My name is Sophie Isaacs and I am a 24y/o dressage rider based in the North. Unusually, I come from a non-horsey background so despite having ridden on and off for most of my life, it wasn’t until I was 15 that I was allowed to get my first horse. It was a very steep learning curve in the early days and there were many lessons I had to ‘learn the hard way’ with not having knowledgable horsey parents to help me, but they have been incredibly supportive in every other way they could be and I’m proud that where I am today has come from hard work and determination. I haven’t always been a ‘dressage diva’, I used to hate it actually, but horse power and opportunities have dictated the path I took and now I believe I get more satisfaction and enjoyment from the dressage game than I did any of the other disciplines. I love to take my time developing a relationship with the horses I ride and feel that I know them inside out. I’ve been very lucky with the 4 ‘project ponies’ I’ve bought and produced over the last 10 years with two trips to Badminton Grassroots, Blair Scottish grassroots, BS and PC show jumping up to 1.10, 6 area festival and 6 regional BD titles, and trips to the BD Summer and Winter nationals every time trying. My two current competition horses are Hugo who I own, and Molly who I have on loan. I do also school and compete horses for owners. I also own Diva (21y/o) and Duffy (13y/o) who are both on loan to friends

1. Where are you based? I am currently based in Durham having made the move recently from Northumberland. I actually keep my horses in livery and work on a freelance basis, but am actively searching for a yard to call ‘home’

2. When did your riding journey begin? I was 3 when I first sat on a pony at our local riding school where we lived at the time. I was (and still am) a very animal orientated child and mum said it was just the obvious thing to do. I had lessons on and off over the years at various centres when I had saved enough pocket money, and then when I was 13 I was allowed to have a loan pony. The legend that was ‘Snowball’ a piebald gypsy cob, who taught many many people to ride over the years. I do believe he was what truly gave me the horsey bug.

3. What discipline(s) do you compete in? British Dressage, I very much prefer to keep feet on the floor for the most of the time these days thought might have a jump for fun from time to time

4. What has been your proudest achievement so far? I’m very proud of the journey I have been on with Hugo. I have owned him just over 4 years and in that time we have progressed form prelim to just about to do our first PSG. This is the furthest I’ve produced a horse and also the highest level I’ve ridden to so it’s very much been a case of learning as I go.

5. Tell us about your top horse! Hugo is a 10 y/o Hanoverian gelding who I’ve owned for just over 4 years. He was fairly sharp as a youngster and I actually started riding him on a freelance basis to bring him back into work after his previous owner had had a nasty accident off him and broken her wrist. I really liked him straight away but never imagined I would one day have the change to buy him. At the time I was still very much in my eventing era and I hadn’t ridden above a novice dressage test, so it seemed like a fairly rogue move, but I have no regrets. I am a big believer in fate and I do think we were just meant to find each other. I certainly wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today without Hugo and the experience he has given me. He can still have his slightly ‘special’ moments and the odd spook, but he really is the most gorgeous horse to be around with a mega trainable attitude. Once upon a time I couldn’t have imagined riding him in some of the arenas and atmospheres we have been in, but I think that all comes down to the partnership we have formed over the years.

6. What does a typical day look like for you? On a typical day I ride anything up to 11 horses. It varies slightly as I work on a bigger dressage yard a couple of days a week, a smaller breeders yard a day a week, and fill the rest of my time with other freelance rides on private and smaller livery yards. I certainly get a good variety of horses to ride with some more established dressage horses, some younger ones just starting out, and the odd eventer and hunter thrown in for good measure. I really enjoy it although do look forward to the day where I can do a bit less driving.

7. What are your goals for the future? Shorter term, I aim to hopefully do my first PSG in the next couple of weeks. Medium term, I hope it isn’t too long until I find my own yard from which I can operate. Long term, I’d love to compete on an International team (no pressure at all!!!)

8. Do you have any top riding tips or advice? Honestly, the biggest thing I’ve learnt is good things come to those who work hard and wait. When I was younger I was always in such a rush to do this, do that, get to that show, qualify for this. And then horses happen, they lose a shoe, they pick up an injury, they get an abscess, your transport breaks down, you get injured yourself. And suddenly everything grinds to a halt and the FOMO starts to kick in. But like I said before I’m a big believer in fait, and if it’s meant to happen it will. I’m well aware there are children half my age doing what I’m doing and probably better, on horses and ponies that have probably already done it all before, and it sucks because that was an opportunity I never got. But instead I've had the opportunity to learn to do all these things first hand, got the experience of producing my own, and have learnt lessons for life doing it. And that is valuable!

9. Do you have any pre-competition rituals or lucky habits? I take great pride in doing all my own show prep, partly because I’ve always had to, partly because I like to know its been done the way I do it, and now its just become the normal routine that helps get me in the zone. I also always have a schedule written out in my phone notes for show days with everything from feeding the horses, plaiting up, getting changed and my warm up timings planned out to the minute. It helps us all to have a quick reference of where we need to be when and helps keep my mind on remembering the tests if I’m not having to work out my timings every 5 minutes. I also never look at the scores until after I have done my test,

10. Favourite post-ride snack or treat? Ooo I’m a sucker for M&S rainbow fruit kebabs!

11. What’s your favourite Rowen Barbary product and why? We love Sumo. The horses always look amazing on their respective Rowen Barbary feeds alone, but Sumo is just like that cherry on the cake adding that final bit of shine and glow.

QUICK FIRE ROUND ⚡ • Bay or Grey? Bay, but I have to say every grey horse I’ve ridden is a legend! • Mare or Gelding? Oooo tough, I love both but when you get a mare on side there’s nothing like it! • Dressage or Showjumping? DRESSAGE! • Hacking or Flatwork? How could you do this to me?! Naturally I guess flatwork but my horses and I enjoy a lot of hacking too • Matchy sets or Classic colours? Again, how could you ask a dressage rider that?! I’d say typically classic colours but occasionally I will spice it up • Indoor arena or Riding outside? Right now outside, maybe not in 6 months! • Tea or Coffee? Coffee • Sweet or Savoury? Savoury • Dream horse? The ones I’ve got..of course! • Favourite thing about competing? I like the process of training horses, and then testing the training in the ring. Getting the feedback, going home and making adjustments, and going again.