I thought the easiest way to begin, is to explain how it all started.

My name is Victoria Turner, I’m 19 and part of the Millbry Hill Supported rider team for 2018. Currently we have 7 horses and ponies situated on our yard at home, competing in County level showing and affiliated British Dressage.

Riding for me started at the age of 6 at our local riding stables. We found my first Pony Inky in the Yorkshire Post. He was a cheeky and ancient, having a tendency drop his shoulder when ridden, resulting in multiple tumbles off. We got someone in to try and stop him from doing this, however he dropped them in the nettles! Inky stayed with us until February 2018, passing away from colic at 30+, we owned him for 12 years.

My second pony was a dun Connemara, he unfortunately didn’t like to keep all four feet on the ground and only stayed 9 months. I then had a chestnut Welsh D called Tubby. Tubby by name and Tubby by nature! I did everything with him from showing to Pony Club camp. My most fond memory is placing 2nd in the Local Ridden Pony at Driffield show. The only thing we never did was dressage, I hated it…. but this was all about to change.

Age 12 I’d hopelessly outgrown Tubby, so we bought a coloured 3 year old. In hindsight not the best idea going from a schoolmaster pony to a newly broken horse.

The first year was interesting with multiple falls weekly and bombing around the school. Someone told my parents to buy me a schoolmaster as I looked scared! Thank goodness they didn’t! We then started having dressage lessons, through hard work and dedication it changed everything.

Ruby is rising 10 this year, having now owned her for 7 years. We compete in British Dressage (BD) at Novice level and unaffiliated Elementary with the aim to a BD Elementary Freestyle to music next year. We placed 6th out of 34 at winter regionals this year. We’ve represented our pony club at the area dressage for the past 5 years. Qualifying for the Pony Club National Winter Championships in 2016

and 2017 – Placing 8th both times at Novice and Intermediate. She also competes in the CHAPS Hoys qualifiers throughout the summer with our best placing been 5th with the 3rd highest ride mark at Lincolnshire Show in 2016.

However most of all in 2016 we qualified and came 4th at the Horse of The Year Show, which has been a dream of mine to compete there since the age of 5. Ultimately the whole process of schooling and competing is the most rewarding, it’s been a long journey of perseverance, persistence and tenacity.

-Victoria Turner

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