I have had horses and ponies in my life since 1972.
I was inspired and in awe of the first ever visit to the UK of the Canadian Mounted Police. They were performing and the Edinburgh Tattoo which I happened to visit at that time. I couldn’t wait to get back home to try the art of riding at my local stables. It wasn’t until I went to boarding school that I had the chance to become competitive riding at local shows. After that I temporarily worked for the field master at Morpeth Hunt and was introduced to his race horses as well as hunting. After a spell of broadening my horizons working in the middle east. I came back to North Yorkshire, where I was fortunate enough to have my very first pony.
I went on to learn a bit more by working at a riding academy in Scotland. I also got an invitation to ride with the officers at Sandhurst Millitary School. There I had a private tour inside where the “white” horse rides through the building for passing out parades and saw princess Annes stables during her earlyeventing years. I have since been able to ride horses on the Duke of Beauforts land and driven horses at the world famous Cadre Noir in Samur, France. My first love is still racing, though I have not done this competitively
I have hunted with the Middleton hunt and an active supporter of the Staintondale hunt. My daughter became a member of the pony club and has educated baby horses many times with them. I have competed in show jumping at local level. Showing at national level taking ponies to the Horse of the year Show and the Royal International Horse Show. I have also driven them in Private Driving classes with my own 1919 cut under gig and won many competitions. My daughter and I now do affiliated dressage qualifying for the Northern Regional Finals and came 6th in the Pet Plan Finals at Arena UK.
On my travels I have been privileged to meet Olympic riders and race horse trainers.
I am also interested in various breeds and breeding stud lines in racing, showing and dressage. I love the history of various bits, bridles and saddles and the different types of leathers and how they have all evolved and function.
I do judging on behalf of various pony clubs. Passing on my knowledge and keeping in the loop by stewarding for various big shows for the Royal International Horse Show qualifiers and Horse of the Year Show Qualifiers all around the country. I have requests for stewarding at horse trials, point to points and sport horse breeding shows. I own horses of my own and after 40 plus years with them in my life I am still learning, enjoying and passionate as ever. They have and still do give me plenty of surprises.
I have given talks to:
- Yorkshire Federation of Complimentary Therapies
- Conservative club
- Liberal club
I have also been in local newspapers and magazines. I have also written in-house articles in the past and been interviewed by a representative of the American branch of the RSPCA equivalent from San Fransisco for the American appetite.
To date I have studied
- physiology
- metaphysics
- religious studies and philosophy
- aromatherapy
- Swedish massage
- acupressure.
I attend:
- mind, body and soul seminars
- clinics in horse breeding
- nutrition
- riding
In-between all of these I find a little time to compete with my own horses.