I am a retired mother of three grown up independent children all of whom rode and did Pony Club and BE. I am celebrating my 70th birthday this year in October and am on a mission to make every minute count. I am fortunate to still be enjoying my riding and competing. I now own 2 wonderful Connemaras who were ostensibly to enjoy riding on Bodmin Moor but they love to compete (as do I) so we have come out of retirement to compete BE and BRC and are having a whole heap of fun!!
Although from a completely non horsey background I was fortunate enough to ride from a very young age although never having formal lessons and on borrowed ponies until my parents bought me a 3 year old pony to ride!!!!
I came back to riding when my children were competing and I need to exercise their ponies and discovered an unrequited desire to compete!!
My competition highlights would be qualifying for and competing at Badminton Grassroots in 2011 and 2015. Coming 7th and being presented in front of Badminton House. The same horse also qualified for the British Riding Clubs Horse Trials Championships 10 years in a row.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer 22 years ago and have become a staunch advocate of self awareness and examination to aid early diagnosis and treatment.

QUESTIONS

1. Where are you based?
I live in Cornwall and having downsized, am fortunate enough to have a little cottage with a few acres where I keep my horses. I don’t have a sandschool but hack up the lane to use my daughters

2. When did your riding journey begin?
3 years old. I was obsessed with watching any horses going past our house and my dad took me to the local riding stables initially and then I went to ride an old pony called Trigger on a local farm

3. What discipline(s) do you compete in?
Pretty much anything and everything; my passion is eventing and I still adore it. But equally love any day out with my ponies

4. What has been your proudest achievement so far?

This year 2026 for several years I have been wanting to get back to BE90 competition but self doubts and anxiety have stopped me. It looks pretty big from a little Connie! I competed at 90 at the beginning of this year and although I got lost in the SJ and then completely missed out a fence on the XC Little Joe had no idea and jumped fantastically over everything I pointed him at!! The feeling of achievement afterwards was reward enough – although I am trying very hard not to repeat the errors!!

5. Tell us about your top horse!
That would Joe Knightsbridge Joe. A Connemara who is 15 now. I have had him since he was 6. He is absolutely beautiful and has a heart of gold. I got him when my last ‘proper eventer’ had semi retired and my heart was broken. He slowly but surely put me back together and now I feel we think alike and feel alike about pretty much everything (except Im not so keen on rolling in the mud as he is!!)

6. What does a typical day look like for you?
Being retired should mean I have more time; however there is plenty of ‘estate management’ in and around the cottage to keep me very busy! I start with an hour or so with the horses feeding and grooming and generally communing with them. I try to have a coaching session in one discipline or another once or twice a week. Living in Cornwall that means a fair amount of travel and I seem to spend a good deal of time in my lorry!! If its not a lesson day then a ride out with friends on the Moor or the beach would be a highlight. Alternatively I hack up the road to friends woods and fields where we can do our fast work. All in all a pretty idyllic life

7. What are your goals for the future?
Do you know by my age (70) I should have achieved them all maybe. However I have gone up a level this year to BE90 which I haven’t done since 2015. So that was my goal for 2026 – of course I don’t even want to vocalise the secret ambition to try and get back to Badminton Grassroots again but while I can I will keep on trying.

8. Do you have any top riding tips or advice?
Don’t give up!! We all go through phases of confidence and success. Its’ never linear; so keep on keeping on!!! Enjoy every minute and always try to finish on a good note.

9. Do you have any pre-competition rituals or lucky habits?
Oh goodness don’t we all? It becomes a bit of a trial by ‘lucky things’. Firstly of course nothing new can be worn for the first time in competition! I have done it and it never ends well; so I end up wearing new breeches, gloves, back protector around the house and in most inappropriate places just so they aren’t new any more.I have numerous playlists – cross country hype; dressage serenity and show jumping – should be called panic but I think its labelled concentration!!! Yes the show jumping is my least favourite phase.

10. Favourite post-ride snack or treat?
Well if I can say one of each – Ready Salted crisps and Flapjacks

11. What’s your favourite Rowen Barbary product and why?
I love the Leisure Plus feed. It has been the absolute answer to my young horse Pumpkin who was quite spicy but lacking in any real stamina. He has come on so much since starting on this feed. I can say definitely given him all the sensible energy to perform well.

QUICK FIRE ROUND ⚡
• Bay or Grey? GREY
• Mare or Gelding? GELDING
• Dressage or Showjumping? DRESSAGE
• Hacking or Flatwork? HACKING
• Matchy sets or Classic colours? CLASSIC COLOURS
• Indoor arena or Riding outside? RIDING OUTDOORS
• Tea or Coffee? COFFEE
• Sweet or Savoury? SAVOURY
• Dream horse? WALTER – LORDSHIPS GRAFFALO
• Favourite thing about competing?ADRENALINE RUSH