Wow! I thought I should really update my website as its looking rather dated, well I have rediscovered my blog spot and am enjoying dreaming of becoming the next famous blogger in the horse industry :-D.

Well its been a crazy few years since I wrote in here so not sure I can fit it all in! So a general update besides the updated notes on my website - I now own 2 gorgeous horses! Well, I sadly had to have my old boy, George PTS due to age. He was 24 in the end! Loved every second I had with him and owe him everything for inspiring this journey. 

I then went on to buy the beautiful Blu....I brought her on to be a very confident and brave little pony. I went on holiday and asked one of the clients if her daughter would like to ride her while I was away, they said absolutely. Whilst I was on holiday, an offer to buy her came through from said client. I was over the moon that my little pony had her very own little girl to love her. 
I was then offered Lady Valentina, a pony I had backed with her owner, due to LV needing more work as she was a little too forward for her owner. I agreed to buy the cheeky Fresian X...I had at the time broken my wrist (fell off after a jump, whoops). So LV had some time off and once I was back in the saddle - there was no stopping us! 
I had bought V to sell but I fell in love with her and couldn't part with her. So I still have Miss V and we have had such fun and she now works in the riding school to earn her keep as well as Freddies.......

So I was visiting a Church one Sunday afternoon and along came a man selling a horse - long story short I agreed to go see this horse as he said it was 17.1hh...WOW! Well I was in flip flops and remember meeting the stunning, huge, black 'orse that Summers evening. When I saw him take yet another chunk out of his owners hat, I think the obsession began. After convincing Sue to come and view him with me...we went out armed with bridles and saddles! He was a little nappy after 2 years out of work and living alone...yet I took him on trial! Then had to convince the husband I wanted him and it was an amazing deal....(que near divorce)....we now call these 2 "the kids" or "the grandkids" to my parents and in laws! 

I found out his name was not 'orse and he was known as Fred....well Fred started off as a rearer, we have cured most of that behaviour apart from when he feels misunderstood or I feed him sugarbeet! He was sold through York Horse sales and I think this may have had something to do with it! However, we have jumped 1.20m, hunted with the HBH and got into all sorts of general mischief and he fills me with confidence. I have discovered he has an issue with his poll, so we are working gently with this and he now understands how to drop his head and no one is trying to hurt him. A new anatomical bridle helped tremendously. He adores V and his new found field friend Rantan. Fred is the horse of a lifetime and I am so happy hes all mine! Miss V keeps him in line and we are a very happy horsey family.....so watch this space for more #fredspam or even the odd bit of #ponyspam

So I have some very exciting news to announce! I have taken on a new job role as Yard Manager at Burnby Equestrian Centre.
I began teaching at Burnby over the summer and began to really enjoy being there and working with both the horses and the clients. So after a discussion with the owner, Susan Bargate, we decided I should take over as Yard Manager and see what we can do with the riding school in 2016.
We re open on the 2nd April 2016 for lessons and hacking. We also have decided to hold an Open Day on the 1st April so new and old clients can come down and meet our wonderful horses and ponies and find out more about us. There will be a lot of fun things for the whole family to do, so stay tuned to find out more. Here's a sample of what we have on offer.....

TUESDAYS 
4.15pm - 4.45pm - Lead Rein/Just off the lead rein
4.45pm- 5.15pm - Beginners (Trot independently)
5.15pm - 6.15pm - Novice start canter
6.30pm - 7pm - Prelim jump
7pm - 8pm - Intermediate jump​

WEDNESDAYS
4.15pm – 6pm – Drop in sessions – Horse Care drop in sessions £10 Age 8+
6pm – 7pm - Adult hacks around a lovely private ride by arrangement (later times can be accommodated)
THURSDAYS
4.15pm – 6pm – Pony Club. This will be very popular! A chance to earn your pony club badges.
FRIDAYS
4.15pm - 4.45pm - Lead Rein/Just off the lead rein
4.45pm- 5.15pm - Beginner Off the lead rein
5.15pm - 6pm - Novice Group (Beginning to canter)
6pm - 6.45pm - Adult Group (Re start)
6.45pm - 7.30pm - Adult fun session -canter work, jumping and games!
SATURDAYS
Arena 1 - 9am - 10am - Lead rein/beginner groups (2 x 30m)
Arena 2 - 9am - 10am - Teen/Adult Group 13+
Arena 1 - 10am-11am - Off lead rein Group (2x 30m)
Arena 2 - 10am - 11am – Novice (Beginning Canter)
Arena 1 - 11am - 11.30am - Lead rein/beginner
Arena 1 - 11.30am - 12 - Tiny Tots 4 year old class
Arena 2 - 11am - 12 - Adult beginner/restart group 18+

