Julie took her first ride aged three and according to her mother she was hooked from there on but owning a pony seemed unlikely, however, Julie always managed to 'find' the local pony wherever she lived, even a Dartmoor pony named Sugar who she would be allowed to groom when she was about nine years old and eventually it was possible to have her own and following short stints of lessons at local establishments, her mother and grandparents bought her first pony in 1975 - a black Dales type pony for the price of £140 including tack !!

In 1980, Julie gained the BHSAI qualification and for the winter worked as Headgirl of Pebworth Vale Equestrian Centre near Stratford-upon-Avon. Over the following years she was a freelance instructor in the Warwickshire areas of Wythall and Alvechurch. She also returned to Seechem Equestrian Centre in Rowney Green where she had previously been a working pupil under Miss Barbara Quinney and Mrs Joan Willetts.

Tofferton Equestrian is Julie's site regarding dressage training.

In 1986, she was appointed as a British Dressage Listed Judge. You can obtain a list of Judges from the British Dressage office or check for Trainers on their website.

Julie is a visiting instructor helping Wyre Forest branch of the Pony Club. The Pony Club is a registered charity. She also gives individual training to BYRDS students (British Young Riders Dressage Scheme) and British Eventing competitors.

In 1998/9 Julie held a Riding Establishments Licence and ran a small riding school using her children's ponies.

October 2005 was the most recent BHS examination for Julie when she successfully gained the BHS Intermediate Stable Managers Certificate. She is currently training with Carol Broad FBHS at Huntley School of Equitation for the Intermediate Teaching Test and only needs to pass one more of the examined sections to obtain her full Intermediate Teaching Certificate. You can see Julie's details on the British Horse Society website under the heading Register of Instructors.

Over the years Julie has competed in affiliated dressage, horse trials, showjumping, showing.......and still competes in dressage as well as judging. And showing Dartmoors......

...Happy days with ponies again at Tofferton...