In January, while skiing in the Italian mountains, I received the incredible news that Global Herbs Europe had selected me as a Sponsored Rider for the year. I still vividly remember opening the email in a gondola – it brought me to tears of joy! It was a fantastic start to the year. My birthday in February was equally memorable, spent on the (very cold) floor outside my stable with Lowton Equine Rehabilitation and her Indiba machine, where I also met Kerry Boyd for the first time.

May was a pivotal month. I left my role at IKEA to focus on charity work and my photography business. The summer months from June to August were a whirlwind of activity, including working with ESP-Photographic on cross-country events across the Southwest – a fantastic experience! On top of that, I graduated with distinction in my MSc in Clinical Psychology, an achievement I am incredibly proud of. Blake and I also managed to qualify for both the Summer and Winter Area Festivals this year!

In June, I was fortunate enough to purchase a house with my partner, Jesse Poyntz-Wright . Never did I imagine owning a home at 23. While this milestone fills me with gratitude, it has also brought guilt and mixed emotions, as I reflect on my privilege and the path that led me here. I’m learning to embrace the joy of building a life with Jesse while balancing these feelings of gratitude and responsibility. Oh, and I passed my HGV test!!

2024 has been a year of growth and resilience. It challenged me to stand up for others who don’t have a voice and reinforced the importance of setting healthy boundaries. After the incident at Bicton in May, my mental health was significantly impacted, and I want to sincerely thank everyone who checked in and supported me during that time. Unfortunately, this year also highlighted the prevalence of toxicity within the equestrian world, as I faced attempts to undermine me through false rumours and intimidation. There has been a lot of nastiness, name-calling and outright lies spread, and It’s been eye-opening to see peoples’ responses.

I won’t dwell on those challenges, but I want to express my deep gratitude to those who sought the truth, stood by my side, and helped me navigate these situations. As someone who dedicates a significant amount of their time to charities and mental health awareness, this behaviour has been difficult to come to terms with. However, your support reminds me of the importance of kindness and integrity in overcoming adversity. A lot of this hate stems from jealousy, which is a truly horrible emotion that I am certainly no stranger to. Together, I believe we can create a kinder and more supportive community.

Looking ahead to 2025, Jesse and I have exciting plans for Blake, Ernie, and our home. I have not one, but four sponsors lined up for next year which is just incredible! I’m eager to continue growing my photography, digital marketing, and management business PBDigitalmgmt while expanding my charity work and awareness around mental health.

Here’s to a brilliant year ahead!