LUNCH
12.45pm – 1.45pm – Intermediate Jump
2pm-2.30pm – Pond Hacks
2.30pm – 5pm - Adult Horse Care sessions, Pony Parties, games sessions, preparing for pony club - taster sessions. Dates to be announced. Later sessions also available by arrangement.

SUNDAYS
Events, hacks and adventures for all.


All lessons subject to change depending upon our riders progress.
Booking essential

As many of you know Tracey and I have been friends for years now and we decided it would be great if I sponsored Tracey and her horse Storm aka Crackadawn, so we could get them a little more known as a pair as well as advertise me and my business. 

Well as Tracey and Storm have progressed I have thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow together, this week has been particularly exciting as they travel to Aintree to compete in BSJA finals!!

I cannot wait to hear the results and have been giving Tracey a little advice (hope it helps) and I wish them both all the luck in the world!! My main piece of advice for competing is to think of the course as being no different to the qualifiers, remain focused and enjoy!

So we have decided mutually that Tracey can benefit more from seeking other sponsors and I can offer my business support to one of my clients, so we have decided to end our sponsorship deal. I will hopefully continue to update you on their progress as I did say they are a pair to watch and they are proving this statement!! 

It has been great fun supporting Tracey and Storm over the past few years and of course I will always continue to support them both as a friend and, if Tracey needs it, a source of advice!  

Please wish her luck if you see her about or on facebook and I will fill you in on results!!!

So on the 25th October 2015 we took Skye and Rosie to their first event. We went on to Thornton Lodge Farm's annual Halloween Hunter Trial! We entered the Novice class which was a class of 2ft 6. 

I walked the course the day before and it was a long one at 2miles! Or so I thought......

We started our day with loading perfectly, then unloaded well and gave them a while to settle down and eat some grass. Once they were ready it was Rosie's turn first....I had hoped it would be Skye first as I have been working with her longer, but oh well too late now! So we did our warm up over the practice show jump, Rosie settled well and was very calm and focused...we had none of the usual gymnastics we get at home ! All going well so far....

Then it was our turn to go, they counted us down and off we went...I decided on a steady canter...Rosie was speedy but felt like a good pace so we carried on, it was quite a way to the first fence and when we got there she had a look but I gave her a squeeze and encouraging words and we were off!! No stopping us now....I don't remember her even looking at any jumps that followed! Rosie is bold over solid fences. Even the water, straight in, out and up the steps perfectly! We even over took someone (after asking of course). We then came to a jump into a field, up a slight mound, tyres at the top, down mound, turn right and a tight double with another tight turn to make the next fence in good time....well Rosie was listening and we managed it with ease! We were flying! 
Oh and I forgot to mention at about fence 5 my neck strap came undone....but it was a Stubben stirrup leather so I held onto it all the way round! 

So we carried on through various fields, over more fences including logs. Then round by the pond....Rosie spooked at a mask (Halloween theme) and we very nearly ended up swimming as it was narrow...however we recovered and on we went. Down to the home straight where her owners were watching and cheering us on! Big smile on my face and feeling confident we pushed on over the finish line....Excellent round! So proud of her!

So after sorting Rosie out as she was a tad warm!! I grabbed a cup of tea and sorted Skye out ready for her turn...I thought an hour between was loads of time...nope, it flew by!! Oh and in this time someone had gone to watch the action with the keys to the car full of Skyes tack, slight panic but all sorted in time! 

So I get on Skye and do our warm up again....talking her through it all of course! She jumps well but I don't feel we need to do too much as we need the stamina for the course. We wander through to be counted down....couple of horses in front so we have a wait on our hands....Skye got a bit anxious but nothing too bad, understandable really! 

