For as long as I can remember I have been passionate about horses in every way and began my riding career at five years of age.

All I ever wanted to do was to ride and my parents, who were initially not particularly horse people at that time, decided early on it was easier to give their blessing and support rather than try to dissuade me from my childhood love and what was ultimately to become my career. I am very thankful to them.

As a child I took twice weekly lessons at an accredited riding school in Dublin, Ireland where both of my Instructors were qualified BHSAI. (British Horse Society Accredited Instructors).

I was given my first pony at nine years of age and for the following three years I was a member of the Bray Pony Club near Dublin. During this time, I attended riding camps, hunter trials, show jumping days and gymkhanas where I attained my D and C Pony club certificates.

In 1974, at the age of twelve, I moved to Australia with my parents where I joined the Dandenong Ranges Pony Club.

I competed in Grade 3 and C Grade on a young horse “Mr Bo jangles” who was never going to be the superstar I dreamed of.

Some time later I found my superstar “Raphael”, and at the age of fifteen I transferred to Doongala Pony Club, at The Basin where I progressed to compete at Grade 1 and A Grade. There, I attained my K and B pony club certificates.

“Raphael” and I qualified for and won, the State Team Showjumping Championships held at the Royal Melbourne Show in 1978.

The winning team consisted of Clyde Jones, David Francis and myself. I also competed with “Raphael” at the Grade 1 Eventing Championships held in Bendigo.

I started competing EFA level show jumping at the age of sixteen, and upgraded “Raphael” to C Grade EFA. He was a brilliant junior horse. We won and placed at many of the larger agricultural shows, including Dandenong, where we were nearly landed on by a wayward parachutist as I was doing my jump-off. The brave “Raphael” just kept jumping!!

When he upgraded to C grade we would compete at C and B grade up to 5ft 6ins high in showjumping. He was one of the most honest jumpers I have ever ridden. He retired here in Macclesfield until he went to heaven some years later.

At seventeen, I started working full time for Mr. Ian McKinlay, a Victorian Racing Club trainer in Officer. My job requirements were: cleaning out stables, feeding, handling young horses, helping break in and exercise racehorses, and riding track work.

I travelled with the horses to the race meetings and was responsible for them at the track. I enjoyed working for Mr Mckinlay as his experience as a horseman was second to none. I learnt valuable breaking in methods which I still use today.

Some time later I began work at the Victorian Equestrian Centre (VEC) Upper Beaconsfield and my job requirements there were: cleaning out, feeding, preparing school horses, teaching clients, exercising and schooling client’s horses.

During this time, I obtained my Level 1 Instructors Certificate. This involved going to N.S.W. as the course was not available in Victoria. I trained with Chris Chugg and Andrew Inglis who have gone on with their horse careers. I was allowed to ride “Sky High” Chris’s famous jumping stallion during the training.

My next employer was Mr. David Price in Kallista, who had a yard of young horses, broodmares and showjumpers. I trained his showjumping horses, broke in and schooled young horses and was in charge of running the yard. We travelled extensively to all of the Victorian Agricultural Shows and Showjumping competitions, and I prepared and managed a team of up to five horses at a time.

I kept competing on David’s horses and my own. We hunted twice weekly during winter, with the Melbourne Hunt Club. David was the best employer; he paid for my showjumping lessons with the well known Art Utendaal, as well as covering my hunting fees. I rode all of his young horses in hunts, which could be exciting at times!!

I then worked for a further three years at the VEC Upper Beaconsfield and with Mr. Ian McKinlay once again. During this time I evented often and purchased ex racehorses, trained and sold them on.

My career path took a slight turn from an equine only field when I commenced working as a Veterinary Nurse, with Dr. Gary Stapleton, Dr. Graham Jefferies and Dr. Chris Mackay locally. The veterinary clinics I worked at dealt with a myriad of animals as well as quite a lot with horses and the experience I gained from this has been of invaluable benefit over the years.

During my time as a Veterinary Nurse, I was still eventing at Restricted Novice (now called Pre-Novice) EFA competitions with various young horses and gave private lessons.

In 1991 I began my own business Harlequin Equestrian and I ran my business from Macclesfield from the years 1997 to 2012 selling my property in 2012.

So now I travel to my clients, specialising in teaching students from beginners to advanced riders and training horses to whatever the required level.

Today, the most enjoyable and important part of being an Instructor and Trainer is for me to share my lifelong experience and enjoyment of horses with my students of all ages. Teaching them how to achieve a safe, harmonious and successful partnership with their horse.

I have trained with various coaches over the years, the most notable being:

“Duell Harlequin”

an Australian Warmblood gelding, who I broke in and trained myself in 1991.

“Larapinta Duell Baron”

I purchased Baron at 18 months of age in 1994, from Larapinta Lodge, Yellingbo Victoria who currently kindly assist with competition sponsorship.

I started Baron back at EFA competitions in February 2006 at Advanced level and he has won or placed in every competition this year. He had his first start in an FEI competition in October 2006! He didn’t place, but I was very happy with him. We will continue competing at Advanced EFA and Prix St Georges and I will keep you updated on our progress…