For some reason unknown to me I was born with or developed at a young age a passion for horses.  They are so much a part of my life that I don’t think I would survive long without them. I started riding when I was 6 years old at a riding school in Sandton. Later my family moved to a plot and I got my first pony. While at High school I started a horse riding club at the school and came upon the idea of inter-schools competitions. I ran the first inter schools show in 1988 and continued to run these shows for 12 years after which they were taken over by GHS. After finishing school I rode for the Lipizzaner team for 3 years while studying a B.Com at Wits part-time. During this period I also instructed and passed my Instructors Exams.  After completing the B.Com I studied Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria and began teaching part-time at Sun Valley Stables. In 1998 Terence and I bought Sun Valley Stables and moved it to its present home. There were no stables or arenas and the office was a sheep shed with 40 fleecy inhabitants. After completing my BVSc I bought my horse Diablo in order to continue my competitive riding. Diablo and I were selected for the Provincial Showing Team in 2001 and 2002. Diablo and I won the prestigious SA Derby Show Horse title in 2 successive years and also the Complete Horse 2002 at the SA Showing Championships held in Cape Town.