"My early success has been thanks to a great little horse and some luck along the way, but I am all too aware that not just one but many great horses makes a great rider. I am therefore looking to build up a strong team of horses to ride through the levels and stake my place among the world’s top event riders. Please let me introduce my current horses and owners."

UCHIN

What can I say about “Jenkins”?  He has taken me to the places of my dreams, and he is a tough, cheeky and flamboyant character.

My gran and grandpa Heather and Mike Sheppard bought him for me three years ago as a five year old from Uncle Tim, who is still complaining he was robbed!! A Dutch bred gelding, he has the movement to put us in the top five after dressage and the jumping ability to finish there. 

He had only done a little show jumping when he came over, so we have learnt the ropes together, along with all the ups and downs that come with the journey to the top of the game.

RAPHAEL II

Raph is an incredibly talented, scopey young Dutch horse owned by Vanessa Watson, and supported by Ann Butler.  He is a big, loose six year old and we have competed him fairly lightly this year to allow him to mature physically and mentally.

  He has had a good season at novice, and finished off the season in fantastic style at Aldon when we finished fifth in his first Intermediate.

I have high hopes for him and think he has the ability to go all the way to 4* level, if luck stays with us. Vanessa is a great person to have as an owner; she is delighted when things go well but philosophical if our luck turns.  She loves helping me choose my trot up outfits, and makes a fantastic pate!

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ZAKIRA

Luck was on my side, as we found not one but three fantastic ladies who I have known for a long time, and who wanted to give me the chance to consolidate my prospects by increasing my horses to compete. 

They are Catherine Britton, Jane Branch and Sarah Hoy, and I think Auntie Toni has persuaded them to make their syndicate name the Desperate Housewives!  

Zakira is stunning to look at, brave as a lion and totally unfazed by anything that is thrown at her.  She did a few BE100 outings at the end of the season to test the waters with her, and she is looking like a class act.

ZUMANDA

When we started doing a little with her, it soon became obvious she ticked all the boxes for an event horse, and I delighted when a lovely lady called Pam Marriott, who already has a horse at livery at our yard,  offered to buy her to add to my string. 

We threw her in at the deep end by giving her a couple of runs, and although she had little idea what it was all about, she took it all in her stride without batting her pretty little eyelashes!  She is bold and careful, with a down to earth attitude, and will do the flashiest test when she is fully mature.