I have been around horses since a young age but didn't start to ride until I was 9 yrs old and was 11 when I got my first pony Flicka. Flicka wasn't an easy pony and I spent the best part of the first six months on the floor. Once a relationship had been established Flicka and I became quite a team. This is when I caught the competitive bug that was to remain until my own children took up competitive riding. When I went to join the army at the age of 17 what I really wanted to do was join the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery. Unfortunately the local recruiting office in Yorkshire where pushing for the regional regiment 4 /7 Royal Dragoon Guards which was a tank regiment based in Germany. I became a full crewman on tanks, but the draw of the regimental stables was too much and I ended up being a groom at the Rhine Army Polo Association (RAPPA), this led me to joining the Household Cavalry where I became a Military riding instructor. Whilst I was in the Household Cavalry I evented and show-jumped and was part of the Riding Staff, a team of instructors responsible for starting and training the young horses that came from Ireland every year to become part of the ceremonial team.