In 2000 at the age of 19 I embarked on my travels. First to Australia and onto New Zealand. It was in NZ I met “my one”….
15hh Bay Fire Breathing Thoroughbred…
My Marley Baggage 
Having been written off by her dressage breeder as a ‘mistake’ and too headstrong to make a stock horse. My kindly Maori family informed me she was special. Having jumped clean out of a 6ft solid sleeper deer pen from 1 stride. She was untouchable to man and would either make the greatest horse in the world or sadly have no use at all.

” Let me try I asked”…
You pommies dont have a clue but go for your life…

Back story. My beloved Grandmother passed 2 days before leaving for Oz leaving me a small sum of money for perhaps a car or other such mark of independence into adulthood.

So… we wrangled this “crazy” Bay horse from the 7000 acre deer farm into the nearby paddocks. I approached…. she stood….
I went to her shoulder and touched her it was a special moment . A genuine connection.. . The angel of my grandmother was looking over us.

In the middle of that paddock. No headcollar or restraints I went to pick up a hoof.

Cries from the boundary fence ” No don’t be crazy”. But it was OK I knew I got this!

Go to the back hoof…no problem. All 4 no problem. Better put a headcollar on…

10 days later I took that mare hunting with Mark Todd on Charisma. Horse of a lifetime. Ever grateful, I bloody loved that mare she taught me so much