People often think that growing up with horses is all sunset gallops and flowing manes, it’s actually mostly scrubbing green slime off water buckets, picking hay out of your hair, and wondering why your bank account is constantly crying. My life has been a series of muddy boots and velvet noses, a journey that eventually led to the creation of Ponies & Pups. But before there were BioThane leads and neon rope halters, there were just a few very naughty ponies and a little girl with a very big dream.
THE START OF THE OBSESSION
Where lying about your age is a valid life choice
I was that kid. You know the one, the one who could talk about nothing but horses before I could even properly tie my own shoelaces. My mum used to take me to the stables when I was barely a toddler, and I have these hazy, beautiful memories of a little grey pony named Gilly Flower. She was bouncy, round, and smelled exactly like home. I must have been three years old, sitting up there feeling like the queen of the world, even though I was basically just a passenger on a very woolly seat.
By the time I hit four, the obsession was a full-blown lifestyle. My poor mum searched high and low for a riding school, but the world of equestrianism is surprisingly strict about toddlers. Nowhere would take me until I was five. So, in a move that I now look back on with immense pride, my mum told a "white lie" to Hylands Stables. She told them I was five when I was actually four, and honestly, who can blame her? I needed my horse fix.
I spent my early lessons on a Shetland named Lucky. Let’s be honest: Lucky he was not. He had this wicked little party trick where he would just drop his shoulder while turning a corner. One minute you’re upright, the next you’re face down in the sand wondering how the ground got so close. If I only fell off four times in a single lesson, we called that a resounding success.
This is the kind of bond that makes all those childhood falls worth it.
Then came Harlequin. He was a grey Welsh Section A, and on my fifth birthday, my parents actually bought him for me. He was the pony that truly started it all. Every spare hour was spent at Hylands. Mum would pick me up from school and I’d be scrambling around the back seat of the car, changing into my breeches while she navigated the lanes. We’d stop at the shop for a chocolate bar for me and Polos for Harle, priorities, obviously.
THE LEGENDS AND THE LESSONS
Meeting royalty while crying in the collecting ring
Harlequin taught me more than any human ever could. Mostly, he taught me humility. His favourite move in the show ring was to put in a buck and a shoulder drop right in front of the judge during our individual show. I have many a memory of landing at the feet of a very polished judge, looking up and thinking, "Well, this is awkward."
I met my best friend, Laura, at those stables. We’ve been inseparable ever since: from scruffy kids in the mud to nearly 40, with her now running the yard for my mum. She was always the "speed demon" who lived for jumping, while I was the "wimpy" one who preferred the precision of the show ring.
One of my most vivid memories was at the Heathfield Country Show. I was terrified. The Working Hunter course was way bigger than we expected: 2ft 6 instead of 2ft: and I was sat in the collecting ring, absolutely sobbing my heart out to my dad. Then, this lovely gentleman on a massive Heavyweight Hunter rode over and gave me the most incredible words of encouragement. I later found out it was Robert Oliver: a literal legend I used to read about in my horse magazines. I managed to go clear that day, which was definitely more luck than judgment, but Harlequin took care of me.
THE YEAR THE LIGHT WENT OUT
Loss, heartbreak, and the gap left behind
If life with horses is about the highs, it’s also about the devastating lows. 2024 was, quite frankly, the hardest year of my life. I lost Clooney, my Welsh Section D who had been my heart horse for over 15 years. He left a hole in my world that I didn’t think could ever be filled.
In the space of that one year, I lost three horses. After Clooney came Saffy, a TB I’d bought from Scotland who sadly had medical issues that couldn’t be fixed. Then there was Fizz, a wonderful horse I’d bought from my friend Eliza (the inspiration behind The POP Collection). Fizz was incredible, but we lost him to a horrific colic surgery at Christmas.
Losing three horses in a year leaves you feeling broken: like the "pony" part of your identity is just gone. I was horseless and hurting until a friend messaged me about a chestnut mare named Patsy.
The legendary Clooney, my heart horse for over 15 years. He was the one who truly owned my heart and taught me everything about the bond between horse and rider. 🐴❤️
My beautiful Saffy, the Thoroughbred I brought home from Scotland. Though our journey was cut short by health struggles, she was a massive part of my life and healing. 🌿
The wonderful Fizz, who left us far too soon. He was a special soul with a huge personality that touched everyone who met him. Rest easy, boy. ✨
PATSY AND THE LONG ROAD HOME
Chestnut mares, hospital stays, and hopeful hearts
Patsy came to me as a friend-of-a-friend situation. I went to try her and fell instantly in love. She’s a sensitive, neurotic, beautiful chestnut mare whose brain is 90% ruled by her stomach and 10% by her need for cuddles. If she were a person, she’d be that kind, soft soul who is constantly worried she’s forgotten to turn the oven off.
