The Younger Years

Sasha was fortunate to grow up around horses when he parents decided it was easier to lead a Shetland than push a buggy along the ridgeway for walks. She learnt to ride at a local riding school where she learnt all about ‘no blood, no tears!’. Her first pony was a little spotty Shetland called Plum who took her to her first ODE, it was with Plum that Sasha discovered what a deep emotional connection you can achieve with these animals. The following 10 years were filled with Pony Club fun and an array of very cheeky ponies. At 12 Sasha chanced upon a lovely 14.2 5yo Connemara called Foggy. It was with Foggy that Sasha decided firstly, that her true passion lied in Eventing and secondly, that this was the career path she wanted to follow.

In 2014 Sasha found a 16.3 5yo horse being sold by Tom McEwan on Horsequest and instantly fell in love. Despite it being a very questionable horse for a 14yo Brian was the best thing to happen to Sasha. Between being bucked off pretty regularly Sasha and Brian created an almost unbeatable partnership, finishing 7th at Badminton Grassroots, coming top 5 in almost every event in 2016, and becoming the BE100u18 Champion at Frickley park in 2016. Soon after this my instructor contacted Sasha telling her that she had found her next horse. Despite not looking for a horse as she was just about to begin sixth form, Sasha went to try Playtime (Sasha) and a couple of weeks later Smarty came home.