Horses Helped Me Keep My Sanity

When Kathryn White’s husband Ian died shortly after being diagnosed with a brain tumour, she turned to horses to see her through the difficult times.

- Kathryn White

Yell in his ear and kick – he’ll follow the others. These were the instructions I gave my bewildered “Yell then boyfriend, Ian, who was accompanying me on a ride out in the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors.

“Ian’s horse seemed reluctant to follow the others, who were cantering on ahead. On following my directions, he and his steed disappeared in a cloud of dust. That was the start of his love of all things equestrian, bringing fun times and creating cherished memories for both of us.

“I had been the typical horse-mad child and the obsession never left me. During school holidays, I spent most days at my local riding school, mucking out and grooming in return for free rides and lessons.

“When I was at home, I would read horse books and generally dream of one day owning my own. Ian had been brought up with sisters and a mother who rode, but tree climbing was more his thing.

“It was only after this riding experience, on our first holiday together after finishing university, that he was well and truly bitten by the riding bug.

“A few years later, on my 30th birthday, I realised my dreams when Ian (who had become my husband) bought me my first horse, Willow.

“We shared the ride on Willow for a year before Ian fell in love with Moose – the horse he rode while we were on a riding holiday in Galway, Ireland.

“Moose wasn’t quite the souvenir I had anticipated bringing home!”

A heartbreaking diagnosis

“Moose and Willow became the focus of our lives. During a visit to watch the top riders competing at Burghley Horse Trials in 2003, Ian decided that eventing was the sport for us.

“Six months later, we were signed up members of British Eventing (BE) and had entered our first one-day event, at BE90 level.