Organic Horse Potential Squad member: Vicky Smith

Vicky Smith events and shows her three horses...

Millhollow King of Kings, a 5 year old, 16.1hh, bay gelding TB x ID who has been competed in BE90 classes this year as well as having had success in the Burghley Young Event Horse classes and qualified for the Regional Finals in 2010.

Indian King is a 4 year old, 16.2hh, skewbald gelding ISH who is ready to compete in HOYS coloured and Young event horse classes in 2010.

Misty is a 16 year old, 15hh grey Connemara gelding and is Vicky's fun horse! Has won numerous working hunter and jumping classes over the last 12 years and now keeps the youngsters company and is a great baby sitter! He has qualified for the Oliver Townend eventers challenge Final which is held in December 2009.

Vicky has quite a list of achivements so far including competing at HOYS, Olympia and Royal International in show classes, she has qualified for the Riding Club National Championships 3 times as well as having qualified for the BD regional championships and been placed at an Area Festival. Her short term aims are to have a nice team of horses fit and ready to compete for the 2010 season. She intends to spend the winter competing dressage and showjumping to improve and get the horses ready for next seasonand be successful in the Oliver Townend Eventers Challenge. Long term she hopes to qualify Indian King for HOYS in the ridden coloured class and Millhollow king of kings for the Intro Final at Badminton. "Having been 2nd at Hoys on 3 occassions I would love to go one better!"

Why horses? "Having ridden all my life I probably couldn’t live without them. I love buying a young horse and producing it well so it can go on and be successful."
Biggest horsey bug bear? "Strong Bits. I hate the current trend of using driving bits in the show ring. If a horse is trained correctly there shouldn’t be a need for them."
Worst horsey habit? "Leaving my boots dirty in the lorry….. Somehow they magically clean themselves."
If not horses what? "Probably very bored!"
What could you not live without? "My mum. She supports me and I couldn’t ride without her support. She drives the lorry, exercises the horses at home, feeds us all at shows, helps me on the flat and over fences and she is very honest and critical which is a great help."

Organic Horse Start Squad member: Claire Thomas

Claire Thomas owns Aldareno (stable name Aldo) a 4 year old, 16.3hh, Spanish x Selle Francais competing at Novice level dressage. Aldo made the long journey from Spain a year ago and Claire bought him in March this year. Due to one thing and another she has only been riding him for approximately 4 months, however, the pair have greatly improved during those months, both in confidence in each other and also in their abilities! Aldo at present doesn't love his lorry as much as Claire does so she is having to work very hard to show him it is fun to travel! After this the combination will be making their dressage debut, so watch this space! Her ultimate aim is to qualify for the BD National Dressage championships.

Why horses? "A question I often ask myself on cold winter early mornings."
Biggest horsey bug bear? "People who ill treat their horses."
Worst horsey habit? "Not cleaning my tack as often as I should."
If not horses what? "Would have more time and money so would probably party more and go on foreign holidays but be very bored and hungover in between!!"
What could you not live without? "My Mum and Dad who support me enormously and supply me with frozen meals they have cooked and prepared, which is a Godsend in the winter when coming home late from the stables."

Organic Horse Start Squad member: Abby Steel

Abby Steel rides two horses, Lilly the pink III and Romora Ash (Pinky). Lilly is a 16.2hh warmblood x 5 yr old palomino mare and Abby has owned her for just over a year. The pair have been jumping up to BSJA Discovery level and hope to be jumping Newcomers by the end of the winter. Abby has so far qualified for the Trailblazers show jumping (90cms) finals for next spring, she has won and been placed in many British Novice classes. They have also had a successful showing season in palomino classes and is aiming to take her to the Royal Norfolk Show next year. Pinky is a 15.2hh Irish TB 6 yr old chesnut mare. Abby has had Pinky for a year and a half after rescuing her when she was a very bad condition, it has taken a year to get her back to full health and she is now in schooling and showing a very promising jump. She is aiming to be competing her unaffiliated jumping this winter to prepare her for affiliated competitions next year. Her aim for the future short term is to get Lilly to grade B level in 2 years, long term she wants to make a career out of show jumping horses which she has produced herself.