The count down begins and off we go....however Skye is not convinced she wants to go, so have to push her on more than Rosie....now Skye is more of a thinker than Rosie so study's her fences....which can feel unnerving on cross country...however we work well as a team and a few encouraging words and pushing her on does the trick! On we go and lovely people shouting good luck to us as we pass helped. 

We jumped a coffin in to the woods and over a step, out through a stream...well Skye didn't know what to do....jump, paddle or leap....so she decided to leap at it, land in it, splash herself and spook! Oh well still in good time so carry on to a straight with brushes (her favourite) Skye tries to jump the bigger side haha!! Little reluctant to go forward but we have a nice wobbly canter....when we got to the hedge to go back over the stream and into the water...people are walking behind the hedge and talking so Skye stops and doesn't want to go through!!! Argh! 

So I calm her down, do a small circle as she has gone on strike, then we carry on beautifully through the water, jump out up the steps and on. We take on the barrels up hill with a zig zag approach...but we got there and on we went....Skye loved the mound with tyres and the double....jumped the fence on the turn huge! Then we push on over a field and onto the next section....over a skinny, round the pond, jump final fence there and again off we go.....down the home straight and again see the owners....loads of smiles and them asking how she's going - I shout excellent! And we push on over the finish line and nearly stop in the secretaries tent! 

Well massive pats for Skye, what a star! 

I am over the moon with them both, they have both exceeded all expectations. Both were brave, trusting and agile....it was such an amazing feeling and I cannot wait for our next adventure together! I was so proud of how they behaved and the hard work has well and truly paid off! 

And following that we had the wait for the results.....I would have liked a rosette but did think its a very long shot on our first outing as well as competing in a class of 42!! 
However, we have all been bowled over by the result...Rosie only got placed!! 5th place for the clever girl!! ANd we have now got the gorgeous rosette to prove it. Skye came 11th, so with a bit more practice she'll be catching Rosie up shortly......the mission is to now get Skye her first rosette....Dressage next potentially until next season!

I have been working with Skye for 9 months now and we started out as unridden due to being a 'quirky ride' and then having sarcoids meaning a further 6 months off. Skye was quite a stressy little mare when I met her due to seeing a field companion die and had others move away.
So I began lunging before I rode her to warm her up and assess how she went, basically get to know her. We then progressed to walking with bit of trotting. Skye refused to stand still and shot forward, backed up anything to avoid me getting on (partly due to remembering being sore with sarcoids)....her owner Colin has the patience of a Saint and has stood by Skye to get her to this point with me. 
Skye now stands at the block waiting for the rider to get on and it turns out is a Cross Country Queen! 
What a super little mare.....just takes every fence on without questioning, as long as I give her confidence, she does the rest! She is also working superbly on the flat with much calmer and more collected paces. 

I am a very proud rider and very excited about taking her out to Red House Cross Country Open Day next weekend....hopefully more pictures to follow! 

Cases like this are a real highlight of my work! 

Just a quick but super exciting blog......my sponsored rider, Tracey Elcock and her wonderful horse, Crackadawn have now affiliated with British Show Jumping! 

They had their very first outing on Sunday to Port Royal where they came 2nd in the class, jumping double clear! So a massive well done to them!! 

Keep your eyes open for more outings! You may even see sponsored goodies around too.....

My long standing client Linsey Rowbury and Dylan aka Torres went out to compete in their very first Prelim Dressage Test today. Well the result was excellent with a score of 63%. Before the Prelim they did the Intro test as a warm up and the result was super with a score of 72.39% (highest yet) which left them in 3rd place out a rather large class of 13! 

So a huge congratulations is in order for both of them as they have gone from struggling with Dylan's correct canter leads to competing in Prelim tests!! Excellent work, keep it up guys !

And to top the day off my sponsored rider Tracey Elcock has been out to Port Royal this morning to compete in the BS Clear Round. Well done Tracey and lets hope you continue to have an excellent fun filled summer of competing! Such a wonderful partnership between horse and rider....watch out for Tracey Elcock and Crackadawn! 

