Biography
I have had a great passion for riding ever since I can remember. We used to live in London and whenever I had a chance I would ride in Richmond Park on a gorgeous little riding school pony called Tommy. When I was eight we moved to Surrey and I was able to pursue my riding further. We then found Sandleas Midnight Dancer (aka Midi), my first pony, and she taught me a great deal.
My next pony was Welton Jazz. I got him when I was 12, and at 14 I secured my place on the British Pony Eventing Squad. Then in Saumur, France at the FEI European Championships, Jazz and I won a team bronze medal.
As I approached 14 we found five year old Tambourine (aka Tambo). He was immature in his training, but his potential shone through and he and I just clicked. With his cheeky quirks, brave attitude and super paces I knew he would turn into something special. I took him steadily through the grades and we competed successfully in Junior classes with great results in 2007, finishing the year as the Junior National Champion!
When 2008 arrived we competed in Junior trials, Intermediates and International one stars. We were selected to represent Great Britain in the Junior European Championships, which were held in Thirlestane Castle, Scotland. Tambo and I won the individual gold medal and the team also won gold. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that I would return from the European Championships with two gold medals!
At the end of 2008 British Eventing awarded me the Hubert Allfrey Trophy at the British Eventing Ball and I have been reselected for the World Class Development Programme.
2009 was an up and down year culminating in Tambo going brilliantly to win the Junior Open Intermediate Under 21 Trial at Knaptoft. This sealed our selection for the Junior Europeans in Belgium, where I had hoped to defend my individual title. But it was not to be as Tambo injured his tendon in the field and we had to withdraw from the event. He is making a good recovery and in 2010 we will be in the Young Riders category. Although the European Championships in July may be too early in the season for him, I am hoping to run him in a 3* event when he is fully fit. I also have some lovely young horses coming through the ranks and am looking forward to competing them.