Why horses? "I started at a very early age and would have nothing to spend my money on if i didn't have them!"

Biggest horsey bug bear? "Not going to enough shows, as parents WON'T take me."

Worst horsey habit? "Riding with my stirrups far too short!"

If not horses what? "Can't imagine never having horses!"

What could you not live without? "Brushing boots! And pulled tails!"

Organic Horse Potential Squad member: Myles West

Myles West show jumps two horses, Ullie a four year old 17hh TB cross and Mackan a 16.3hh, 4 year old warmblood who is regrettably for sale. Myles has a list of results under his belt including, 3rd in the main ring at Hickstead, 1st Winter novice class Blue Chip Championships and 2nd in the Discovery final Festival of Showjumping. He is aiming to build a client base on his yard and carry on producing youngsters. Long term he wants to produce, home bred horses for showjumping and then see them succesfully continue their careers.

Why horses? "The enjoyment of building up a bond with a young horse from scratch and then working with them and correctly producing them for a career they can enjoy."
Worst horsey habit? "Leaving tack out on yard."
What could you not live without? "Carrots - they are always good encouragement for young horses."

Forest Farmacy sponsored rider and Organic Horse Elite Squad member: Jo Barry

Jo started riding at the local riding school at the age of 4. Weekly lessons soon became whole weekends and then on as many evenings after school as were possible. Jo got her first pony, a stroppy chestnut mare, when she was 8. She taught Jo how to stay on and they took part in Pony Club, Side Saddle and ventured in to the world of showing. During the next few years Jo rode at many of the major shows, the RIHS, HOYS and Olympia riding in SHP, WHP and M&M classes.

With her 14hh SHP, Jo tried a few dressage tests and within a short period of time showing was left behind and British Pony Team selection was firmly in their sights! In 1993 selection was achieved and dressage started to become an addiction. On leaving school Jo was offered a job with Carl Hester to fill in the few months of her gap year. A few months turned into 5yrs and University has never happened! During her time with Carl she was head girl, rode many of Carl's horses and rode to PSG competitively. In 1997 she won the National Talent Spotting and in 1998 headed the Young Rider Rankings. 2000 saw her head to the Sydney Olympics to groom for Carl..an experience of a lifetime.

In early 2001 she returned to her home just outside Edinburgh to run a livery, training and competition yard. It is from here that she is still based. The yard is run by Jo and her mother, Flora. Ormiston is ideally positioned being only 10 minutes from the Edinburgh city bypass, M8 (junction 3), M9 (Newbridge interchange) and Edinburgh airport.

Jo travels throughout the UK to take clinics, she holds her EFI Level 1 & 2 certificates and is an EFI qualified Tutor. She is accredited to The Scottish Equestrian Association, SportsScotland, British Dressage and The British Horse Society and has the appropriate insurance, first aid and child protection cover. In 2009 she was awarded the Pat Smallwood Training Award by the BHS. This award is to help nominated Instructors further their own training with a view to pass their increased knowledge onto their pupils.

Jo travels to train with Carl Hester and Stephen Clarke and competes throughout the UK. She has won 7 National and numerous Scottish Championships, qualifying many horses for Winter, Summer and Scottish Championships. During her dressage career, Jo has had the opportunity to receive training from some of the greatest riders and judges while participating on clinics and conventions taken by people such as Reiner Klimke, Nicole Uphoff, Hubertus Schmidt and Christoph Hess and has been noted by these prominent figures to have the required talent. With her top horse Vivaldi V, whom she owns with Lady Hope, she aims to achieve her lifelong goal of riding Internationally at Senior level..if all things go well maybe even with a place on a Senior Team!

