Blake came to be through the generosity of Nicki McGuire. I brought him home on the 30th March 2021 as an unbacked 4 year-old. With no prior experience bringing on a young horse and having ridden a schoolmaster for 3 years prior, it was a bit of a baptism of fire! However, he was so incredibly well-mannered, socialised and fearless – all thanks to Nicki’s hard work! I think it was only about a month before I was riding him!

Since then, he’s been by my side through 2 relationships, 2 house moves, my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and god knows how many breakdowns! I have yet to fall off of this horse despite doing the sketchiest things imaginable (the 2022 Christmas gymkhana springs to mind where I galloped him bareback across an arena with 8 other horses – how I didn’t fall off is beyond me!). This horse is my soulmate – I genuinely don’t know what I would’ve done had I not met him. He’s taught me how to bring on a youngster (and is still teaching me), taught me patience, comforted me, and put up with the daft ideas I come up with. I guess what I am trying to say is this horse is my world, and I am so grateful to grow and learn with him!