I learned to ride when I was at school. We used to go off on a Saturday to Radnage House Riding School, run by Miss Pat Smallwood. I started at 10 years old and instantly loved it. I helped out on the yard with lots of sweeping and tack cleaning to gain extra lessons and the chance to ride the ponies bareback to the fields more than a mile away.
My parents were not horsey; my father was a mathematician. He told me: “I don’t mind if you follow your passion with horses, but you’ve got to get a proper education first.” He died when I was 15, so I felt I must. If he was alive, I might have fought the decision.
I got hooked on riding and competing and I did it all from the riding school around going to university – I just had amazing bits of luck, and eventually a ride at Badminton.
When you work in a riding school, you learn to understand the ponies, to work with them and know how they react. I’ve found that’s something that has always stayed with me. You ride all sorts at a riding school – and learn a lot from that.
Denne historien er fra June 29, 2023-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra June 29, 2023-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Gemirande provides 24-carat magic
Venetia Williams sparkles again in the December Gold Cup and jockey brothers dead-heat
‘Happy hunting, everyone'
“The season for talks, dinners and parties has finally arrived for Tessa Waugh, whose distress about the snags of middle age fades away with some rousing festive spirits
'Monaco deserved this victory
Seemingly destined always to play the bridesmaid’s role, Harrie Smolders’ great partner Monaco finally tops an incidentpacked Rolex grand prix
'It had to end sometime'
The closure of beloved Hampshire saddlery Calcutt Sons is a loss to the hunting and wider equestrian worlds, as Octavia Pollock reports
'You couldn't want for more
The Ludlow's peaceful country makes for a day in \"hunting paradise\"
The greatest gift of all
Christmas is fast approaching and while we all like a bit of tinsel, the festive season is also a perfect time for giving to a horse charity. Niki Hinman finds out some of the options
Winter him well
A horse's winter routine can differ dramatically from his summer structure but what’s the knock-on effect? Ellie Hughes asks vets how to optimise routine management for the season
Neat feet
Excellent hoof care is a year-round concern but the winter months present their own problems. Richard Stephenson MRCVS explains the seasonal challenges afoot and how to stay one step ahead
In bygone days
Modern vets have much scientific knowledge behind them, but what about their forebears? Kieran O’Brien MRCVS opens up the world of Victorian vets in London
'When I joined the Pony Club it was just two boys and 48 girls'
Pepsi Kohler on being delightfully outnumbered by girls in the Pony Club, a leg-up from a royal and the H&H advert that changed his life