A recent post on facebook about the interesting facts about York Riding School got me thinking back to my days in racing.....then I remembered I had a video of me riding one of my favourite horses whilst in training. So this is a video (hopefully) of me training Adare Prince out on the gallops! 

Great times and a fabulous horse who won 3 of his races. One of these races was won with the Jockey A.P McCoy.....what an honour to have ridden and trained the same horse AP McCoy rode!!

Well as I am on a snow day I thought it was about time I did a blog entry as it appears to have been rather a long time since my last one......oops! How time flies!

So the latest news here at HQ is that i am having 2 numnahs embroidered with my very own logo. I am having a blue numnah for myself and any horses I compete and my sponsored rider, Tracey Elcock is having a white numnah with the logo on for when she goes out to competitions! I will be uploading pictures as soon as I receive them. We are both very excited about these! 
I could get carried away with embroidering things.....maybe a little competition will be in order soon to cheer everyone up?!

Meanwhile in the horse world everyone is doing really well. I do keep updating facebook so those of you that have been watching will know all about the regulars. At the moment the challenge is to carry on with regardless of the weather! 

Dylan is aiming at Prelim dressage this season with Linsey. 

Harley is off to his first jumping clinic, with Harriet Morris-Baumber this weekend with Josie, then with me to an Ian Brown clinic on the 4th Feb.

Isobel is waiting to get going with work again, we just havnt had any luck with weather conditions! Last time I rode Whiz last week she went well and loosened off nicely by the end of our session so fingers crossed we can get going again this week....

Skye is doing really well and much more balanced in her canter work and flatwork in general. Enjoying working with her and her cheeky ways!

I now have Twilight and Julie on the books and must say Twilight is a lovely mare, enjoying working with her. You will be seeing Twilight out and about in the competition season as she showing promise in the showing world! Julie also runs a facebook page 'Showing Coloureds' which is full of great information and chat, why not join?!

I am still over at York Riding School teaching on Saturdays, some fantastic progression with my riders, very proud! Hoping we can get more jumping on grass underway this summer! 

I also have Joey back on the books! I worked with Joey briefly a couple of years ago now. He was sold on after being nursed back to health by a client of mine and now he has come back with his new owner who is having lessons with me. Small world! 

I also have Julie and Lily back under my radar now. Julie wants to compete Lily in dressage and jumping as she is showing a real flair so again watch this space!

Echo is currently off on horsey maternity leave so can't wait to see the new foal when he/she arrives! Maybe some showing for them too....

Generally I am keeping very busy with regular and sporadic clients alike! 

Now I really must get on with finishing my Portfolio for the BHS qualification I started and will soon be finished.....then i can move onto my Stage 3 to become an A.I.......!!!

What an exciting evening I had at Red House on Wednesday! Went up with Echo to the Jumping...we did a clear round to begin, then waited for quite some time to enter the Pre Novice class....well it was certainly worth the wait as we jumped clear and then went straight into the jump off!! We were not expecting to get through so I hadn't noticed the jump off order...oops! However Echo jumped amazingly well for her first competition! 
So we got through to the jump off and we again jumped clear in a time of 40.1....so competing against small horses was quite a challenge as Echo stands at 16.2hh. I also remembered the course! 
Then it was announced, we had come 4th!! I was over the moon (as was her owner) so we took our place in the line up...towering above the others! Then when it came to the lap of honour...Echo got stage fright and decided it was all too much after jumping so we walked calmly back to the gate while they all charged towards us!!!

Then we went up to the GG Centre in Easingwold on Friday for a spot of flatwork, practice jumping a bigger course with tighter corners and Cross Country jumps. Well Echo was just amazing! Echo's owner had been having a spot of trouble jumping her xc however we did well and managed to jump small tyres, tractor tyres, small logs, large logs...avoid sheep, jump what looked like a chicken coop and canter on towards even more big tyres! Echo just took it all in her stride...only needing the odd push! So watch this space....over the next few months we will be adventuring into new areas....! I am starting to gel with this mare.....very good jumping bloodlines are proving themselves at the moment :-D Sorry no photos yet.....!