I started riding at 4 when my feet slotted into the leathers! Having a mother who loved horses and father who raced motorbikes, I was never destined for gymnastics! I've been lucky enough to have horses all my life, apart from a 5 year gap while at uni, I then bought Sexy instead of a new kitchen!

I've done all sorts: teaching in my younger years, working on yards as a teenager, years of mucking in and mucking out!

I used to hunt, compete in showing classes and groom for my sister at team chases. I could also be found on the gallops doing fittening work for our team chasers and taught our babies the basics of life and schooling, but now I stick to the more sedate side of life, after my boy injured himself out hunting on Boxing Day '07 – If only he knew the cost of vets at Christmas! As well as Sexy my 16H ID x Lippizzana, I help my sister with her 2 big boys. I juggle my horses with working in the NHS and supporting an equestrian company in sales, so I'm never short of a 'to do' list!

I joined the committee to make a difference, to meet people and support the social side to riding. As chair(lady!) I intend to motivate, encourage and challenge, introduce more diversity and expand the clubs horizons!
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Have been a member for about five or six years (I think, memory fails me exactly, am becoming part of the furniture now!) and on the committee for most of that time. I took on the job of Secretary initially and then Website Editor about two years ago and more recently Newsletter Editor. I can usually be found behind a computer doing the 'technical side' of CDRC.

People often ask where I find the time to do everything, I try not to think about it as if I did it

would become apparent that it is not physically possible and then where would I be.

My son is now nearly 3 (where does the time go!!) and myself and Pony are still not fit, although we do manage to get out and about a little bit more and are generally better behaved than previously. Having changed yards we are now in a position to get to a few more events and training sessions so keep an eye out for the grey one-eyed pony misbehaving in the corner!
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I have been on the committee of CDRC for some years now firmly believing that you get out what you put in. For the last 2 years I was Chairman but have stood down this year and taken over the role of Treasurer.

I started riding in my late 30's to keep my daughter company in her lessons, what an expensive mistake that was! I have had my current horse, Hazza - a 16.2 Danish Warmblood - since 2004. He is everything I wanted from a horse, perfect temperament, a pleasure to be around and a pleasure to take anywhere. It was only after getting Hazza that i found out that fun rides could be fun. I have however discoverd that Hunting and Hazza are two words that should not appear in the same sentence!

Hazza and I have represented the club at Area competitions in Dressage, Show Jumping and

My riding experience started out as a weekly excursion to the local riding stables at 16; at 26 I was given a very sweet but ancient thoroughbred, who taught me a great deal, mostly about lameness, unintentional dismounts and napping, but I never looked back.

In my thirties I had the great fortune to meet Henry. Henry was 10, but had not come into work until he was 9; he was chestnut (preferred bay), 15 3hh (wanted 16 2hh) was very green (needed schoolmaster).

However 12 years and countless training sessions with Sharon Thomas later, we have a great partnership completing our personal goal of competing at Pre Novice British Eventing, qualifying for the BRC National

Dressage Championships in 2006, having a go at Quadrille at Addington and the BRC National Horse Trials Championship in 2007, narrowly missing out on a qualification in 2008! At 22, I feel I can allow Henry to take it a bit easier, but he doesn’t appear to agree with me as we’re still out there scampering around the Intro courses and representing our club in any team that will have us!

I joined the committee to run the ODE teams, and hopefully spread a bit of support and enthusiasm to encourage anyone who is vaguely interested to come and have a go! (Top)
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Am now in my second year on the committee having been a member of CDRC since 2007.

I have been riding since I could walk and spent many years as an event groom and crash test dummy !

I had a break for a few years whilst i had my 2 children (Charlie  6 and Lille 5 ) but decided life was not complete with out the horses, so i bought Woody.  Dressage is now definitely my passion and myself and Woody regularly compete for the club and with British Dressage ( although on rare occasions we have been known to have a pop over a fence or two ).

I am a firm believer that anyone and any horse is capable of improving their flatwork, no matter how much you may hate it or how awful you may think it looks, so to put my money where my mouth is i have also got myself a project for 2010 in the shape of Teddy. Teddy has just come out of National Hunt training at the age of 9, so after his winter holiday he will be being rehabilitated so that he can do some dressage and maybe some SJ. I look forward to seeing you all in the forth coming year.

Sian is 54 years old, teaches riding for the disabled & Pony Club and competes at Intro and Pre Novice eventing.

Sian now has three horses at home with her partner Rob Phelps (Olympic Pentathlete).

Sian is willing to help with all levels of Riding Club activities and horse welfare.

Have been a member for several years, representing the club in all disciplines (being part of the ODE team that got to the championships last year) Been riding since a child, taking a break to have my 2 sons. Born and lived in Gloucestershire all my life until recently moving to a farm in Northwood Green.

I have 3 horses: Daisy a 16.2hh TB x WB who I compete on, mostly BD but as she loves to jump I am going to BE this year. I also have a homebred WB / ID coloured called Orly. He is rising 3, 16.3hh already and still growing and Fleur a 15.2hh TBx who is my broodmare.

I have been a CDRC member for about 5 years. I joined after buying my Gelderlander Prince. I knew this would be a good way to broaden our horizons, with a good mix of instructors and riding venues.

I bought Prince as a project, a stepping stone to something better. He was brought to England as a carriage horse, doing weddings and funerals. He was however surplus to requirement. Thinking I could see a quick buck, I bought him. He was a pleasure to bring into ridden work and such a gentleman that I could never sell him.

We are never going to set the world on fire with our talent, but I don't care! I have the best horse I could ever want. Together we have tried our hand at most things, doing some low key competing and have been on some of the clubs teams.

As my mother has spent her life breeding Riding ponies, Welsh and Connemaras, it was inevitable I would be sitting on a pony before I could walk! Spent my childhood breaking other peoples wild animals, showing M&Ms, Working Hunters and all ponyclub activities.

Got most of my experience competing the 15hh stud stallion who did everything. Later on it was a Connemara stallion who again did everything ,including competing at Olympia.(he has just been put down at the age of 31).

I always wanted to do dressage, but never had a suitable horse.

I was a member of Berkeley RC for many years and and part of their winning area Quadrille team twice.

I gave up whilst my children were growing up and bought and sold ponies to finance my daughters interest. Now 17, and with dressage ambitions herself (I use this as an excuse for now being to old and scared to jump) we are looking for that perfect dressage horse. In the meantime we share a 15.3 ex-point to pointer, who tries his best, but sadly he was not bred for collective work!

Have been a member of Cheltenham Riding Club for many years - compete in all disciplines - eventing being my favourite pastime.

I am very lucky to have my two horses at home - Ted is 12, an ex flat racehorse and has been with me for 5 years, coming straight from the track and then enjoyed himself eventing at pre-novice.

Katie Holt is now riding Ted to enable me to spend more time with my second horse. Jay is 6 years old, a home bred foal (was meant to be a 15.2hh coloured filly - but turned out as a brown colt that just kept growing) and is just starting his eventing career - so watch this space!!!