Hello and welcome to my first Hickstead blog

I wanted to start with a bit of an introduction to me and my family. My Dad used to showjump and then was an amateur jump jockey, he is now Joint Master of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt. My Mum doesn't ride but is a massive support to me, watching every round on Live Stream.

I have two sisters. Emma used to event but is now also a Master of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt. She is married to Joe Tizzard, an ex-professional jockey and now assistant to National Hunt trainer Colin Tizzard. Lucy is mad keen on hunting and helps produce the young horses at home, as well as studying.

I am based in Somerset and have a yard of 20 horses. We produce high quality hunters, eventers and showjumpers from the ages of three to 14.

A Touch Imperious is my best horse, having jumped on three FEI Nations Cup teams with him. He came third in the Equestrian.com Derby at Hickstead last year and has had many places in international Grands Prix. A good way to describe him would be a brave dinosaur with a heart of gold!

Highland Cruiser was my first horse. We have had him from the age of three and he's now the grand age of 14. He has taken me from 1.10m to 1.50m, and has been 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th in the Bunn Leisure Speed Derby, and this year is feeling better than ever.

Silver Lift is my speed king, having won me a car and picked up many speed class wins. His Thoroughbred roots make him a challenge to keep up with. He came second in the Speed Derby last year.

I have a great team of young horses coming up through too, one of which is Dulf, owned by Hugo and Pippa James, a very scopey seven-year-old and a big prospect for the future. Also I'm very lucky to be part of team Selwood, my sponsor of two years, that have supported me every step of the way.

The countdown to the Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting 2015 has begun, with just three weeks to go! Recently I went to the Odense CSIOwith A Touch Imperious, Silver Lift and Highland Cruiser. It was a great show, and I picked up a number of good results, including a win and a second on Silver Lift, a 1.35m win on Highland Cruiser, while A Touch Imperious was on flying form, coming sixth in the 1.50m Ranking Class and second in the Nations Cup! But there was nothing like the Hickstead Bank or Devils Dyke to content with.

My next stop was Lisbon CSIO with both A Touch Imperious and Silver Lift, with the latter picking up a win and a second place out there. 

Highland Cruiser had to sit that one out as he needs a couple of weeks fitness work for his next show. Also, this will give him plenty of time to carry on growing out his mane for the big day at Hickstead. Having always had it hogged, it has taken a while to be grow and be tamed, but I think he is definitely loving feeling the wind through his luscious locks!

Harriet