Personal Biography
Horses & Riding In My Life
My involvement with horses started on a Sunday afternoon when my mother drove into a rather elegant looking driveway in Clevedon. She stopped to ask whether the owners would give her daughters riding lessons, despite the fact that there was no signage to illustrate that they did such a thing. As it turned out, Susan Humphries, who was working with John Cottle at this beautiful facility, agreed to teach us and we have gone on from there. I don't think my mother ever envisioned that both her girls would aspire to gain a career out of the passion she was about to introduce us to, but here we are.
I was fortunate enough to be bought my first pony at 9 years old. It was too big, too experienced and took great delight in bucking me off every lesson I had with Susan. Although this was not a brilliant start for learning to ride, I have always been able to take a fall rather well, although thankfully I try to keep it to a minimum now. Although we persevered for some time, Christmas, (the grey pony) and I eventually parted company permanently and I'm sure he went on to do great things with a far bigger and more experienced rider. He could, and loved to, jump the moon. Unfortunately after this initial start, Susan moved away from John's, and we could no longer take lessons from her. Mum in her wisdom, sought out more tuition from a place in Coatesville called 'Fruit Fields'. The resident instructor, Francis Swan, had recently returned from England where she had gained all her BHS instruction certificates as well as a vast amount of experience there over several years. Again we were very fortunate to have such a fantastic mentor for those formative years and went on from 2 years of riding lessons every weekend with her, to joining Mangere Pony Club in 1992, with one of Frances's personal ponies in tow.
Folly was an Appaloosa/Quarter Horse/Arab mare, Folly by name, Folly by nature. Unfortunately my Dad didn't see the irony in the name until after she had bolted dangerously with my sister on their first ride out at pony club and thrown her into a gate instead of jumping it as Julia had assumed she would do, (another moon jumper). Credit where credits due, my sister sat like glue on her stead going flat gallop until that final moment. She never rode Folly again and the pony and I went on to form a rather healthy mutual respect for one another. If you have, as I'm sure you have had, the initial experience of horses like we did, you learn a great deal from your mistakes. Folly and I eventually got on a roll and competed in Eventing to training level. The jumping was never an issue but you shouldn't Event a pony that hates dressage and water jumps. Another valuable lesson learnt. Look at what the pony and the rider loves, and go with that, don't do Eventing because everyone else is doing it. Unfortunately it wasn't fashionable to do straight show jumping back then, Blyth Tait, Mark Todd and Vaughn Jefferies were the ones to be emulated by every Pony Club child. Bless that pony, we had some wonderful times together.
Hacks were the next step in any young teenagers equestrian career and my Dad had seen the perfect one for me to move onto, advertised by the owners of what was The Tackroom in East Tamaki. Baileys Irish was a 15.2hh chestnut thoroughbred mare who had what we believed to be wonderful dressage, had competed at Novice HT with placings and was irresistible. Anyone reading this would think that that description would be a recipe for disaster but despite bad feet this horse is the kindest and bravest I have ever known. Bubs and I went on to do more competing up to open pony club level with varying success. I had her for 16 years and unfortunately she passed away on my Dads property in Patumahoe in April 2009. I still have a tear in my eye when I write about her, she was one special animal who gave me some wonderful memories and taught me some wonderful lessons which I still learn from to this day.
Chip is a 15.3hh percheron, stationbred pinto gelding. He was 5 rising 6 when I bought him 5 years ago and had some seriously big boots to fill and he knew it. Originally purchased as a 'flick on' for hunting we didn't get on for the first 3 months. That's actually a lie, we got on but there was no real love. He was arrogant and distant, I was indifferent towards him. Bubs was still alive but more or less retired when we came on the scene and he didn't like being second string. Once he became top dog their was no way I could bring myself to sell him. He has also thought me valuable lessons and we have certainly had our share of hero to zero moments but he is my pride and joy now. One of the most valuable lessons I have learnt has been that I love taking lessons and now dislike competition. I am a competitive person by nature but my love for horses is only hampered when competition becomes a factor. I love to learn with and about them all the time which is what has led me to my training in saddle fitting.