Follow High Beech Horse Riding School, Essex

Rio as he is known is a kindly soul. He moves on well and is a comfortable ride. He arrived in the yard in January 2007 as a seven-year-old. He is named after a bar frequented by Chris and Becky in Spain on holiday.

Albert is as bright as his bright bay colour suggests. He enjoys work and jumping in particular and has gone from strength to strength since he first came to us in December 2004, then aged 11.

Anjou is a nice palomino pony, goes first or last and is a very useful little mare. She was outgrown by her previous owner and arrived in April 2003 as a pony rising 7. She is named after the wine Gloria and Alf drank at their wedding.

A large handsome boy standing over 16 hands. He is an excellent hack but thinks doing lessons is a mug's game. He was named after St Austell where again Chris and Becky spent several happy holidays. He arrived in May 2005 as a 7 year-old.

High Beech Horse Riding School were honoured to be chosen by the City of London to have one of their beautiful horses when their Mounted Rangers section closed. He is a perfect gentleman standing 17 hands and was 14 when he came in August 2009.

She is shaped like a pig and looks like a bull about to charge however looks aren’t everything and she is actually very good with children both beginner and advanced in the school or out on a hack. Named by Emma as we thought she was a boy when she first arrived in June 2006 as a 14 year-old.

Brandy named after a family trip to Berlin is enjoying a well-deserved retirement. He was born in the Cotswolds on a farm Gloria still visits in June 1990 and we brought him home in June 1994 He’s a real family man.

He is a beautiful registered Hafflinger standing 14.2hh. We call him a pretty boy but he doesn’t seem to mind. He arrived from Germany in August 2006 as a 10 year old. He is a good all-rounder both on a hack and in the school. He was named after another of Chris and Becky’s holiday destinations.

A little pony with ugly red eyes that run from time to time but it would be hard to find a kinder one. He is happy with lessons or on a hack and can do the “wall of death” on the long side of the school and round the end – enjoy the G force as he doesn’t buck, always a bonus. Named after the cottage Gloria stayed in in Barbados. He arrived in May 2005 at the tender age of 7.

Registered as “Navestock Lucky Lad” he arrived as a 4 year-old in 1999. Totally non-confrontational, a worrier of this world. Always gives of his best and is enjoyed by adults and children alike.

Can be fast on a ride if he has been standing in or slow in the school if he has decided to take the day off. He is very clever and can be infuriating. He arrived in 1999 at the tender age of 5. A friend of Gloria’s in Bombay, India had a baby which was not expected to live however against all odds the baby survived and was given the all clear during Diwali just as an unnamed black gelding arrived at the yard. What else could we call him!

Registered as Aurielway George Henry Dudley he arrived as a 9 year-old in July 2003. He was purchased from Docklands Equestrian Centre as he had become stale just working in the school there and hadn’t settled to only doing lessons as there is no hacking. He is a very kind horse, loves his jumping and is suitable for beginners or advanced with impeccable stable manners.

She arrived around the time of the total eclipse in 1999 as an 8 year-old and being black thought the name would suit her. She grinds her teeth and sounds terrible but it's all for effect. She is the best beginners horse we possess.

Following the loss of a much-loved pony we called him Elvis to make people laugh, however, as fewer and fewer people have actually heard of the Elvis the laugh is now on us. Our Elvis arrived in June 2005 when he was 7. He only goes round the indoor school one way…fast. At 10hh his legs go like pistons – don’t watch his legs you’ll get dizzy. A real fun ride.

Gloria went to buy a chestnut and came back with a palomino in May 1994 as a bright eyed 6 year-old. She settled in after six months and since then has been an absolute treasure. She does little in the school as she bores easily but is the perfect hack for both nervous children and light adults and looks after everybody.

Cush is Chris’ retired mare. He had a lot of fun jumping and hunting her when she was younger. She arrived here in 1995 at the age of 7 as a “roarer” but following an operation at Rossdales for “Hobday & Tie Back” performed by Tim Grete she never looked back.

Vltava’s first foal is a very sweet tempered youngster born on 23rd April 2007 and is owned and named by Chris. Miguel was very nervous at first, but soon took a shine to Cat, Chris’s girlfriend. She is now breaking him in to ride, and he is turning into a well-mannered young pony who always tries his best.

