•Who you are and location: Debbie Ede living in a Coastguard Cottage on, allegedly, the highest plateau on the south coast of England. Down in the West Country and in a county where the cream goes on the scones first!
•Your occupation: Now retired after a varied and fun career. I started with a science degree then spent approximately ten years working with a sailing company, both at sea as crew (cruise cook and mate) and later senior management. Here I met my husband Pete and first worked with ‘H’, our membership secretary and a lifelong friend, back in, mmm, 1977 – when we were young! A graduate entry training scheme followed and a qualification in public sector finance with 20 years+ in the NHS in various Executive Director posts, then some freelance consultancy and, finally, local government…
•How long you have been riding: My mum sat me on a pony when I was small and round. However, apart from falling off, sitting was about the limit of my prowess until I reached my late 30’s when I got back onboard and acquired my first horse – a gypsy cob. I still fall off and am still round!
•How you became interested and involved with Icelandic horses: I was studying Equine Behaviour & Training, part time at Duchy College in Cornwall, in the early 2000’s and there was an Icelandic enthusiast on that course – we did our course homework together, designing the ideal riding stables and establishment, for Iceys of course!
•Your horses – Past and present: Josie, my 1st foray into horse ownership, was a wonderful HW gypsy cob – chunky but she could keep up with a thoroughbred if she set her mind to it – those quarters had a lot of power in them. Next came Molly, a rather sorry looking little Irish cob who just happened to come home with me, by accident, whilst we were looking for a horse for a friend’s daughter – she turned into a beautiful riding horse. Then Josie had a spirited skewbald filly foal Martini, after which Shadow, a Dartmoor Hill Pony, arrived…. In 2007 the herd grew to five as along came Glinga from Oakwood, my first Icelandic! Hmmm….then came a few more Icelandics plus old age/mortality overtook some others and now I have just three: Grautur – retired, Roka – my beautiful black Icelandic mare but one who finds tŐlt a challenging conundrum, and Sol fra Sydri Reykum who is teaching me a lot.
•What you most enjoy doing with your horses: my relationship with them, hacking and the friendships made within the Icey community thanks to the horses! But also the absolute buzz of attending a training session/clinic and the inspiration at the close when you know you have both improved and have homework to fulfil the trainer’s adage of ‘could do better!’
•Any goals/ambitions you have: to improve my riding skills – they need it!
•What other interests you have: living in a beautiful part of the world, albeit a tourist hot spot, being outside in the countryside with the dogs (just one though ATM) takes a lot of beating. However, trips to Iceland have also become a favourite pastime…but rather an expensive one!
