Riding Jane Paterson

Local riding instructor achieves highest accolade

JAYNESmart who runs her own livery yard and teaches at Banwell, has gained the highest possible qualification in the British Horse Society and is now a BHS Fellow (FBHS). She joins an elite list which includes Carl Hester, Yogi Breisner, Ian Stark, Lizzel Winter and Jenni Lorriston-Clarke, all well-known equestrian experts and all at the very top of the tree in terms of their knowledge and horsemanship.

Working towards the qualification is not for the faint hearted. This is reflected in the fact that even though it has been going since the 1940s, there are only around 80 Fellows anywhere in total who hold it.

First a CV has to be submitted and, if that proves acceptable, then a very intense assessment takes place over two full days, where riding and all aspects of equitation are tested in a fast and furious environment at a gruelling pace.

Jayne found it particularly hard preparing for the test. She tells me she had failed all nine “O” levels at school in “spectacular style” and therefore had no idea how to go about revising, so her studying and revision timetable was supervised and monitored by her daughter Emily who was simultaneously studying for her A levels.

Emily made lots of flash cards and mixed them all up so that Jayne never knew what was coming next in the form of questions and in a complete mother/daughter role reversal, they got through it together.

Jayne’s parents had been at a loss as to what she would do when she left school with no qualifications at all at the age of 16. Her only interest was riding horses and so it was suggested that she give that a try as a career.

Lucky enough to start her training with Kenneth Clawson, who famously trained some of our top riders, Jayne then went on to become a very accomplished show jumper and event rider in her own right. During her successful riding career she competed at all three of the most challenging courses in the eventing calendar… Badminton, Burghley and Blenheim.

Her top horse, who took her all the way to the Horse of the Year Show, was a mare called Free and Easy, bought in 1985 for £3000, and who became a Grade A show jumper as well as a superb event horse.

Jayne first saw her advertised in Horse and Hound, liked the look of her but thought “no I don’t want a mare”. She went on to look at another horse that subsequently failed the vetting, so had a rethink. Finding the mare still for sale but with someone else interested, she made a quick (and as it turned out very wise) decision to snap her up.

The rest as they say, is history, and now, despite being qualified to teach the

With JANE PATERSON

elite and the top teams, Jayne can still be found giving inspiring BS Academy tuition to juniors at Badgworth Arena (usually on cold evenings!) allowing children access to affordable lessons which help them build friendships and learn sportsmanship, all whilst having quality training.

Her recent success in becoming a BHS Fellow is to be applauded and is so well deserved. The certificate was awarded at Newbury Racecourse on BHS Charity Race Day, with Martin Clunes, president of the BHS in attendance. How cool is that?

Jayne said she has a simple phrase that helps enormously – “Every Stride Matters”. Someone suggested that would be a good title for a book, so maybe that will be Jayne’s next project?

It’s a pretty good mantra to remember anyway, whether just out hacking, schooling or competing and how true. Saying it to yourself while riding anywhere could aid your concentration and help to keep you safe.

Jayne with Martin Clunes, BHS President

Hannah’s legacy lives on

IT’Snearly Christmas, a time when we not only celebrate, but also remember friends departed. In May 2015, 17-year-old local event rider Hannah Francis was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma. Devastatingly she passed away on August 1st, 2016.

She lived on her family’s farm at Radstock, also home to her beloved horses, Mavis, Chesney, Tom and Doris. Hannah was a talented rider who had been invited onto the Pony Club’s Rider Development Pathway.

This is designed for Pony Club members who show the ability to progress to the Olympic disciplines and which provides opportunities for them to advance in their chosen sport.

Before Hannah set up her charity in March 2016, she helped so many causes. She raised £115,000 for cancer charities, as well as increasing awareness about osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer mainly affecting children. Her greatest wish was to leave a legacy, to be remembered, and to help others in her situation.

Early in her illness, and to keep her company during the hours of gruelling treatment she had to endure, Hannah was given a toy pony by Jayne Smart, who was involved in her training. Hannah named this toy pony “Willberry the Wonder Pony” and he became Hannah’s soul mate, helping her to tell her story to the world. He kept her smiling and the duo stole everyone’s heart. In a very short time Hannah helped to set up Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, which has gone from strength to strength, now having raised over £2million.

Famous event riders took Willberry to their hearts. Berry ponies can be seen on the shoulder of many of them as they storm around cross country tracks all over the country and beyond. What’s for sure is that Hannah will not be forgotten!

One very important part of the charity is “Willberry’s Wishes”, helping seriously ill people to have an equine-related wish granted. When Hannah was ill, she contacted many riders and events who opened their arms to her, giving her something to look forward to and helping her to achieve her “smile a day”.

Hannah said it made her feel normal even if only for a little while, taking her out of the nightmare she was living. She wanted other cancer sufferers to have something to look forward to as well, so “Willberry’s Wishes” was launched, and has now granted over 80 wishes for not only people who have cancer, but their friends and family too, and there are more in the pipeline.

Just before Hannah died, she achieved her dream of riding in GB colours, when she rode as the guinea pig rider at Tattersalls Horse Trials in Ireland. Struggling with immense pain and very limited mobility, she rode like the pro she was and completed her bucket list.

The other part of Hannah’s charity is dedicated to funding scientific research into the causes of osteosarcoma, with the ambition of trying to improve options for those whose lives are blighted by the disease.

So far, it has funded seven projects with leading universities across the UK and is already working on more. Everyone involved with the charity is so proud to support Hannah’s vision. I shall certainly be buying one or two Willberry ponies for horsey friends for Christmas and I would invite readers to do the same.

This will not only help the charity, but receiving a Willberry cannot fail to delight any horsey child (or adult!) and remind us all of a very talented wonderful young woman who inspired so many and who left us much too soon.

Hannah at Tattersalls

Hannah in action

Details: www.willberrywonderpony.org