Q&A with Susan Skeggs

I first started driving when I was eleven, but had ridden since the age of 3. My eleventh birthday present was a 6 week driving course and that’s when I got the bug!

My team consists of four ponies Rolo, Scooter, Mally and Harley. I also have Beau who is ridden, but not yet driving yet as that is this winter’s project and Banjo who is retired from driving as he is now 18-years-old. Banjo still goes to Pony club with his jockey doing mounted games, ODE, dressage and show jumping.

I still have my first pony Rodney who is 23-years-old now. Rodney started my driving career, but is now semi-retired although he still goes riding with my nephews aged 3 and 5.

The ponies will now have a holiday for a couple of months and Beau will hopefully be broken to go in the carriage. The team will come back in to work probably just after Christmas and start walking out for at least 6 weeks. Workload will then steadily increase and this will include some ridden work.

Now the ponies are on their holidays the good doers literally get a handful of Alfa-Beet and Hi-Fi Lite, but Scooter will stay on his same ration over the winter to keep him in good condition!

My favourite Dengie product has to be Alfa-Beet. Katie Jewell, Area Sales Manager for the South East, first told me about this product a year ago when Banjo lost a lot of condition and looked awful due to a virus. Within a couple of weeks after introducing Alfa-Beet he looked fab and now the whole team have it. Scooter, who I struggle to keep weight on, has a larger quantity whilst the other fat ponies have just a handful. It’s so versatile; if I need more energy the ponies just get more without them losing the plot!!!

I don’t have any rituals that I stick to but I do like to make sure I have lip balm on before I go on a marathon. I know it’s weird, but I just can’t stand dry lips!

I have a great crew of people behind me and couldn’t compete without them. My parents, mum is chef at shows and Dad drives the lorry, my boyfriend Ben and friends Kirsty, Tina, and Maedee. They always get the ponies washed, plaited, studded up and ready to go. I trust them all completely so it means I can concentrate on walking the course or going through my dressage test and I know I don’t have to worry about being late as everything is done.

My aim for next season is to win the National Championships as this year was a disaster as I sustained an injury during the marathon. I’ve got all winter to recover and aim to come out next year fighting fit. I also aim to get good points for the selection events towards the end of the season ready for the 2011 World Pony Championships and to get a place on Team GB!