1. How old were you when you started riding, who introduced you to riding and which was the horse?
I was a bit of late starter at 13, I had a pony called Raffles, I just started because my friends all did it and I thought it looked easy…..little did I know!
2. Which other equestrian discipline do you most like to watch?
Definitely Show Jumping, I could watch it all day, especially fun classes like the Puissance.
3. How do you choose the music for your Express Eventing performances?
I get someone to video me, and then send it to a professional with some ideas of what I think would suit the horse; I also am a fan of current music.
4. Do you think horses enjoy music? How can you tell?
Definitely, every time I practice, Sonic gets excited and starts flying around spooking at things; that could also have something to do with extended canter being one of my first moves!
5. Which of your horses is your current favourite and why?
Sonic Boom, mainly because he’s homebred. I’ve ridden him for so long, it’s like putting on an old pair of comfy boots on when I ride him, and we know each other inside out, the good and the ugly!
6. Do you reward your horses for a good performance and, if so, how?
Sonic tends to get bribed more than treats. He gets a bit of a dry mouth, so polo’s are always on hand before a big performance, and then he tends to finish the packet afterwards.
7. What has been the highlight of your career to date and why?
I won a CCI1* a few years ago, winning is always difficult and it was my first big win on a horse that wasn’t the easiest on the flat, I always look back with proud memories from it.
8. What was your favourite subject at school and why?
The bus ride home….. School was not my favourite subject, but I am a secret math geek, but that happened later on in life.
9. If you weren’t a professional rider what would you like to do?
A Chef, I love cooking for people when I have time to be creative.
10. What would you most like to win that you haven’t already?
Something big, not necessarily height wise, just something prestigious, like Bolesworth!
11. Where would you go and what would you do for your perfect weekend?
Probably just a family weekend in Norfolk or by the sea, just having lazy meals by the fire and walks on the beach and lots of sleep.
12. Name a young rider and/or horse to watch for in the future. What makes them special?
There are a lot of both around at the moment; I think Emily King is definitely one to watch for the future along with Ludwig Svennerstal, he has a really good string of horses behind him. Both of them come from very horsey families which helps a lot when you are young.
13. Which horse would you most like to have had the opportunity to compete on and why?
Avebury, he looks so effortless in victory, Andrew Nicholson makes him look so easy.
14. Do you have any pets at home? If so, what?
I had peacocks and cats, but they have been running away of recent, I have managed to keep hold of my dog and eight chickens, who also follow me around like the dog!
15. What’s your favourite meal – and can you cook it?
Anything with Yorkshire pudding. Of course I can cook it, packet yorkies are no substitute.
16. Do you have any lucky charms or superstitions? If so what?
Not really, but people who have watched me get ready say that I always do it in the same order and if I’m riding more than one horse, I like to wear all the numbers in my bib until that horse has finished.
17. What’s your favourite city in the world and why?
Las Vegas, it’s so much fun, it’s like an adult theme park