Hylands was born in August 1990, when my Mum, Dad, my brother Jack and I moved here from Bushey in Hertfordshire, with one horse and two ponies. My Mother had always dreamed of having her own place, where she could keep horses at home, and she and my Dad worked hard to achieve the dream. It took a while to find the right property that was in the price range and within a train ride into the centre of London where my Dad works.

I was 5 years old, and my brother Jack was 18 months. My Mum used to carry him around all the time on her hip, whilst trying to set the business up, and muck out, and tidy up all the buildings. My Dad went off to London and Mum was busy starting lessons, using my two ponies, and trying to attract liveries. Before long she had a number of lessons and full liveries, and I would ride after school as well. The first Christmas we were here we sold Christmas trees in order to help the finances.

After not long, the business took off, and with my friends from school as well coming for lessons, there was not much time to sit about.

Now we have regular lessons, for children mainly, but also Mummies come during the week. We also have a complement of liveries, with some full, part and DIY. As I got older, and I knew very early on that all I wanted to do was ride, I had a few ponies to keep me going, and most of these had to earn their living and do some lessons. Mum was always on the lookout for ponies that she thought might do the job for me, and we picked up a few, worked on them and trained them for competitions, which was what I always wanted to do.

Gradually as I got older and more involved with Eventing, the yard began to fill up with bigger horses, and so my mum rented a yard as well directly opposite our house.This has nine more stables and five acres, and very soon was full. We had a serious amount of horses and ponies and needed a fair bit of help. It still felt a little as though we were bursting at the seams... so when Chris Stone offered me the yard at his home which is only 45 mins from home (in the right direction)....we all agreed I should jump at the opportunity. I moved out from home in January 2009, and it was a hugh leap!!! You can see more about my new home on the 'Tattleton Stud' page

Mum still has her horse Wolfgang Penelope (Lacey) and Jesters Quest (Wally) at home, and any one else who needs a rest or a change. She still runs the riding school and liveries, and still has my oldest pony Woody.... and the yard over the road is full of DIY liveries

I come home regularly to ride Lacey as well, and to catch up with home gossip....and at the moment the truck still lives there so Mum can bring Lacey to me when she comes over to see us, or we are going competing.

Jesters Quest came back into work this year (2009) but unfortunately injured himself on the gallops so we have now retired him to an easier life. He will stay at home with my Mum until his dying day as he is such a special special boy who owes nothing to any one. He gave me my first chance of Badminton and Burghley and he is a horse I shall always have an amazing bond with.

If you would like to read about my new yard please click on Tattleton Stud