Biography
I have ridden for the whole of my life, mainly hunting at the beginning and then showing hunter ponies. At the age of 11, I was lent a great young pony on whom I started eventing and eventually did pony trials. That was when I started to think that I would like to make a career out of the sport. Since then, despite being at school and then university, I have continued to event. My best results so far, have been winning the Gatcombe CIC** with Plantagenet of Rushall and being placed at my first CCI*** at Blenheim with my home produced horse Bruce Rock.
During my Spanish and Business degree I went out to Madrid and did a season with flat trainer Jose Simo. The experience gave me a real taste of the racing world and what a great industry it is. Riding the yearlings certainly gave me the stickability needed across country.
I also spent a season working and riding for Andrew and Bettina Hoy, from whom I learnt a huge amount about not only riding but also stable management. The time I spent there was very hard work but absolutely invaluable.
In 2008, I almost got to compete at Badminton where I was wait-listed with my then top horse Bruce Rock. Sadly, he has now been retired due to injury. I had two main horses, Fergal's Flight who upgraded to Advanced in '08 and competed at 2*, and Boonool, a 3* horse. Notable results in 2008 included a top 10 placing at Thirlestane 3* with Boonool and two great runs at Barbury Castle including 6th place with Boonool in the 2* and an amazing round on Beanie Sturgis's top horse, Monarch's Rock, in the 3* (I had the ride while she was expecting a baby). I hunted all through the winter and rode out for racehorse trainers as well.
In 2009 I had a steady year eventing. Boonool, my advanced ride went well and was consistently clear across country bar being beaten up by the crocodile in the water at Longleat! Double Centenary kept up his record of 100% clear cross country at his baby events, and is now on the transfer list due to my change of career direction. Fergals Flight was also a good boy last year, starting with a bang winning the OI at Gatcombe and upgrading to advanced. He was ultra professional and I hope will be the same for a different pilot in 2010.
I have decided that very sadly I have to change direction; my accounts were looking a bit bleak and having only three eventers to ride for the forthcoming season I decided it wasn't enough, and since I most definitely can't buy a horse myself, I am off to work for someone else. Having spent most of last year riding and breaking racehorses I have decided that maybe that is the way forward and am off to Chantilly in France to work for the very successful trainer Alain de Royer Dupre, where I am really looking forward to learning as much as possible (and potentially a bit of French too!). He has some fabulous horses, notably Siyouni and Rosanara, both Classics contenders for this coming season so it should be exciting times.
I will be very sad not to be eventing in 2010, but it just wasn't feasible to do my own thing. But who knows what will happen in the future?!