Zanie Tanswell

I started life out competing show ponies and horses before moving on to compete in Dressage, Show Jumping and Horse Trials teams representing my local Pony Club - Wilton Branch. In my last year of A levels at La Retraite School in Salisbury I was bought my first horse event horse and started to compete under British Eventing Rules. Following a rather disappointing attempt at my A levels I followed a different path and left home to study a HND in Equine Science at Hartpury College. Whilst studying I had the experience of working with Karen Dixon and trained with Leslie Law. Sept 1996 - Sept 1997: At this point I returned to Leslie Law`s Gloucestershire yard as a working pupil, alongside competing my own event horse. Oct 1997 - Oct 1998: After a years experience working under Harriet Law`s wing I took the position of Head Girl for Event Rider Nick Burton.

Here I was in sole charge of 8 event horses as well as receiving training on my own horse. Here began my love of running yards and catering for all equine needs as well as travelling nationally and internationally. Nov 1998 - Oct 1999: In 1999 I decided that with life`s experience now was the time to return home to my parent`s yard and endeavour to set up my own yard of training and competing event horses. I was teaching regularly and travelling the country freelance event grooming. I began to gain a reputation amongst the industry for being a top level eventing groom so in the winter of 1999 I was lucky enough to be introduced to Pippa Funnell. Dec 1999 - Nov 2003: The offer to be Pippa Funnells Head Girl coincided with my own event horse`s injury and the realisation that whilst I loved competing I wasn`t brave enough to compete at top level.

However I relished looking after such amazing horses and travelling with them to major competitions, so here began four amazing years as Pippa Funnell`s Head Girl. I am very passionate about my time with Pippa, she became a true friend and I experienced the true highs and lows of the sport. In November 2003 Chris and I realised our chance had come to set up and run our yard and team of horses so our journey began and three years on we have a fantastic set up, a great team who work for us and importantly a great team of supportive owners who provide us with lovely horses and whilst the sport is hard work we are both living the dream and are striving to be the best.
Zanie Tanswell