Team Toy....

No amateur or professional rider can seriously compete without extra pairs of hands and I am incredibly lucky that I have such a lovely group of people who are an enormous help.

 

My Mum has always loved horses but never had the opportunity to have her own. She started riding properly when we were looking for a horse to buy and been hooked ever since. Dad encouraged my love of horses as a child and we often went to the races. The plan was for Dad to drive and pull the trailer to events but unfortunately Teller had other ideas and would much rather travel in a lorry. Now, my Mum and Dad live about 4 hours away in Devon but they regularly drive up the motorway to watch me compete.


They are both incredibly supportive and share every high and every low. They can be found at events half way round the XC course cheering me on!
 

My long suffering boyfriend, Mike (aka Hicksy) is not from a horsey family so I think the equestrian way of life came as a bit of a shock to him. He has just about got used to my busy, overly organised schedule and has learnt a huge amount about horses along the way. A keen rugby player, he is very good at sports psychology and can often be over heard giving me a pre-show jumping pep talk. He can be found at events helping in the show jumping warm up or near the burger van!

 

Lynne and Connie are a mother-daughter partnership who have horses on the same livery yard as me. About a year ago I was hiring a little 3.5t lorry and driving myself to events, Lynne volunteered and said she would happily drive the yard lorry for me and since then has been invaluable. She has mastered driving an old and sometimes stubborn lorry with ease and never once have I worried about the precious cargo. She has a busy full time job, her own family and 3 horses but on top of all that, Lynne is enthusiastic and always willing to help. She can be found at events supplying a fantastic picnic and taking lots of photos.

Connie, Lynne's daughter, has come along to events to groom for me when she is home from university. Always one step ahead with the next piece of tack or brushing Toy until he shines, she is a brilliant addition to the team, hopefully one day I can return the favour. She can be found at events walking the course and with a constant supply of cake!

 

Our livery yard owner, Anne, is on first impressions a tough cookie but she has a soft spot for horses and I could not keep Toy without her. When I am at work she brings Toy in from the field and luckily doesn't stand for any of his nonsense. My search for a horse took about 10 months and 5 failed vettings, at the point when I had given up hope Anne suggested I went to see Toy. I would not have continued the search if Anne had not been there to encourage me and I certainly wouldn't have ended up with such a lovely horse. Not one to give praise easily, I know I have done well when she gives Toy a mint!

 

I have been having lessons with my trainer David Britnell since I bought Toy. He is a wealth of knowledge and has been a huge help. He puts up with my grumpy, stubborn and impatient ways
and I would not have had the confidence to compete without his encouragement. He is always keen to know how I got on after events and is the first to send a good luck text.

I have recently started having dressage lessons with Ann Bostock, she has an eye for detail and takes no prisoners but that can only be good thing. It is early days but I have a feeling she will become a regular addition to our training and will hopefully help us to achieve great things in the future.

 

Last but by no means least, our dog Hamilton has become our Team Toy mascot. He is a typical Staffie and loves to lie in the sunshine. Not so keen on the cold weather and mud I think its a good thing that eventing is a summer sport. He hates travelling in the lorry but once at events he can be found asleep or rolling in the grass.

 



Team Toy at BD Regionals 2014