A WOMAN who lost her horse riding confidence after having children has just won a prize in a major competition. Sue Nichols from Bow has been riding since she was ten and was an accomplished rider. But she lost her confidence after having her two children, Luke, now aged 5, and Amy, 2. As she loved horses and always enjoyed riding, Sue decided to look for a ?bomb-proof? horse which she could ride and have around the children. By ?chance? she found Chancer, a 16.1hh Irish Draught Cross thoroughbred, who at the time was being used as a riding school horse and was quite used to inexperienced riders. Sue fell in love with him at first sight. She started off with quiet and gentle rides around Bow, then a friend suggested she should have lessons with Deborah Randall, which she did. Deborah said Chancer had good natural paces and to Sue?s delight said they should be able to train him for dressage. Over the next few months Sue and Chancer went through ?gruelling? training. Sue regained her confidence and Chancer lost weight and gained energy. Soon the pair were regularly winning unaffiliated dressage competitions in preliminary and novice classes. Then Deborah said it was time for the pair to go one step further, to the affiliated dressage. Sue said she was terrified at the thought of it but Chancer was fine and soon they were winning rosettes. After winning fourth place at this year?s area festival, the pair were riding in affiliated medium competitions. Deborah now thinks they should aim for the advanced medium. Chancer, who has won or been placed in every competition, is coming home with more and more rosettes and now has 85 British dressage points. Sue said it was like a fairy tale ? she only wanted a good quiet horse to ride around and never expected to become a dressage rider. She said she and Chancer just ?clicked? and now she would never part with him. So after the worry of having children with horses Sue said Chancer and her two are already the best of friends.
