Like many eventers, I come from a horsey family. My early riding experience was based more on the practical rather than the competitive side of things and consisted of exercising the quiet racehorses for my mum at age 8 and foxhunting throughout the season on various ponies.
It wasn't until a chance entry into Oberon one day event that I caught the eventing bug. I went to boarding school during the week, which made riding hard but I had as many lessons as I could with Fiona Hughes and spent my summer holidays as a working pupil for Sharmayne Spencer. They are both great coaches who have helped me immensely in my riding.
After leaving school I worked in horse stables in Germany and Ireland before returning home to start my university degree. It was during this period that I started to take my riding more seriously attending regular dressage lessons with Ann Slatford and jumping lessons with Colleen Brook.
Currently I train my eventers from a picturesque farm 20 minutes from Sydney International Equestrian Centre and attend Uni (occasionally), where I am doing a bachelor of political economic and social science. I’m sure the politics will come in handy with eventing one day!
On top of this I also take on horses for training, breaking and spelling. I coach at clinics and enjoy commentating at events and then there is the work I do as a bid spotter at the Magic Millions yearling sales. Despite all this I am really focused on getting the best out of my horses, especially Barrel of Fun, who was bred by my step father as a fox hunting lead pony, but is now a 3* eventer. This year I am looking to compete him at Adelaide 4* and to produce the young Irish sport horses at home as future eventing stars.
I am very grateful to my sponsors who include Thinline- Performance saddle pads, Southern Stars Saddlery and Top 2 Tail Equestrian
My achievements to date include being a member of the NSWIS Emerging talent squad in 2010/2011 and this year I am on the National young rider squad 2011/2012. So far this years my results have included a 7th placing at Scone CNC 3* and 4th at SIEC CNC 2*.
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