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About

As you might have seen, I am Victoria Brant a self-published author, blogger and equestrian living in rural Lincolnshire, UK. Since 2017, I have released three published titles of confidence giving memoirs documenting a journey back from limited confidence to getting out competing with my wonderful horses. Having horses makes it sound as though I might have a big pot of cash and a trouble free existence but you couldn’t be more wrong. Keeping my two beloved horses on a shoestring and working hard to fund my passion, this is a REAL LIFE journey of overcoming the odds to find happiness. 

I first sat on a pony at the age of 7, rode at a riding school on a Saturday for 3 years. After the addiction hit, I began helping with the hunt horses at a local hunt yard. At 12, I started working as a cover groom for that private hunt yard, 1.5 days a week and cubbing/hunting as often as a school sick note allowed.

I learnt from some of the most knowledgeably old fashioned horse people in the industry of how to foal, feed, train and run (like clockwork) a busy yard filled with big athletes. For that opportunity, I will remain eternally grateful.  I trained and received the Pony Club tests and taught for a few years (signed off my BHSAI hours), ran various yards from Polo
to Dressage and everything in between. I competed for a local family, a handful of event horses – Most of them are my dear shining stars in the sky now.

Around all of this I studied, blagged 14 GCSE’s, 5 A levels and very nearly a BA (hons) degree in Marketing and PR. After a series of sh!t jobs, landed a good one, and I bought my very first horse at the age of 24. MINE, MY OWN ONE. No longer riding for other people fearlessly – I very slowly but, very surely lost my nerve. Owning my own horses put an unrealistic pressure to get everything perfect onto my shoulders. 

Being short of money meant a series of unsuitable horses and 2 horses in… I was a wreck. The thought of getting on my then big, young, warmblood made me feel violently ill. I sold him. I wanted something safe, something older, something I could cry on and tremble on and not die on. 

 

I went to look at my scrawny little runt, another young horse Vic – What are you doing?! But 5 not 3 and not a £400 racehorse, a nice young horse… by the sharpest stallion in history! BUT… He was kind, he was gentle, and he was quiet and a little introvert – just like me at the time. At that point I was at rock bloody bottom in every way. I was going through a
turbulent marriage/divorce and needed the love of this pony just as much as he needed me…

Introducing

Pauldarys Master Patrick

Stable Name: Pat
Height: 15.3hh
Year Foaled: 2006
Sire: Master Imp
British Eventing Record

I bought Pat as a rising 6 year old in 2012, that’s over 10 years of challenging joy he has brought to my life. 

We have evented, hunted, beach galloped, ridden around Burghley with Piggy March and starred in the 2017 Blue chip Allstar Academy on H&C TV.

He is my total and utter heart horse and despite his spooky nature, he has brought me some of the the very best results and memories I could ever with for.

Easy Peasy

Stable Name: Pea
Height: 15.3hh
Year Foaled: 2004
Sire: Smiling at Strangers

I had Pea on sales/training livery back in 2013 and even then she got right under my skin and massively outstayed the original plans. I took her jumping, we went eventing, she qualified for the BRC National eventing champs, friends hacked her to the pub – she was AMAZING! The most safe, fun horse I have ever had the pleasure of riding. 

Eventually she was sold and I thought that was the end… 

However, back in 2018, I was offered the chance to have her back and I jumped at the chance. She came home on a blustery night in September and has been my shining light throughout pregnancy and is absolutely amazing even now at 19, she is still looking INCREDIBLE!

2 thoughts on “About

  1. Love it!
    I’m in a similar situation with my homebred,not tb,but new forset. Had ridden hunters,point to pointers,racehorse to m&m
    Best of luck.

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