DEBBIE JONES is an experienced Grand Prix rider and trainer, B.H.S
qualified and a List 2A British Dressage Judge.
She started her riding career at the age of 5 at the local riding school in Edinburgh. By the age of 9 she had managed
to persuade her non-horsey parents to buy her favourite pony from the riding school, even though he regularly ditched her!
After 3 years she was very busy riding, competing and looking after everybody’s ponies and horses at all the local livery
yards. She would compete in everything from the Handy Pony, games, showing, show jumping, hunter trials, eventing ,team chasing
and of course dressage.
When
she left school she spent the first winter working at the local riding school running the tack shop, doing the school bookings
and helping out on the yard when short staffed. January 1982 she then went to Harrogate Equestrian Centre and trained with
Major Birtwhistle and his great team, to take her B.H.S.A.I. She successfully passed in the April and then returned to Scotland
to start her own business teaching and running a small livery yard. She continued her training toward her B.H.S.I.I. exam
with Stuart Christie at Busby Equitation Centre in Glasgow.
It was in 1984 that things changed direction for Debbie when she purchased her little Irish horse that she named
Roxanne. After a very difficult start with this horse she got her eventing and was starting to get placed at events. It was
then that Debbie decided she wanted to learn and work with the professional riders, so she was all set to sell Roxanne and
leave Scotland. She went for her Dressage training with visiting trainer Stephen Clarke and explained her situation and plans,
when, he instantly offered her a position as a working pupil with him and she should bring Roxanne!
In 1985 Debbie moved to Cheshire and remained working with Stephen for almost 5 years progressing
from working pupil to Head Girl and then Chief Instructor. Truly gripped by the Dressage bug Debbie and Roxanne had a complete
career change and by 1988 the pair did their first Grand Prix. She also had the great pleasure of helping Stephen with all
his international horses and the preparation of Becket toward the Soeul Olympics.
In
1989 Debbie’s own teaching had become so busy she then set up on her own as a Freelance Instructor in Cheshire. She
continued training and competing, starting judging and became a member of the Youngish Trainers Scheme alongside Carl Hester, Angela
Weiss. Sarah Cheetham, Sue Bradshaw, Daniel Sherrif and Joss Stubbs.
This
scheme gave them great opportunities to train with Bert Rutten and to travel abroad visiting Top Trainers yards and Prestigious
Competitions, auctions and studs.
Continuing
her own training over the years with Stephen Clarke, Carl Hester, Isobel Wessels, Jenny Loristone-Clarke and Bert Rutten bringing
all her horses, through the ranks from youngsters to advanced dressage horses and competing some of her client’s horses.
She has a wide spectrum of clients from Pony Club to Pony
and junior team members, Riding Club, Event Riders to Badmington/ Burghley riders. This year she had clients competing at
the Summer Regional Championships at every level as well as having a very successful 4th in the Prix St George
on her young horse Frisco Bay.
And
to keep her hand in on being a versatile trainer Debbie has ridden and competed in Wembley quadrilles, winning in 1990, teams
of three winner 1991 at the royal international and Olympia quadrille in 1993. She has a passion for the dressage to music
and choreographed the Pony Club 80th year celebration musical ride at Hartpury Winter Championships 2009.
Check out the web site for future training dates, test
practise days and lectures.
A Horse of a lifetime - CLICK to read this heartwarming story
