My love for horses and horse riding began when I was five years old during a family holiday in Cornwall. We visited a Western-themed park where children could ride the 'Sheriff's' horse for a small fee. I remember the incredible feeling of sitting atop such a noble, kind, and gentle giant as he carried me across the dusty tracks of an 1800s Western fantasy.
Determined to one day own my own horse, I was content to start with fortnightly lessons at age eleven at a local RDA riding school. I continued with riding school life until I left for college at sixteen, where I discovered a passion for dressage. After college, with a wealth of equine knowledge, I was finally able to purchase my first horse, Alfie, in 2018.
Alfie, a Friesian x Warmblood, was a rising three-year-old when I bought him to compete in local dressage competitions across Norfolk. However, it wasn’t long before my first love for Western riding resurfaced, leading me to switch from dressage.
After three years of groundwork, focusing on Western principles and progressing to ridden work, Alfie and I were ready by May 2021 to attend our first Western competition – barrel racing! Having been a fan of the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) and other barrel racing events, I was thrilled to find such competitions in the UK, especially in Norfolk.
A single one-hour clinic and a fun competition were all it took for us to get hooked. Our newfound passion for barrel racing led us to train intensively, culminating in winning the 2021 National Hi-Point accumulator awarded by 4 Strides Equestrian.
Fueled by our success, we continued our dedicated training. In October 2022, we had the opportunity of a lifetime to join the 4 Strides team representing the UK in the Gold Buckle Barrel Race in Malta.
We ended our 2022 season with several achievements: 2022 National Hi-Point in Barrel Racing, 2022 Hi-Point Barrel & Pole Bending in Norfolk, Hertfordshire, and Lincoln, and being the 2022 NBHA (National Barrel Horse Association) Open Category Winner. Alfie and I are also proud to ride for Team Western Tack Trader and eagerly anticipate our 2023 Western riding adventures.