Rider History
GB Pony Team 1993
GB Junior Team Shortlist 1994
Worked for Carl Hester 1996-2001
GB Talent Spotting Winner 1997
GB Young Rider Team Shortlist 1998
No 1 Ranked Young Rider 1998
AON Dressage Rider of the Year 2002
Pat Smallwood Training Award 2009

Number of Titles Won
7 British Championship Titles
11 Scottish Championship Titles

Number of Horses Qualified
14 for the British Winter Championships
18 for the British National Championships

About Jo's horses

Vivaldi V (Freddie) born in 2002. 17hh KWPN, black, gelding by Rilke, out of Donabel (byDonnerhall). Owned by Lady Hope and Jo Barry.

Successes
Scottish Sports Horse Champion 2006
Potential International Young Horse Champion, British Summer Championships 2007
2nd 5yo International, British Young Horse Championships 2007
1st Novice Freestyle, British Winter Championships 2007
2nd Novice Open, British Summer Championships 2007
1st Elementary Open, British Summer Championships 2007
2nd Medium Open, British Summer Championships 2009
Scottish Novice Champion 2007
Scottish Elementary Champion 2007
Scottish Medium Champion 2009

2010 Qualifications
Elementary Freestyle Scottish Semi-finals
Medium Freestyle Scottish Semi-finals
Medium Open Scottish Semi-finals

Rameau II (Rafa) born in 2004. 16.2hh, brown Oldenburg gelding by Rosario, out of Stutbuch (by Rohdiamant). Owned by Lady Hope and Jo Barry.

Successes
Qualified 5yo Final, British Young Horse Championships 2009
Qualified Novice Open Scottish Regional Championships 2009
Qualified Novice Scottish Championships 2009

2010 Qualifications
Novice Freestyle Scottish Semi-finals

Organic Horse Start Squad member: Rebecca Barley

Rebecca Barley has two horses, Amiro (Alf) a 17hh, 7yo, Dutch Warmblood who she does Discovery and 1m Opens show jumping classes on as well as dressage. Cool Spot (Spot) is a 21 year old (yes!!!) 16.3hh, Thoroughbred (ex racer) who does everything - especially if it involves jumping! So far Rebecca has had several double clears at Discovery level with Alf and has managed to get Spot to do a reasonable riding club dressage test! She is aiming to step up to Newcomers with Alf once she has had a few more double clears and hopefully qualify for the Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships at Hartpury and long term she is aiming to get to Foxhunter level.

Why horses? "How else would I spend ALL of my money!!!!!?????!!!!!!"

Biggest horsey bug bear? "People not cleaning bits after they have been used!!"

Worst horsey habit? "I have quite a few!!"

If not horses what? "I can’t even consider that!"

What could you not live without? "My two boys (the horses!) and Anna Bailey for my lessons."

Organic Horse Potential Squad member: Gemma Bishop

Gemma Bishop competes in Endurance on Minnismoor Mistique, a 13 year old, 14.3 part-bred Arab and a new horse for 2010, Vlacq Majid, a 7 year old, 14.3 pure-bred Arab. Minnismoor Mistique has achieved various CRs from 32km to 80km. ERs from 82km to 120km, with good placings in all of the ERs – a 4th and two 3rd so far. She aims to continue in the same vein with Minnismoor Mistique and to complete a 1* FEI ride in 2010. Vlacq Majid – she’ll only be starting her endurance career in 2010 so the aim for her is a successful novice season and then we’ll see how she gets on from there.

Why horses? "I blame my mother entirely! She didn’t learn to ride until she was 17, so she was determined that at least of her children would learn from an early stage. My sister wasn’t terribly interested, but I was infected by the horsey bug at an early stage and as we all know, it’s an incurable disease!"
Biggest horsey bug bear? "The idea that you can’t follow a ‘natural’ horsemanship approach and be competitive. The two are not mutually exclusive. It is perfectly possible to compete at a high level whilst adhering to an approach that seeks a lifestyle for your horse that is as close to ‘natural’ for them as it can be."
Worst horsey habit? "Not cleaning my tack often enough."
If not horses what? "Motorbikes."
What could you not live without? "Oxygen, horses and red wine. If I’ve got enough of all 3, I’m happy!"