Our journey hasn’t been easy. Since 2025, we’ve dealt with eye injuries, hospital stays, and most recently, a diagnosis of Proximal Suspensory Desmitis (PSD). She struggled to bend, couldn’t canter properly, and was clearly in pain. Yesterday, she underwent a Neurectomy and Fasciotomy: a big surgery to give her a chance at a pain-free life.
Our stable star Patsy proving that even a hospital stay can’t dampen her spirit! Looking regal, cheerful, and ready for a treat (or ten). 🐴✨
Right now, we are looking at months of box rest and a very strict rehab plan. My hope: my absolute dream: is that we’ll be back in the dressage arena one day. But for now, I’m just happy to see her soft nose and feed her carrots in her stable.
A COLOURFUL LIGHTBULB MOMENT
How ADHD, neurodiversity, and a box of rope changed everything
While Patsy was going through her initial lameness, I was going through my own journey with ADHD and Autism. For the first time in nearly 40 years, I found a psychiatrist who truly listened. Getting on the correct medication changed my life: it made the world feel manageable.
As a classic ADHDer, I’ve had a million hobbies. I’m the person who buys all the equipment, does it for a week, and then shoves it in the back of a cupboard. But when I ordered a "craft your own collar" kit to keep my hands busy while Patsy was on stall rest, something clicked.
I’m incredibly affected by grey, gloomy days. I need colour to function. If I use a bright pink dustpan instead of a grey one, the task of cleaning suddenly feels like less of a chore. I started looking at the drab, boring horse gear available and thought, "Why can't this be beautiful?"
A snapshot of the vibrant, pastel BioThane that turned a hobby into Ponies & Pups.
I dove headfirst into the world of BioThane® and premium rope. I realized I could create gear that was not only "tough as nails" (essential for mud-loving ponies like Harlequin) but also brought that much-needed hit of dopamine through colour. That was the birth of Ponies & Pups.
BRINGING THE JOY TO YOU
Gear designed for real life (and really muddy horses)
Every piece I make: from the Precision Rope Halter Patsy wears to the dog leads that handle the British winter: is born from this history. I wanted gear that could survive a "shoulder drop" in the mud but look pretty enough for a championship show.
Our ranges are designed around the materials and craftsmanship that make each piece unique, ensuring they’re as tough as they are beautiful:
The Classic Range
This is our 'no-nonsense' foundation, made from 100% genuine BioThane®. It’s the ultimate gear for the mud-rollers and pond-divers because it’s completely waterproof, stink-proof, and wipes clean in seconds. From the Classic Dog Collar & Lead that stays bright even on the gloomiest days, to our Adjustable Fillet Strings and Horse Neck Straps, this range is all about durable, high-performance colour.
The Precision Range
This is where my love for climbing-grade PPM rope really shines. It’s lightweight and incredibly strong, but we still mix in BioThane® for those high-wear areas - like the 'popper' on our Groundwork Ropes or the comfortable, hand-braided handle on The Firle Dog Lead. It’s technical gear that feels amazing in your hand and stands up to the rigours of real life on your adventures.
The Heritage Range
This is my 'inner artist' range. Based around intricate, braided paracord, these pieces are artisan and creative. It’s the most detailed work I do in the studio, resulting in gear that is as much a piece of art as it is a functional lead or collar. Perfect for when you want something truly bespoke and eye-catching.
Whether you’re dealing with a diagnosis like PSD, grieving a heart horse like Clooney, or just trying to survive the school-run-to-stables dash, I hope our gear brings a little bit of colour to your day. Let's be honest: life with animals is chaotic, messy, and sometimes heart breaking. But with a bit of neon pink BioThane and a lot of love, it’s also the most beautiful journey in the world.
AND OF COURSE... THE 'PUPS'
The little shadows keeping me company while Patsy heals
While this post has very much been about the horses, it wouldn’t feel right not to mention Lily and Milo — the "Pups" side of Ponies & Pups, and the two small chaos merchants currently helping me through Patsy’s recovery (and by helping, I mean following me absolutely everywhere and supervising snacks).
Lily is my 7-year-old Jack Russell x Pug, and Milo is my 9-month-old Sprocker Spaniel - which means between them I have one seasoned little sidekick and one gloriously enthusiastic baby with approximately no concept of personal space. They’re the ones curled up beside me while I’m worrying, planning, making orders, and trying to keep life moving through box rest schedules and hospital visits...
Milo and Lily are featured regularly on the website modelling my latest creations.
They’re also such a huge part of why the dog gear side of the business matters so much to me. The collars, leads, and rope pieces aren’t just products in my head — they’re inspired by real dogs, real walks, real mud, and the very specific kind of "adventure" that somehow ends with wet paws on everything. Lily and Milo remind me every single day that practical gear can still be playful, colourful, and full of personality.
So yes, this story starts with ponies — with Harlequin, Clooney, and Patsy — but it’s Lily and Milo who are padding around beside me right now, keeping me company while we wait for brighter days. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’m off to the hospital now to visit Patsy and probably get covered in hay... and then come home to two dogs who will act like I’ve been gone for a hundred years. Wish us luck! 🐾🐴