Julie Tew BSc HONS.
Julie Tew Eventing - Part of Simon Smith Group
DOB: 19th July 1974.
Nationality: British.
My parents, through their own hard work and devotion to the family, have instilled in me the ethics of dedication, commitment, and an ambition to achieve. From humble beginnings, the success of the family business has provided me with the opportunity to follow my chosen career. Each day I realise how fortunate I have been.
My love affair with horses began very early in my life. Even though years later both my parents became active riders, at that time my family did not have a horsy background. On my second birthday I was given a gift of a riding hat by my granny. This one small gesture set my life on a pathway my granny could never had imagined, and to this day, aged 95, my granny is one of my greatest supporters.
Occasional outings on the lead-rein at Upton St. Leonards Riding School while my mother hired a horse for an hour's hack, led on to regular lessons at the Badgeworth Riding Stables in Cheltenham on a pony called Sooty. When I was two and a half, on a rare half-day holiday, my father rescued a Shetland Pony from Stow Fair. We called him Bubbles. Bubbles, although an unplanned purchase, had become our first foray into horse ownership. Bubbles arrived at his new home and was let out into our extended garden, which we called ‘The Field’. Frustratingly, we couldn’t catch him for four weeks!!
Bubbles was finally caught after my mum bribed him with food, and I was duly put on board. So began my riding career. Mum and Bubbles had developed such a bond that wherever mum went, Bubbles was sure to follow. Just as I was starting to outgrow Bubbles, a chance conversation between my father and a friend resulted in me being given my next pony, Blue, an 11.2 grey gelding. After a few outings, I began to realise why Blue had been given away. Blue had a nasty habit of dropping his shoulder every time we landed after a jump, resulting in me taking many a tumble. As my younger sister Susie had taken over the task of riding Bubbles, I was forced to persevere with Blue. For all his faults I loved Blue, but eventually my parents had had enough of me falling off, and I was introduced to Cindy, another cheeky grey pony.
Cindy had suffered with back problems in the past, but as they were all hopefully mended we decided to give her a try. My parents always insisted that if I wanted to have a pony, I would have to look after it myself. I would feed, muck out her stable and put Cindy in the field all before school. After school I would rush down to see my little pony in the field, tack her up and ride her. I did this most days, no matter what the weather. Cindy brought other challenges for me. She could go very quickly in the opposite direction, which taught me the benefits of holding on tight. I started going Hunting with the Cotswold Hunt where Cindy and I were just happy following the other horses. All day I would dream of the thrill of galloping and jumping, and I could not wait for the Saturday when I could go out Hunting again. Cindy and I took part in Pony Club rallies and went to Pony Club Camp where I met many new friends who enjoyed doing the same as me!
