Island Life Magazine Ltd December/January 2018 | Page 94

Equestrian thing: for everyone to have a great experience and to be safe. At just 26, Sarah manages her family’s livery yard and competition centre at Lake Farm, as well as competitively riding her two other horses, the eight year-old Gold Flame Guy and 11 year-old Dungastown Fleur – and also taking the reins for several other owners. Having been born into the sport, she says she never for a moment considered doing anything else with her life. “I never wanted to go to school” she says. “I was always around the yard, and started competing when I was tiny.” A supportive member of the Isle of Wight Riding Club, she first began representing the club at national championships when she was aged just eight. She was part of the junior dressage team which dominated national riding club dressage championships for many years, winning numerous individual and team titles. So it was hardly surprising that when her mother Sue developed hip problems and needed replacement surgery, Sarah, despite her youth, was the obvious person to take on the day-to-day running of the business. As she says, whenever she isn’t actually sitting on a horse, she is teaching someone else, from her large client base of pupils. She says she rarely finishes teaching until the late evening, despite regular super-early starts – but then it’s clearly a labour of love. Many of Sarah’s pupils have gone on themselves to achieve local and national successes, which she says makes her immensely proud. “No matter what their goal might be - whether dressage or jumping or just to feel more confident, I really enjoy giving each rider my support and attention” she says. In fact, Sarah can often be heard at competitions, enthusiastically supporting people from the sidelines. She runs regular clinics for riding club members from the Isle of Wight Riding Club and The Island Equine Academy which she runs with Hayley Webster, as well as a three day camp for riders. The three day camp combines great fun with the more serious side of riding, teaching stable management and horse care. As we go into the winter months, Sarah and her horses will, as usual, compete in British Dressage and British Showjumping competitions, locally on the Island and on the mainland. But with her eyes on next season, she says she has great hopes not just for Will, but also for Dunganstown Fleur and Greenvale Coriado to achieve 3*. “It was great achieving Blenheim this year and my aim is definitely to get back there with at least a couple of the horses next year” she says. Sarah has an Eventing page on which you can follow her progress this coming 2018 season, with live streaming on the day. You can also contact Sarah by email on [email protected] or via Facebook sarah holmes eventing. “It is such a special sport. I have never met so many lovely people who will always remain good friends.” Sarah riding Harley Brown at Keysoe 2015 94 www.visitilife.com