Sara has been riding since she was 3 years old. She began attending the Bedale Pony Club aged 9 and progressed to competing in open teams on her ponies.
At the age of 14, Sara's parents bought her a 7 year old gelding called Forget Me Not Frankie. Frankie had a terrible BE record and Sara began his training from scratch working closely with local dressage rider, Lucy Bulmer. This paid off as they qualified for the Prelim and Novice Trailblazer Championships coming home with Reserve Champion in the Prelim and Overall Junior Champion in the Novice. They also won the Pony club camp one day event two years running before tackling British eventing in 2005 aged 15.
Sara won on her BE debut with Frankie and her good form continued into the following season when she was selected for the Northern JRN (Junior Regional Novice) team. She was then selected for the team again the following year. This led to Sara gaining more in depth knowledge about the nutrition, fitness and care of the competition horse. It also helped Sara meet friends from all over the country, most of whom she still competes alongside today.
In 2007, Sara decided to step Frankie up a level and contested the Junior trials being placed 5th and 10th in her first two Intermediates. Sara was 8th in the Under 18 National Championships and was selected to represent her country in Ede, The Netherlands with the Junior selectors and trainers.
In 2008, Sara again had a great start to the season with Frankie, being 4th in a competitive Open Intermediate at Lincoln horse trials, before being placed a very close 3rd in the Under 18 Championships, after leading the dressage, earning herself a place on the European shortlist.
In 2009, it was decided Frankie would be stepped down from Intermediate level and after a fun season in 2011 with a 3rd place at Chatsworth CIC*, it was decided he would be leased to a junior rider to compete as a novice schoolmaster. He is still doing this to this day and has made a lot of people very happy.
In 2010 thanks to her parents, Sara was able to set up her own yard and began riding for owners.
Although Sara missed out on Young Riders, she spent the next few years producing another talent, 'Seaworthy.' Worthy was for sale as a broodmare as she was very tricky but Sara took an instant liking to her. Worthy had a great season in 2011 and was placed on the World Class Equine Pathway that winter.
Seaworthy continued her promising form and in 2014 she won on her advanced debut, followed by jumping a fantastic double clear in her first 3* at Blair castle.
In 2015, just as the event season had started, Sara had a fall from a youngster and badly broke her ankle. She missed the whole of the 2015 season but thankfully recovered in time for winter strengthening and training.
2016 was a successful year with great placings from all of the horses, resulting in Sara finishing 12th in the foundation points league and continuing to compete at intermediate and 2 star level.
In 2017, Sara had another good season with Seaworthy competing at Bramham CIC***, Quinara competing at Burghley in the 5 year old final and qualifying two 5 year olds and a 7 year old for the KBIS Young Horse Championships at Osberton. Erbentico VB also made the step up to Intermediate making him a very exciting prospect for the next season.
2018 was another exciting year with Kilcoltrim Mermist stepping up to Advanced and 3 star level successfully at the age of 8, he will now be aimed at Bramham 2019. After a slow start to his season, Erbentico VB gained his 2* qualification and more experience at Intermediate level ready for next year. Halcyon Cruising Lady made her debut and had a great season and finished by stepping up to novice level. The team also gained two new members, MHS Seventeen, a very exciting prospect for owner Deirdre Johnston and Sara bought herself a young horse, Archie, to produce for next years 4 year old classes.
2019 has been a year with ups and downs, Kilcoltrim Mermist has gained more experience at 4* level and Erbentico VB at 3*. Both are coming to the end of the season gaining qualifications and Advanced runs to gain experience for next year. We hope they will both go to Bramham in June 2020 and work towards Kilcoltrim Mermists 5* qualification. Sara has had a few new rides this season on either inexperienced or young horses, all have improved huge amounts and gained experience to bring out with them next year.
Sara and Seaworthy at Eglinton prize giving gaining 1st place on their advanced debut.
Very proudly winning the Polly Phillips memorial trophy.
Very proudly winning the Polly Phillips memorial trophy.