Biography
I have ridden from an early age. At 16 I realised an ambition to join the Household Cavalry (The Life Guards). After years of hard work and dedication I was commissioned from the ranks to hold the highly prestigious and respected post of Riding Master for the Household Cavalry. In 2002 I realised another lifelong ambition to ride around Badminton. I finished clear, inside the top 20 and was the first serving officer of the British Army to compete at Badminton for 23 years. I was fortunate to compete a further three times there.
I have had a busy and varied schedule. As the Riding Master for the Household Cavalry, an all encompassing and varied role, my duties ranged from the ceremonial such as the State Opening of Parliament, to choreographing and running the world famous Household Cavalry Musical Ride, performing all over the world from the Horse of the Year Show to the frozen lake at St.Moritz.
I am also a busy event rider, a British Eventing accredited trainer and Chef d’Equipe for the British Two Star European Eventing Team which won team and individual bronze medals at the European Championships in Hungary '09. In addition I hold the BHS award of merit and was recently nominated for Queen’s Award for outstanding contribution to the equine world.
In 2009, I was honoured with a MBE which crosses the final 'T' of my army career. I was over the moon! Since retiring from the army I have embarked on a new career which involves many varied activities within the equine world including consultancy and some media work. It also entails lots of travelling! I am continuing to compete on a number of young rides and coach from novice to international level alongside this, and take small groups on safari to various locations around the world.
So far in 2011 I have been running clinics in Germany and Spain and also travelled to India at the end of March for a short documentry for The Brooke Charity . I am looking forward to the European Dressage Championships in mid-August which will be my second championships as Chef d'Equipe for the British Team after a very successful WEG in Kentucky in 2010. In August, I will resume my role as Chef d'Equipe and Coach at the 2* European Eventing Championships at Aston-le-Walls.
I have recently been appointed Associate Director of the resurrected British Military Tournament, which ran for the first time in December 2010 and proved to be a huge success, selling just over 52,000 seats! With an extra performance added it will run in the first week of December 2011. To add to the excitement, I have been nomiated for the Queen's Award this year! With so much going on there is certainly no let-up any time soon!