As my parents business became stronger, it allowed them the opportunity to purchase Amber, a 13.2 grey mare which they bought from Barbara Scudamore, a staunch Cotswold Hunt supporter. Already showing my passion for greys, which has stayed with me to this day, Amber was 7 years old and absolutely gorgeous. As I had outgrown Cindy, I put all my energy into Amber. I wanted to start Pony Club Eventing and I realised that I had to learn to do Dressage, so Amber and I would learn together. Her natural head carriage was not that of a Dressage horse, but we persevered and eventually even managed to win some of the Events we entered. Amber and I also went Hunting, Hunter Trialling, Team Chasing, played Polo and Show Jumped. She was an all-round superstar and I loved her to bits. I was devastated when I outgrew her, and she too was handed down to my sister Susie.
I believe most strongly, that these little ponies, with all their different characters and foibles helped me form into the rider I am today. I learned how important it is to form a relationship, to build up a trusting partnership and to be a determined rider. At the age of eight, I already knew what I wanted to be, and that was an Event Rider.
My parents had started to search for a 14.2 replacement for Amber, and Pam Cowley, the Cotswold Pony Club District Commissioner told them about a pony she knew. Hailes Emir (Ems) was part thoroughbred and quite a lot of pony for me to handle. I rode Ems many times before a decision was made on him, and even though my parents were a little hesitant in buying him for me, they decided to take the risk. Ems was more like a little horse, and at the age of 10, I had to find other skills and ways to control him. Although quiet to handle, he was a powerful pony.
My mother was so worried about the two of us, she would follow us everywhere in case I came to grief, but gradually Ems and I began to build a relationship and it was here that I learned that pure strength was not enough to stop a pony, but something more subtle. Ems was a pony that would take me on to a different level of competition. When I was 11 years old, my parents were asked if Ems and I could go to the Pony Club Area Trials as individuals with the Cotswold Team. It was to be the biggest course I had ever ridden and even though the Team did not qualify, Ems and I did as individuals. We were on our way to the Pony Club Championships!!
The Championships were held at Weston Park and I was overwhelmed while walking the course at the sheer size of the fences. As I watched all the older children walking their lines and counting the strides, I realised that I hadn’t got a clue, but Pam Cowley gave me some good advise, “Just kick on, and you will be fine!!” I knew that Ems would look after me, and if I kept calm and remembered all I had been taught, I hoped that we would get round safely. My Dressage test went badly and with a score of 91 points, I lay in last place. However, we went clear Show Jumping and Cross Country and I finished the competition on my Dressage score. This event was a milestone in my life. I realised that if I was going to pursue with competing, I would have to put a lot of hard work into my Dressage. I also woke up to the fact that I had become a very competitive individual.
I continued taking part in all the Pony Club activities and started to take Dressage seriously. The next year, I was back at the Pony Club Area Trials, this time as part of the Cotswold Hunt Team. The Team qualified for the Championships, where Ems and I again jumped double clear with a much better Dressage score - although still not good enough to win! At 14 years of age I started entering the British Eventing Pony Trials and from my success in these I was put on the Long List and asked to attend the Final Trial at Offchurchbury. This went well and I was delighted to be selected to represent Great Britain at the European Pony Three Day Event Championships in Millstreet, Ireland. I had just had my 15th birthday and was full of excitement and hope. Even though my weakest phase was still the Dressage, we jumped a double clear and won a Team Silver Medal. I was also 10th individually. At such a relatively young age, this still holds many fantastic memories for me and my family.
