About Us

 

Karen & Tania (BHS AI) are available for lessons on your own horses. Below is an overview of our achievements.

On the 17th April 2021, unfortunately my brave, strong, brilliant sister Karen passed away, I still want to include her in the business as she is still looking down on me and was a massive part of it (the backbone) I now have only 1 horse, Guiness who is a very handsome Irish Draught, who I can hopefully have a lot of fun now

Karen

Karen has been riding horses since she was 6 yrs old, starting competition in the traditional way, through local pony clubs and gymkhanas. Her father quickly spotted her talent and nurtured her interest and by 11 yrs old she had joined the BSPS with her show ponies. After a few enjoyable and successful years in pony competition, including qualifying for RIHS, HOYS and Hickstead, she moved up to riding horses at 16 and continued to make her mark in working hunter and show hack divisions, representing England in International Competition. She was also placed at RIHS in side saddle for several years running. Karen then made transition to show jumping and in 1992 came 2nd in the British Novice Finals at the HOYS.

She has had many wins in all types of events over her career. Her most prestigious award to date is the SEIB Retrained Race Horse winner for both 2007 and 2008 (in affiliated eventing), and then in 2009 (in affiliated Dressage). In 2007  she won the Shires Retrained Racehorse North West Regional title and was the leading intro horse.

Karen continues to take part in most disciplines nowadays, and remains in the running for competition prizes, concentrating mainly on eventing, affiliated dressage and show jumping.

Tania

Tania has been riding horses since she was just 2 years old. Her background is very similar to her Sister Karen’s, with her early enthusiasm encouraged by the family and joining the BSPS when she was 9 yrs old. As a young competitor she rode her pony ‘Little Diamond’ to win the champion Working Hunter pony title and was soon afterwards selected to represent England as a young equestrian, winning a supreme champion title in Dublin. She went on to record numerous wins at such class events as the Royal Show, RIHS and Royal Windsor.

Tania’s secret ambition, though, was to race horses over jumps at the top level, as a professional jockey, despite her parents steadfast objections out of fear for their girls safety. After years of pleading and determined riding, Tania’s persistance, backed by her clear ability in the saddle, won through and she bagged her first major win at Ayr in Feb 2005 riding ‘Next to Nothing’. By that time, her dad had masked his nerves sufficiently to watch her ride to victory, and to be interviewed in the winners enclosure on live TV. Mum, on the other hand, was anxiously waiting in the car park nearby, too nervous even to watch her daughters biggest triumph so far.

Tania also won point to points at Alpraham, Whittingham, Eaton Hall and Brewardine, four of which were on her horse ‘Mytimie’. Riding on ‘Next to Nothing’ who was trained by renowned race horse trainer ‘Nicky Richards’, Tania also won one race under rules and several hunter chases. Tania has now retired from racing to concentrate on retraining race horses along with Karen.

In 2011 Tania qualified ‘Next to Nothing’ for the Grass Roots eventing final at Badminton Horse Trials in which they produced a double clear round.

Schuh Shine was their parents racehorse, winning 9 out of his 17 races, since retiring has been retrained by the girls. He has won at BE, BS, and BD and in 2013 he qualified for the Petplan National Dressage Championships at novice level. In that year he also won the ROR Dressage Award, which was a trip to London to collect a cheque for £2500. Then Schuh Shine and Next to Nothing were invited to parade at the Aintree Grand National Meeting, which was such an honour and a day we will never forget.

 

Karen and Tania  have enrolled for a substantial number of events throughout this years equestrian competition calender. The girls are renowned in the North West and throughout England for their riding ability and participation on the equestrian event circuit. Those who have learnt from and got to know the girls over the years would also attest to their personal qualities of tenacity, adaptability, patience and encouragement of horses and riders alike.