ABOVE: My first ever pony ride at London Zoo in 1949 aged under 3.

ABOVE RIGHT:Probably my second ride aged about 7yrs on a rather large cob

At last in about 1960,after years of waiting, my 'non horsey' parents gave in and bought me my first pony 'Rebel', which he was! The kindest pony to look after, but a real handful to ride, with no brakes! It was on Rebel that I started to compete. Firstly at gymkhanas and then Show Jumping and Cross Country. He was an amazingly talented pony, even taking me into open Horse show jumping although only barely 13.2hh. He was a real 'winning machine', I have still kept all his rosettes.He was well known on the hunting field for jumping anything in his path and for giving even the Master a lead over a fence or ditch and I was renowned for getting into trouble for overtaking the whole field as I really had NO brakes! I had Rebel for about 7yrs until after I left school and home, when sadly he had to be sold.

Pepi was bought in 1972 from Jim Woods for both me and my son Barnaby aged 3yrs to ride. He was a lovely kind patient pony and was placed 3rd in the ridden Dartmoor class at our first visit to Ponies of Britain. Pepi was very versatile, he took Barnaby into lead rein Fancy Dress, Showing and Gymkhanas and other open ridden classes with me and never put a foot wrong. (note the plaits and navy jackets!)

Foxy winning the Exmoor youngstock cup, went on to be Reserve Exmoor Champion at Ponies of Britain in 1975.

We were so lucky to find this exceptional pony for my younger daughter Alice. 'George' as he was known was probably our first very successful Welsh Sec A . He took Alice from First Ridden to Open Ridden, through to cradle stakes, M and M workers, Nursey Stakes and Show Jumping, then taught her to ride side saddle and jump side saddle very successfully. He also was a safe hack, loved Pony Club, gymkhanas and cross country. The photo above was taken at Ponies of Britain in 1981 when having already won prizes in all his classes, he was a very creditable 6th in the OPEN side saddle workers under 15hh. 'George' was only 11.2hh and was the smallest pony and Alice the youngest rider but they had to jump the same course as the 15 hh! 'George' aged 16 yrs went from us to Martha Hindley, daughter of Jeremy Hindley and then to a cousin of the family, where I hope he ended his days?

My daughter Henrietta's first open ridden class( there were no 'First Ridden' classes then, so straight from lead rein to Open!) She hadn't even done a 'show' before, so we told her to 'copy' the others! BUT she was pulled in FIRST. Looking concerned, she went out and did a perfect figure of eight at trot and managed to canter round the back and bow to the judge. We were so pleased but the pony standing in second place was Bard Of Transy ! Who I had not seen before as we were new to showing Shetlands at this level. Bard after a lovely show obviously went on to win the class, but Henrietta and Carn went to 2nd place! A triumph for both pony and daughter! Many of you will know that Bard Of Transy (known as 'Ting') went on a few years later to Olympia.