About Me
Rebecca Ritchie BHS AI
Within a year of sitting on a pony for the first time at the age of 5½, I was able to walk, trot, canter and jump and was in a group lesson with adults.
On arrival in Germany, I continued with my lessons, the lesson was conducted in German, I was required to ride 16hh German horses and was unable to tack up as I was too small to reach the horses back and head; this scenario built my confidence. After a year we moved location within Germany and we joined a livery yard / riding school which had a branch of the Pony Club (which I joined and gained my C+ award by the time I was 13), this was run by the military for servicemen and their families.
We stayed at these stables for 6 years, where my father (who had also started riding), and me, would be yard manager and groom at the weekends. At the age of ten I was working in a riding school and assisting with the lessons.
I was always interested in owning my own horses and finally when I was 11 years old, my parents bought Dariata, a 12 year old, black, Dutch Warmblood mare, through a dealer friend in Holland. She was an absolute steal, a National 1.30m Champion, who had bred 3 very nice foals. She was for all the family to ride, we all learnt a lot from her as she had plenty of talent and we still have her today.
At the same time I competed one of the riding school horses called Storm, a pure Arab that had been a show horse and was very highly strung. I competed him in show jumping competitions and 2-day events and had a lot of success including first placings. Eventually I grew too tall for Storm and needed an alternative ride this came in the form of Weleska (a Hanoverian), owned by the local vet. She was a very complicated and temperamental mare, only 5 years old, no one seemed to get on with her but me; I could get her to work nicely and started her jumping career (she had been bred as a dressage horse). I realised that I had a talent for difficult horses. I eventually took her to the Rhine Army Summer Show and entered her in the Dressage class, we were the youngest horse and rider and won the class by 4%.
In 1999 my parents bought Mr Miller a five year old Rheinlander, he was a fantastic horse, very scopey over a jump and moved very well on the flat. As my father was busy with work and my brother disappeared off to college it was my role to work on him, we jumped British Novice and Discovery (BSJA) for a while whilst he got his confidence and grew into him self then moved to Newcomers where he got very consistent and was jumping double clears.
Whilst at this yard, our dealer friend began to train us weekly, these we mainly jumping sessions, I learnt a lot from them, I also got the opportunity to ride his horse Pepina, who was fantastic and in the right hands could of jumped internationally. Riding such a good horse gave me confidence in my ability and helped me develop the feel that I needed.
In September 2002, I went to the University of Lincoln to study the National Diploma in Horse Management at their agricultural campus. Part of the course requirement was to undertake 300 hours of work experience in our own time. I was fortunate to gain a placement with Liane Brennan, (accredited BSJA coach) who also employed me as a member of staff once I had completed the work experience hours during other holiday periods and weekends. I learnt a great deal during this time and experienced some wonderful opportunities, travelling all over England, and schooling Grade A showjumpers. I finished the two year diploma with a distinction; an award for best practical student on my course and an award that was open to any student at the campus for best Lincolnshire student.
Along side the college course I embarked on my BHS training and by September 2004 had passed Stage 1, 2, 3 and PTT and by February 2005 had completed my teaching hours and therefore qualified as a BHS AI (before my 19th birthday).
The teaching hours were completed whilst I was at my first fulltime place of employment. I was employed as a senior member of staff, instructor and yard supervisor at Wheathill Riding Centre in Liverpool. I was also required to teach students from Myerscough College basic horse care and practical and theory elements towards their National Diplomas. In addition I was asked to school and compete horses belonging to the establishment, one in particular was a Dressage horse who had reached his level at Medium so it was decided to start him on a jumping career and he progressed very quickly and won his first British Novice.
During this time I also passed my first aid certificate.
In July 2005 I seized an opportunity of a lifetime and that was to work at one of the Royal Stables in Jordan in the Middle East. Here I continued to teach students of all levels and schooled imported horses from Germany for the owner. This was a short term contract, I reluctantly left in early 2006.
From here I took a job with a competition/dealing yard. I was employed as top rider, I was also required to compete the horses. One horse in particular I built a strong partnership with, this was Totopoly, we competed progressively BE and finished the season with a point at novice level. She was also jumping double clear Newcomers (BSJA). There were also a handful of other horses that I rated quite highly.
In 2007 I decided to branch out on my own and set up a freelance equine services business and small yard on my parents property. I’ve taken the year off competing to focus on building up my client base and looking for some quality rides.
