Ivanhoe Equestrian

My earliest memory of riding a horse was sitting sideways on my grandparents carthorse at the age of three - since then horses have always been a major feature in my life, and over the years I have competed in most equestrian disciplines from point-to-point racing to showjumping at HOYS. I spent many years as a Chartered Accountant before following a lifelong dream to run my own yard.

My particular passion is coaching riders who lack confidence or are hampered by nerves. I have always had a keen interest in dressage and I encourage all my clients to educate themselves and their horses in a tradtional, classical manner.

I am the proud owner of a 5 year old Connemara mare "Princess Rogaire", imported from Ireland last summer and whom we have already qualified for the NPS Hirstmund Stud Pure Novice and the NPS Firle Stud Novice finals at the Spring Festival in April. Emma has also been hunting her with the Readyfield bloodhounds and I hope to compete her in dressage in the future.

     

Having grown up at Ivanhoe it was of course inevitable that I should end up working here! I graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in French, and then spent time working on other competition yards and riding schools both in France and England, before returning to Ivanhoe to work full time as Yard Manager.

Alongside the riding school work I take in full, breaking and schooling liveries, with a particular emphasis on the reschooling of racehorses. I compete regularly in affiliated dressage and showing on my own retrained racehorses. In 2012 I will be focusing on my two novices, Lord Fidelio and Kirkum, who were both bought straight out of racing in 2011.

I am also a panel judge for Ponies UK, BSPS and the Veteran Horse Society.

               
Pictured: Milenka owned by Lady M Holmes, and Persian Bandit owned by Emma Lebutt