Tilly Tilbrook competes Burr Oak, a 16.2hh, 9 year old, bay gelding by the advanced eventer Marsden St George, out of a TB mare called Fortune (TBxBWB). She competes to Novice BE, Newcomers BSJA and elementary dressage. In just her second season of eventing she has reached Novice level and qualified for a CCI* and is now thrilled to have been selected to join the Organic Horse Potential Squad. She is aiming to rebuild Burr Oak's confidence and continue to improve her dressage with the hope of qualifying for the BD regional finals over the winter. She hopes to get out eventing at Novice level again next season and move up to Intermediate level and complete a CCI*.
Why horses? "It's an addiction. I broke the habit for 7 years at university and in my first job, but the call was too strong!"
Biggest horsey bug bear? "Hanging about for hours waiting to do BSJA."
Worst horsey habit? "My tendancy to under-estimate how long something will take, meaning I am always late for non-horsey things - I have very tolerant friends."
If not horses what? "I also rock climb, mountain bike, surf and snowboard, and if the horse went then surfing would take his place I think, but the one thing I competed at seriously in my break from horses was adventure racing."
What could you not live without? "My fiancee - simply because I actually couldn't as he does all the cooking and therefore quite literally keeps me alive! Horsey-wise, it's a simple thing, bug-shifter pads from Halfords - a sponge in a mesh bag, brilliant for washing horses with as they stop the sponge falling apart and let you really scrub them."
