformation. He did well at PSG before being sold as a wonderful schoolmaster to enjoy his retirement.
Diamondez (Mika) The horse that taught me not to bite off more than you can chew!! I bought Mika from the amazing Sandra Biddlecomb after Charlotte Du Jardin competed him in a young horse class. He had HUGE paces was sharp and had an incredible engine! To be honest it terrified me and I had to sell him to a more capable rider!! Be careful what you wish for, sometime they are not so easy to ride! Mika taught me to recognise my strengths and not forget my weaknesses, I’m 5’2” and not the bravest rider!
Nibeley Tranquility (Peach) An absolutely stunning mare by Treliver Decanter. Peach was an absolute pleasure to ride, so soft and gentle and with super paces. She struggled with the collecting work and after some success at the lower levels I sold her to a lovely lady who got her to the Pet Plan Nationals at medium. Peach taught me that not every horse can achieve your dreams and sometimes its better to find a more suitable home where they are happier in their work with less pressure. I don’t ever want a horse to feel forced into the higher level work, they have to want to do it or It’s no fun for me!
Tinkers Tomahawk (Tink) was one of the first ponies I had into sell that made me realise what I’m good at! Riding ponies! All the power but with the most wonderful temperament Tink went on to do International pony FEI and was very successful with his rider. I’ve never lost the love for ponies and am so grateful to him for that!
Solcum Red Dawn . A mare with a heart of gold. She came in to be sold and I ended up buying her. One of the easiest horses to train, she picked up tempi changes in a few weeks. I loved riding her as she was so safe but talented. I was made an offer I couldn’t refuse by the Hong Kong Para team and she went on to be an international Grade one para horse. I was so proud of her and thrilled she had international success.
Rascalini (Jack) was another beautiful moving expressive horse with too big an engine for me! He needed confidence from his rider at all times and was so quick to react to things I used to get whiplash!! He went on to a fabulous rider who has taken him to PSG and done a brilliant job with him. Just shows you one person’s nightmare is another person’s dream!!
Miss Ramexico (Lexi) came to me for training with her owner and I watched her progress through the levels. Always happy to work she was evented but wasn’t really brave enough so I talked her owner into selling her to me as I thought she would make a fabulous Para horse. With a walk for a 9 she was born for the job and had much success at international Grade 1 level. She was such a good para horse I decided to sell her to her rider and was so happy to see them go on to do well. I really enjoyed my time on the World Class squad with Lexi and learnt so much and met some amazing friends. She also made me realise that I’m not too old yet to have my own success and get back out there myself!
Marismeno (Mario) My first Spanish stallion imported from Spain through Sophie Gooding and oh my goodness what a joy to ride! Powerful, beautiful and so safe he was one of my favourites. He was trained to advanced but the basics needed work so we spent lots of time strengthening and working on straightness. He found the changes hard work and used to get very tense so I worked hard on the canter to improve these but sadly he just found it too hard. I don’t enjoy pushing a horse beyond what they are capable of so found the most perfect home for him. He is spoilt rotten and absolutely deserves it, I’m thrilled he can make someone s happy and he will always have a special place in my heart.
Wishaw Lord Nelson. My love for ponies struck again when I saw Nelson at one of my pole clinics with his young rider. Nelson enjoyed hunting, jumping and generally having a lot of fun with his previous owner. I couldn’t help notice his talent, his amazing hind leg and super willing attitude. I originally bought him as a project to sell on but his talent seems endless and he is now working at PSG and has qualified for the Nationals three times so far! He has scores of up to 74% at medium and has beaten his fair share of flashy warmbloods. He has taught me to be patient and kind as a trainer and that you don’t have to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds to be competitive!
Helwith Dion Blossom. My love for the welsh ponies continues with the 4 year old Dion. Currently in the process of being backed I’m hopeful he will follow in Nelsons footsteps. He has a super hind leg and an attitude to match so watch this space!