We thought it would be good fun to learn a bit more about the team we work with. So we have spoken to the guys and gals we work with to sound them out! Kicking off this mini series is Nikki Goldup who owns the beautiful Wanda (The Flying Cow) and Swatch.

  1. Do you have anything lucky that you will not be without on a competition day?
    I used to be really superstitious but found it made me more nervous at competitions. Now I just have a plan that works for me and I stick to that. No lucky knickers here… but my Samshield helmet does have ‘Badass’ embossed on the chinstrap. A sort of in-joke between me and Kirstie – basically I had the option of monogramming and thought this was amusing! A bit of self-belief rather than lucky charm!
  2. What is your favourite and least favourite food?
    I’m a massive foodie… and living in Suffolk we are so spoilt with fantastic places to eat and loads of local produce. I love to cook at home, lots of game and foraged food… but I’ve also travelled a fair bit, Japanese food is my favourite.
  3. What is your favourite song?
    That’s a hard question to answer as I listen to a LOT of music. My OH is a music producer and my taste is widespread. Something I’ve really enjoyed watching as well as listening to recently is the documentary ‘Summer of Soul’ featuring previously unreleased footage of a 60’s summer music festival in Harlem. Some of the performances are off the scale!
  4. If you were starring in a film, who would you pick to play you and why?
    Possibly Jennifer Saunders…. For the humour and a dash of quirky. But in my dreams Hedy Lemarr. She was such an iconic actress in terms of her beauty, but also an amazing scientist. A proper old screen cinema star.  
  5. What is your least favourite horsey job?
    Filing hay nets… I feed hay off the floor to try to swerve this job, and it also gives the horses a good stretch.
  6. Do you have a winter timesaving tip you can share with us?
    I use loads of mane and tail conditioner or argon oil in the horse’s tails when it gets wet and muddy. It really does help to keep them conditioned and easy to brush.
  7. Who do you use as your trainer?
    Ruth Hurst who is local to Bury St Edmunds. I see her every week and have really enjoyed learning more about dressage riding and ways to work my two horses who are very different rides. She’s been a total mentor for me and is a very valued member of the team.
  8. What is the one piece of horsey kit you cannot be without?
    My trolley! It’s a folding trolley I take to stay away shows but now use on a daily basis. I had a bad injury to my shoulder last year and found it so useful to fill up with grooming kit, hat and tack and wheel about. My dolly trolley – honestly, it’s a gamechanger.
  9. What is your favourite colour?
    Electric blue – its my vibe and I have Jin Stirrups in this colour. It makes me happy.
  10. Which sportsperson (from any sphere) do you admire most and why?
    The list is endless but the Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja springs to mind. Climbing all 14 eight- thousander peaks within a record time of under 7 months. (The previous record was over 7 years.). The documentary about this amazing series of climbs, 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible is well worth a watch.
  11. If you could pick any horse (not one of your own) to do one competition on, which one and why?
    Kilbaha (ISH) who was ridden by Commandant John Leddingham and won the 1994 and 1995 Hickstead Derby.  When I was a teenager, I used to show jump a lot, being lucky enough to compete at Hickstead and most of the county shows when I wasn’t eventing. I was always a massive fan(girl) of John’s riding but also his horses. Id love to be brave enough to jump some of the big tracks that I used to jump and enjoy it on a serious quality horse!
  12. Where is your dream holiday?
    I’ve travelled a lot and enjoy visiting other countries but a holiday for me is a week doing as little as possible apart from sleeping, eating and reading… that could be anywhere!
  13. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
    A deer… I love their athleticism when they run.
  14. What is your favourite product stocked by Forelock and Load?
    I’m a massive fan of Bombers Bits. My mare now uses a combination of titanium bits in her double set up and goes so well in them!
Nikki and Wanda

Huge thank you to Nikki for taking the time to answer our questions! We hope you enjoyed reading it and keep posted for the next!

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