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Born & bought up in Christchurch, New Zealand, Cheryl established her initial foundational training through the English style Pony Club system & she was the first person in NZ to achieve the prestigious A & H certificates at the same time. Cheryl competed successfully in dressage, eventing, show jumping & showing, winning many notable competitions.
Cheryl & her family moved to the UK in 1989 & spent 10 highly enjoyable years training & competing in dressage during that time. The highlight for her was spending 8 years at Sedgwick Park in West Sussex under the tutelage & guidance of Herr Franz Rochovansky & Olympic dressage rider Vicky Thompson. Whilst in England Cheryl attended both Brinsbury College & Pulborough College, attaining the BHS AI.
Upon returning to NZ in 1999, Cheryl set up her training yard & she teaches riders of all age groups. Cheryl was the coach of the Canterbury Pony Club Dressage team for 8 years, with consistently good results. She enjoyed great success with her horse Noble Bijou, who she brought back with her from England. She trained him to Advanced Medium dressage & Amelia attained her A certificate on him also.
Cheryl still remains a regular competitor at local events, currently riding her 4 year old Denzel who she bred. He is by Donnerubin & out of her mare Vienna, who she produced to Medium level dressage & also enjoyed a lot of success in the showring. She enjoys a close relationship with her daughter Amelia, & takes great pride & satisfaction in Amelia's achievements.
Amelia French
Amelia lived in England until she was 11 years old, and while there she rode for Judy Harvey and her mother, Mrs Jago from 1995 when she was 7years old, for four years. Amelia competed on young ponies in the show ring around England & won many prestigious titles including Horse of the Year at Wembly and the Royal International Horse Show.
Amelia moved to New Zealand with her family in 1999 when she was 11years old. Since being here, she has represented Canterbury 7 times in the Pony Club dressage team, being the captain for 4 of those years. In 2003 she was also a member of the winning Canterbury Eventing team. She is a keen competitor in the show ring and has won Champion rider under 21 at the Royal Canterbury A&P Show three times, and Champion rider over 21 twice so far.
On Champagne Glory, Amelia trained to & competed in her first PSG test when she was 18 years old, having taught Champagne Glory to do tempi changes and canter pirouettes. At the World Dressage Challenge in 2007 they gained a place in the New Zealand team after winning the Advanced section. They were judged by Mr Gabriel Armando from Argentina and Mrs Susan Hoevenaars from Australia.
In 2008 Amelia went back to England for a few months to visit family and to get some experience in a dressage yard there. She worked for Dane Rawlins for a couple of months at his yard in Bolney, and was able to ride every day and gain some valuable experience. Dane also runs Dressage at Hickstead so it was amazing to go & watch the international competition there.
In 2014 Amelia was fortunate enough to be offered a position at Carl Hester's yard in Gloucestershire, after having lessons with Charlotte Dujardin during her trip to NZ. Amelia stayed for 8 months & had the most amazing experience, seeing these professionals at work every day & also being able to ride their top horses including Valegro & Uthopia.
Amelia's current horses are Wisdom WDS and Wonderment; both 9 year old geldings by Whisper. Wisdom WDS is currently competing at Advanced (Level 6) and shows huge talent for the higher levels. He is the current Advanced Champion at the Canterbury Spring Series, Marlborough Dressage Championships & the Canterbury Dressage Championships in only his first season at this level.
Wonderment will be competing at Small Tour (Level 7) this season.
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