This week we introduce young rider Jenna Stewart, one of our 2021 supported riders. In her first blog, Jenna tells us all about herself… welcome to the team Jenna!
I am excited to be writing blogs for Forelock and Load, sharing my riding journey. For my first Blog I thought it would be appropriate that I spent some time introducing myself. I think it’s important to be as transparent as possible and show the ups and downs of my journey.
My name is Jenna Stewart, I am 19 and I am an amateur rider in the South East. Having just finished my A-levels, I will be going to study either an Integrated Masters in Veterinary Physiotherapy or a BSc in Veterinary Nursing (depending on my grades in September this year!). Interestingly, I come from a family who have no knowledge of horses but are unbelievably supportive.
Where my passion started…in Australia…
I was born in Australia in a town called Campbelltown, going to school and growing up near the Southern Highlands which is known for being a very horsey area. I would often stay at my friends’ houses and watch their horses – thinking this was the coolest thing in the world and in absolute awe! Like many six-year-olds I had been begging my parents for riding lessons and they refused… until one day when my friend and I sat on her pony bareback without any parental supervision. Following this, my parents booked me in for riding lessons hoping it was just a phase and that at least if I jumped on another pony at least I would know what I was doing enough to be safe! Unfortunately for them it most definitely was not a phase! A couple years went by and my parents moved us to Singapore in South East Asia where we lived for roughly four years, where I continued to take riding lessons. It was when I was 13 when we made the move to the UK! This is where things get interesting…
I went to the local riding club where I would work there every weekend, voluntarily trying to learn more but also just because I absolutely loved it! Not long after this I was lucky enough that I got my first loan pony, a 13.1hh Irish Sports pony called Frisco. I did my first in house unaffiliated show jumping competition on him doing 80/90cm rounds, this is where the competition bug in me came from. I loved it! A couple years later and I had my first pony who was just about the best first pony any girl could ask for, she taught me loads but I was ready for something I could learn more on.
My lovely, non-horsey, mum was up one night at 3am as she couldn’t sleep. By magic she found what every little girl dreams of. A golden palomino! His name was Danny, and I can definitely say he taught me how to sit. We spent one winter being bucked off literally every night after school and getting back on. Then one day I realised I was getting bucked off less and less. Soon enough we were training at pony trial level at home, sadly despite all efforts he was not brave enough for the competition world and was sold a year later.
A move to horses…
Following Danny, I made the move onto horses and bought Lola. Lola took me in my first event season up to BE100 in 2018, she was absolutely amazing! Unfortunately, after leaving Lola with someone we trusted, she came home with physical and psychological issues. Although we were able to mend the physical issues, years later we were not able to fix the psychological issues.
My journey with Lola is one I will never forget, I was a young girl with a horse that had turned from bombproof and a schoolmistress into what many people called her “dangerous” and “unrideable”. We worked with multiple professionals to try to resolve her issues, many of them were beyond supportive and helpful and I thank them till this day, with many of them still help me today.
My parents continued to support me in trying to ‘fix’ Lola and along the way got told how reckless they were for letting me ride her and that she should be put in the field or put to sleep. Including one day where we went to an unaffiliated dressage competition for a bit of fun to get out as she had been making progress and the judge told my mum and I that Lola was “unrideable” and “dangerous” and that I shouldn’t be riding her let alone competing her. My amazing parents took no notice and helped me learn not to listen to the negativity and to continue to try my best. I would like to say that I never fell off Lola so we never felt she was “dangerous” in that sense. Lola did make a lot of improvements and, in 2020, retuned to riding and jumping very safely and was fine! I always put the horses before anything else, their happiness and welfare is a priority. So, although Lola was able to be ridden, I did not feel like this is what she enjoyed and not was in her best interest. Therefore, leading us to the decision to retire her. Because of my journey with Lola, I hadn’t competed or really advanced my own riding as I had always been focusing on Lola’s rehab as we were not financially in a position to buy a second horse and I refused to give up on Lola.
2020 and beyond!
This leads us to today! We have got there eventually, or nearly…
In 2020, I was fortunate enough that my parents found Gaya and Milo. I was incredibly lost after retiring Lola. My riding confidence had dropped and I became very anxious in myself. Many friends were getting selected for the GB teams and I watched from the side-lines. I felt like I was working incredibly hard. All I wanted to do was learn and would have done any work for free so I could learn. I stuck with it because I love the sport and strongly believe we not only make our own luck. If you want something bad enough that with hard work and perseverance it will happen. Then things started to look up!
At the end of 2020, we were lucky enough to move the horses onto Luke Baber-Davie’s yard for further training. Luke and his incredible team have really been amazing, it feels like a family. Luke has helped me so much with both horses, particularly Gaya. Since moving there I have become a much happier and confident person and rider. I feel like for the first time we have a shot at this, and I have my competition fire back!! We are currently on our search for another addition to our team. Our aim is to compete two horses in Young riders’ dressage.
I am so excited for my first season back competing since 2018. I have to thank Team LBD and my parents for this. But also, the team at Forelock and Load. I met Forelock and Load when I was a Stübben Junior ambassador at 16. Their service has always been amazing and always been very kind and helpful. I am so excited that they will be part of our journey as we aim for young riders. I look forward to sharing my journey with you all, the ups and downs.
My journey so far with horses has not gone the way I first hoped. I didn’t get to do ponies or juniors, but I wouldn’t change that for the world. The lessons and skills I have learnt so far have been invaluable. I look forward to sharing my next blog next month. I am regularly on social media posting updates so keep an eye out! We will also be doing some reviews on a couple products from Forelock and Load as well as our first competition report! See you soon! Jenna
