Wayne Garrick

Hunt groom, three star event rider and Saturday night drag queen, Wayne is one of eventing`s colourful characters! He also has a unique sense of humour.

I was born and bred in Germany and moved to England (the Lake District) when I was eight. I was bullied quite badly at school, which is when I discovered horses. The bigger boys wouldn`t go near them! Next thing I knew I had been bitten by the bug and was at the stables 24/7. Aged 14, I bought my first pony with my saved up paper round money. She was a 14.2hh Welsh cob called Queenie. I never realised how appropriate that name was until later in life!!!!!

I had been scared to leave the ground in the past but with Queenie I tackled gates, hedges and anything that was stationary. Tragically, she broke her leg in the field whilst she was in foal so I lost both my babes. I then got Ryan, my horse of a lifetime (aka "U No The One"). We did lots of Pony Club stuff and Riding Club teams, then I moved down to the Cotswolds with the beast and we started doing proper eventing. I worked for The Honourable Teresa Stopford-Sackville as her second rider.

After a short stint there I moved on to work for Mr and Mrs White to do their hunters. Mrs White had a fondness for eventers so I started to event a youngster for her. One thing led to another and seven years later, in 2008, I had completed my first 3* event on Cornish Murphy at Kreuth, thanks to the help and patience of Mrs White and all the others that had helped me on my journey. Too many to name but you all know who you are!

2009 was a year of amazing highs and lows including Bramham on Cornish Murphy and Blenheim on Flyte. I was offered the opportunity to work with international event trainer, Trudi Robinson, at Moor Farm in Gloucestershire. I am now heading towards another season with joy in my heart and pride on my sleeve, all thanks to the wonderful horses and people in my life.