I have been asked to say a few words about myself, which is not something I find very easy. I am the third generation of a renowned showing family — daughter of David Tatlow and granddaughter of the late and much admired character Harry Tatlow. I try my best to follow in their footsteps and am incredibly privileged to have their knowledge gained over many years imparted to me
The past show seasons have been very kind to me and I have achieved many of the successes that I once dreamed of. I have been brought up that you are only as good as your next win, so it is another season I start with a mixture of anxiety and excitement.
Anxiety? Why? Well, as I am sure anyone who has achieved their lifetime goals knows, it brings great joy but also a pressure we put on ourselves to continue the success. The old proverb… only one way to go!
Excitement? Well, of course. Being part of the show scene in the UK is one of the most exciting careers anyone could choose. Demanding, yes, but very rewarding. This year brings its usual excitement of producing the new baby horses on to the scene. I don’t have a huge team of horses at the moment due to huge demand during the winter and selling many of them on to begin new partnerships. I wish you all well in 2013.
What I do have I covert as much as any horses I have ever started a season with. I have a very exciting new four-year-old lightweight horse by Chacoa. He is a big-moving steel grey gelding, who I really hope will impress the judges. It is not easy producing four-year-olds as sadly we have lost a lot of the four-year-old hunter classes. You must be careful not to put too much pressure on too early in their careers.
I am looking forward to riding my novice lightweight hunter, who won four classes last year as a four-year-old (pictured right winning at East of England in pouring rain). He has a new owner and I hope he is going to give them a lot of fun. He is called Union Hall and is by the thoroughbred stallion Search for Royalty.
My novice large hack is a very exciting horse, too. Only lightly shown at the end of last year, he was reserve champion first time out at Bucks County. He is a beautiful bay gelding by the very successful sire Kilvington Scoundrel.
On a sad note, I won’t have my best mate Major Moylaw (pictured top) to show this year. He has given me four amazing years and will leave a big whole in my life and some very big boots to fill for my young horses. I will miss him dearly.
Of course my 11-year-old daughter Alice and her ponies will take up every other second of the summer months (and winter actually!). She will continue to campaign the smashing 122cm show hunter pony Hightopps Jazz, who was champion first time out this season at Area 7, and the equally wonderful working hunter pony Tynymor Twm Sion Catti (aka Shaun), who also kicked off 2103 with a championship win. Great start Alice Homer — no pressure on mum then!
Loraine