Monty, as he is known, came to us in May 2002 aged 11 and is a very genuine horse used for lessons and hacking. A friend of Gloria’s was married to a member of Lord Mountbatten’s government in India before partition – hence his name.

AKA the Thug. Acts like a naughty schoolboy and at 16hh is not always funny. When he has finished his feed he “Frisbees” his bowl over the stable door and across the yard, it comes out at great speed a bit like “Odd job’s” hat. He is a good safe ride and an excellent lunge horse in the school. He was born on 11th May 1999 and came to us in 2007.

Every yard has one - he is ours! – Victor Meldrew. Gloria used to describe him as not a morning person but doesn’t think he’s an afternoon or evening person either. He came in 2006 at 12 and is a typical fast skinny thoroughbred and a very experienced ride.

The only horse at the yard not owned by the school as he belongs to Becky our excellent long suffering Yard Manager. Panache, named after a cheap French shandy would you believe, came to the yard with Albert in December 2004 as a 7 year old. He doesn’t like to work very much so the few demands Becky makes on him suit him very well. Following several serious eye infections one of his eyes had to be removed last year but he has made a good recovery. Although he can now only see with one eye he doesn’t miss much believe me.

Purchased in 2007 at 7 he is a good children’s all rounder with no hang-ups. He lives with his best friend Toby.

A quirky patterned skewbald with one blue eye and one brown, ridden by adults and children alike – including Richard Bacon on the Big Breakfast Show with Johnny Vaughan and Denise Van Outen. He’s been with us since 2001 when he was 11 and was named after the stunning Rambagh Palace in Rajastan, India where Chris and Gloria were privileged to be able to stay.

He was almost 10 when he came to the yard in 2004. He had previously been a successful show pony and only came onto the market because his owners had no rider for him. He still has his extravagant action, which makes him a popular choice amongst the children.

A perfect lady named after Lady Roshan J Ghandy of Jamshedpur – another perfect lady. She was 9 when she arrived back in August 1985. Always a woman on a mission taking her job very seriously usually as lead file. Such a privilege to have owned such an exceptional mare.

Roshan’s sidekick. Man on a mission. Little bay pony going greyer by the day. A special person good with the smallest child or the shyest new pony – often used to keep newly weaned youngsters company. Grows a really thick coat as he prepares for winter in a big way and then closely resembles a moth-eaten hearthrug as he spends three months losing it. He was purchased in 2002 and was born in 1980.

Registered “Springbourne Campion” Rusty was foaled in 1989 and came to us in 2000. Very good with people but likes his own space where other horses are concerned, nor does he like loud noises. We dread the firework season as much as he does.

Registered Charma Moonshine she was born on 19th October 1990 and came here in November 1997. An excellent child’s first pony she was originally very porky. Unfortunately she suffered several attacks of laminitis and had to go on a strict diet. She is now an enviable size zero and laminitis is a thing of the past.

Originally a Pony Club pony from a hunting family home. She arrived in April 2000 at 14. She can be fast in the indoor school if fresh but really looks after her riders out hacking in the forest. She gets her name from Chris’ favourite ski run in Andorra and has the right colour for it.

Tamasha is the name of a Hindu Shindig; we call her Tammy for short or sometimes Paris Hilton! She is a proper little madam – sulks and stamps her feet. She is becoming a big girl now and was born on April 21st 2009. She is Gloria’s second Tammy.

He has been with us since November 2006 when he was 16. He is a great favourite of both children and lighter adults. He is another thoroughly genuine little horse.

Purchased in June 1995 at the age of 5 she soon became a firm favourite both in the school and out on rides. She worked hard for us and then in 2005 went lame. She was turned out to grass for a rest and to run with a stallion. Finally she produced a pretty colt foal on 23rd April 2007 for Chris who named him Miguel. She appeared sound but before she could be brought home she became “inflagrante” again and on 21st April 2009 a filly foal was born. Gloria has called her Tamasha. Vltava gets her name from the river that runs through Prague after a very enjoyable family trip there.