MY STORY

The journey that shaped H L Equestrian

I don’t remember a time when horse’s weren’t apart of my life. Long before I knew what riding meant, I knew I wanted to spend every spare minute in the paddock.

My parents bought me my first pony, lovey, a tiny brown shetland with the biggest personality and the kindest heart.

She introduced me to everything horses had to offer, from pony club and trail rides to endless cuddles in the paddock. She patiently looked after a little girl who simply couldn’t get enough of horses.

Looking back now, she wasn’t just my first pony. She was the reason this lifelong passion began.

A girl in a maroon jacket and beige pants standing next to a small brown horse with a saddle and bridle, near a green and gray trailer and a blue vehicle in the background.
A young girl hugging a small black pony outdoors on dry grass with a yellow bucket nearby.
Child riding a small brown pony with a blue balloon attached to its saddle at an outdoor event.

My Second Horse

Two children riding ponies face-to-face, smiling, with a dog at their feet and greenery in the background.

With regular coaching and countless hours in the saddle, I slowly learnt that progress isn’t about finding the perfect horse, rather it’s about learning how to work through challenges together.

Looking back those years shaped the horsewoman I am today.

Girl riding a light gray horse in an outdoor riding arena, wearing a white helmet and navy jacket.

My Third Horse - The Off the Track Thoroughbred

A woman standing next to a brown horse on a dirt ground under a blue sky, with a vehicle and trees in the background.

When I moved the boarding school I was fortunate enough to take my horse with me. That was when my off-the-track thoroughbred came into my life.

Matt stood around 16.3hh and, to me, he was everything I’d dreamed of owning. Like many OTTBs he was athletic, sensitive and green, together we learnt almost everything the hard way.

We started small. Jumps built from chemical drums and tyres in the backyard, galloping around paddocks, riding without stirrups or bareback to improve my seat and endless trial and error.

Eventually I stepped into dressage, showjumping, eventing, pony clubs, clinics, saying yes to every opportunity to learn.

I wasn’t chasing ribbons or winnings, I was chasing knowledge.

Young woman in equestrian attire riding a dark horse on a grassy field, wearing a helmet and gloves, with trees and vehicles in the background under a cloudy sky.

My second horse was a beautiful grey welsh pony who taught me lessons no quiet schoolmaster ever could.

He was clever, opinionated and incredibly challenging. Pony club, competitions and everyday riding weren’t always easy, but every setback pushed me to become more patient and determined rider.

A person dressed in equestrian attire riding a dark brown horse in a grassy field with trees in the background.
A woman wearing a helmet and riding clothes sitting on a horse in a grassy field with a few trees and a clear blue sky in the background.
A rider on a dark horse jumping over a red and white obstacle during an equestrian event, set in a grassy field with trees and cloudy sky in the background.

Why H L Equestrian Exists

Looking back, I realise it wasn’t the competitions that shaped me the most. It was the mistakes. The horses that challenged me.

The moments when things didn’t go to plan.

Those experiences taught me empathy, patience and the importance of building confidence, in both horse and rider.

That philosophy is what H L Equestrian is built on today.

My goal isn’t simply to teach people how to ride. It’s to help riders understand their horses, build genuine partnerships and develop the confidence to enjoy every ride, whether they are aiming for their first dressage test, training their young horse, looking to advance through the competition ranks or simply wanting to feel safe in the saddle.

GET IN TOUCH

Today I am still learning everyday. Every horse I train and ride, to every rider I coach, it teaches me something new. I’d love to help you and your horse write the next chapter of your journey.