Riding Disciplines
Eventing
Coach
Blyth Tait, Haydee Wells, Lucinda Green and Lizzie Green.
Breed
Horses mainly warmblood, but me well I'm actually nationality-based Irish and Kiwi.
Name the most influential person in your riding career and why?
Blyth Tait, a true legend and someone I looked up to when I was younger. My first lesson with him was when I was 7 years old with my 12hh pony and I got him to sign my saddle pad which I still have today. But since he's been back in NZ he has become my mentor a great friend. The knowledge around training horses and riding from Blyth I have gained is invaluable, he puts a lot of time and effort into my riding and my horses, of which I will forever be grateful. I still have to pinch myself sometimes when I realise my coach, mentor and friend is Blyth Tait! I would also like to mention my Mum and Dad, Mum rode when I was young and introduced me to riding and Dad has an elite sportsman background, they are both hugely supportive and amazing role models.
Describe your riding history
I have been riding since I could stand up! Went to my first event at 2 years old, and have been eventing since I was 7 years old. Coming through the pony club system competing in 4 Pony Club eventing championships, dressage champs, showjumping champs and being lucky enough to win many trophies at these. I have competed in Pony Grand Prix, Young Rider and Pro-Am show jumping. Out eventing, I have competed at 4* level and when I was younger I even gave games a go.
Special highlight(s) in your riding career
Competing and completing my first 4*, Competing in my first young rider and coming 6th, captaining the winning team at pony club eventing champs, 6th Horse of the Year 3* and have the first horse I produced from a 3-year-old going around her first 2* recently as a 7yo.
What are your ambitions?
My goals are to compete at the Olympics, World Equestrian Games and the five 5* events around the world.
Have you trained or coached any riders who have had success?
I train younger riders in our area and do mental skills and goal setting with them. Most of them compete 2/3x a month and place at almost every event. But the biggest achievement is seeing them work really hard to achieve their goals.
Special care and management considerations of your horse(s)
Our horses are yarded every night, they have a solarium every morning before their ridden, rebuild after their rides and during the season have bodywork every 2 weeks, the osteo every month and an activo med rug to keep them feeling their best. They also utilise the benefits of Incrediwear by wearing hoof socks every day to increase circulation and lymphatic drainage to ensure tip-top recovery 24/7.
Which Pryde’s feeds do you use and why do you like them?
Our horses use, EasiGgoing, EasiSport, EasiResponse and rebuild. EasiGoing has made a massive difference to the horses we have that find it hard to process grain and have sensitive stomachs, we used to deal with mild colic problems every few months, now with EasiSport they're happy healthier and the mild colic episodes have gone, plus the green colour is kind of cool. EasiGoing is an amazing feed for my horses who certainly have enough go and are looking for the nutrients required to perform minus the crazy, my ready to go mares find this feed an integral part of their daily life to looking shiny and strong, whilst feeling good. EasiResponse has been a fantastic feed for my top-level horses competing 3 and 4* where they need that extra pep and nutrients to keep them in top form, as my 4* boys are more chill than fizz, I find this gives them the energy and essentials required without needing to feed massive amounts. Rebuild is my favourite favourite product, these little magical pellets build muscle whilst they're sleeping (literally), rebuild provides all the horses the ability to get the protein and nutrients they need to recover faster, build stronger muscles, look incredible and feel even better.