I purchased Roxanne in January 1984, as a 6 rising 7yo from
the local dealer when i lived in Scotland. Roxy was a Connemara x ID, 15.1 1/2hh mare, that they had just brought over from
Ireland. The plan was to do some basic training on her, until the spring and then sell her as an allrounder - But as with
all great plans when horses are involved , this all changed.
Firstly Roxy arrived with ringworm and we had the
worst winter in 20 years resulting in no work being done until April, It was then i realised what a 'rogue' horse
i had. After many weeks of rodeos and knapping i was finally managing to get her going forward with gallops in the fields
and very brisk hacks, jumping was great but Roxy would loose her confidence very quickly if things went wrong.
With patience i had her eventing by the August of
84. The dressage and showjumping we survived as Roxy's focus was very much on everybody else rather than me, the start
of the xc at the first event was sticky, but by the end i had a superstar. We continued to event, hunter trial, dressage and
even team chased.
By April '85 I decided it was time to sell her - I had decided to that it was time to persue
a more determained approach to my learning and would be leaving Scotland to further my training with a professional.
How very fortunate Roxy and I were the day I explained this to Stephen Clarke on one of his training visits to Scotland and
he offered me a position, as a working pupil and i could bring Roxy !
In June '85 I moved to Cheshire and after
3 weeks Stephen decided we should learn Pirouettes and flying changes - I thought this was hilarious, I was a novice event
rider, I wouldn't know how to do this ?? Roxy and I where the blind leading the blind and as with everything with Roxy
it was not without drama, but we did learn and we were set the challange of Prix St George by May '86 - and we were !!
I was bitten by the dressage bug and Roxy seemed to rise to the challenge. By Spring '88 we were competeing at Grand Prix.
