Biography
I was born in Dubai in 1982 where my father was working at the time. We moved back to Corner Farm in Hertfordshire when I was a baby, where my yard is now. I learnt to ride at a local yard after pestering my non horsey parents to let me have lessons. Being the only girl, with three older brothers, Mum would have preferred for me to carry on with dancing lessons, but it soon became clear that all I wanted was a pony!
I was a keen member of the Flamstead Pony Club, representing them in area teams. I went from ponies to horses and started eventing in 1999. I represented the Central Region at the JRN Championships the following year, then my dream of representing my country came true in 2001, when I was selected for the Young Rider Team with Fachoudette. We won team silver, and the following year, having been selected again, went one better and won team gold.
For the 2005 season, I was stable jockey for Leslie Law. The following season, having moved back to Corner Farm, Fachoudette and I won the National Under 25 Championships at Bramham. We completed our first Burghley later that year in a respectable 21st place.
In 2007, after missing Badminton due to Fachoudette having an infection in her foot, we rerouted to Luhmuhlen CCI**** where we finished on our dressage score, in 3rd place. This earned us a place on the Senior Squad for the European Championships that Autumn.
In 2008 Fachoudette and I finished our first Badminton in 10th place, with a fantastic clear cross country inside the time, one of only two to do so. Sadly after struggling with soundness issues, Fachoudette did not make it to Burghley, and was retired. However, we bred a stunning filly, Cosette, out of her by embryo transfer using Jaguar Mail.
For the 2009 season my string consisted of mainly young horses, with Orlando at the top of the pile. Together, we completed the CIC*** for 8 and 9 year olds at Blenheim. My younger horses had some good results, with North Astor Beau looking like an exciting prospect for the future.
2010 started well with good placings at Chatsworth and Houghton CIC*** on Orlando, and my first win with him in the Open Intermediate at Little Downham. I finished 5th in the CIC*** for 8 and 9 year olds at Blenheim and the young horses had a good season with a few winnings including a couple for Desperado at lower levels. On the breeding front, Fachoudette gave birth for the first time to Silhouette, a lovely filly foal again by Jaguar Mail, and her second embryo transfer by Grafenstolz was another filly foal, Alouette.
In 2011 I'm planning to take Orlando to Samaur for the CCI*** and hope that the Olympic selection team have their beady eyes on him! Roll on the next few years as I can't wait to get out competing on my very own homebreds!
