Nikau Downs

ly loved competing my show pony. In this latter respect my main highlight was qualifying and competing at the BSPS (British Show Pony Society) Championships at Peterborough in 1996. At the age of 14, my parents relocated to Hemyock in the substantially rural County of Devon, in England's south-west. I didn't know beforehand, but soon discovered that Devon was a favoured locale for professional horse racing and equestrian establishments, particularly eventing. It seemed that there could well be endless possibilities in Devon if someone wanted to pursue a career with horses; and I did! Throughout my adolescent life all I had ever consistently wanted to do was work with horses and, rather by accident than design, it seemed that I was in the right place to do just that. I couldn't wait to leave school to work with horses, the very thought of which did not exactly fill my parents with great enthusiasm!! My first job after leaving school was working for champion race horse trainer Martin Pipe. During his career Martin was a hugely successful trainer, was champion trainer fifteen times and on eight occasions trained two hundred winners in one season. Martin's horse racing premises comprised two separate yards (as there were so many horses) and his state-of-the-art facilities included a horse swimming pool, an all-weather gallop, indoor canter track, treadmills, horse walkers and an on-site vet, to name but a few. I rode three horses each day and looked after four to five horses at a time. Learning to gallop and care for racehorses in this exceptional environment was amazing and confirmed my passion for working with horses. The time I spent working for Martin was invaluable and I loved every minute. However, I realised that to further my career opportunities I needed to expand into other areas of equestrian activity and to gain relevant qualifications. An opportunity came my way to join Dutch event rider, Ben Van Sommeren, as a working pupil at his UK-based eventing yard. I spent four years working for Ben during which time I was successfully assessed for BHS (British Horse Society) Stages 2 & 3 and NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) Levels 2 & 3 in Horse Care and Management. I also received the award for Top Student in 2001. Working for Ben Van Sommeren was the turning point in my career with horses. Travelling to national and international events as a groom enhanced my interest in eventing. I learnt the intricacies of turnout skills and the huge attention to detail involved in every aspect of the care and management of horses. I was riding 4 and sometimes 5 horses each day; schooling, jumping, hacking, galloping, cross country schooling, etc., on various horses from three year olds to 3* event horses. I also learnt how to break in horses (which we were doing continuously) and was soon producing young horses for eventing. This was when my real interest in breaking in horses and eventing started. After four years of working for Ben, I left in order to go to university to study a Higher National Diploma and B.Sc (Hons) in Equine Science. Whilst studying I carried on eventing at 2* for an owner. After finishing university I spent four years working for Clippersharp Clipper Services and Smart Grooming. This was where my clipping experience really accelerated and I gained extensive knowledge of all animal clippers and grooming products. Having the opportunity to trial various horse clippers soon made me decide to buy my own so that I could run my own clipping business as well as working at Clippersharp. I also carried on producing my own horses, as well as riding for other people and competing in showing, show jumping and eventing. I was incredibly fortunate to have an excellent owner/mentor, Vicky Goody, for whom I rode. Riding for Vicky reignited my interest in showing. Vicky owned some lovely show horses and I enjoyed competing them for her. I also enjoyed the odd day's hunting on her horses too. Before closing I would like to pay tribute to my wonderful parents who supported and helped me throughout my adolescent riding years, but especially for "going with the flow" in allowing me to follow my dream of working with horses. Their unfading support continues today. "No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle" - Winston Churchill