Our Team
Sara Burdess (nee Deary)
Sara has competed at all levels of eventing, from pre-novice (BE100) up to Badminton 4*. She has also competed up to medium level dressage and foxhunter show jumping. She has taught all ages of clients from 2 to 50 with a wide variety of abilities and ambitions. A number of clients are successfully competing at all levels of eventing and dressage . Sara is currently undertaking her UK Coaching Certificate level 2 and is accredited to teach for the Pony Club.
Sara has been riding since she was a toddler. Her mum had her hunting at the age of 3 on lead rein and she soon learnt to either stick on or if she fell off to get back on and keep going and this is something she likes to instil in all her clients today. The majority of her ponies and horses in the past have been produced by Sara from youngsters and this is still the same today. She has grown up through Pony Club in a branch set up by her mum, The Braes of Derwent (South). She now teaches at rallies and trains successful teams. Sara started her competition riding in the showing ring. As a 6 year old she was learning her presentation and jumping skills in show hunter and working hunter ponies. Gillian Clifford and her mother Sheila kept her on the straight and narrow and gave her that ability to present a horse to it's best. Sara qualified for all the major championships including HOYS. This has given her an excellent base to use for the dressage arena, and to guide her clients.
Danielle Cook - Head Groom - Age 18
Despite her young age Danielle has already groomed for Sara at several major 3 day events including 2 Burghleys. When she left school she joined Sara's yard full time, In her first year she passed her BHS stage1 and her Pony Club B test.
She hadn't competed at all in BE eventing, until 2 years ago. Sara found her an event horse on loan, and this has given her the confidence to move up the grades quickly. In 2009 she hopes to compete in a CCI1* three day event and complete her BHS stage 3.
Jenny Deary
Jenny, Sara's mum, is the District Commissioner of the Braes of Derwent (South) Pony Club. She has ridden since she was a child, and competed at novice level horse trials, until Sara's showing commitment became too much to do both. Although rarely in the saddle these days she may be spotted on special occasions taking Buster for a ride through the woods for a nice plod. She is the team manager and keeps everybody in the right place at the right time.
Courtney Stuart - Part time Groom
Courtney is currently studying for her GCSE's but works for Sara at the weekends. Since joining Sara's team she has taken several of the event horses to Pony Club rallies and competitions as she doesn't currently have her own horse to ride. Her confidence has really grown since having the opportunity to ride the event horses.