Flora Harris Team

 

Charlotte is a new member of the team starting in January 2012 but she has a wealth of experience behind her having worked previously for Olympic Medalist Daisy Dick before grooming at Advanced and CCI*** level in New Zealand for two years. Charlotte will be travelling with Flora to all her major competitions and we are very excited about having such a professional groom join the head of the team.

 

Harriet worked for team Harris full time during the winter of 2011, and now helps Flora at some competitions and often helps to look after the yard at home when Flora is away. She is always a very positive person to have around, she is excellent at making tea and Flora is also very much looking forward to riding Harriet's lovely schoolmaster around some CCI*'s during the 2012 season.

 

Jon is a Performance Coach and whilst working in a multitude of sports, he has worked extensively in the Sports Science of equestrian sports for the past 10 years. Jon continues to work closely with some of the world’s leading riders including: Lucy Wiegersma, William Fox-Pitt, Mary King and more recently has been appointed the Human Performance Coach to the Australian Equestrian Team, working across all Olympic disciplines. Alongside this, Jon continues to work with the PJA, BHA and the IJF to make racing safer.

Flora is an official Fit to Ride Ambassador and Jon’s work with her has developed down two major strands. Firstly, he has looked at and taken a physical and mental approach, identifying key interrelated aspects of her riding to specifically develop. The second approach has been to offer business support, recognising that in line with being an athlete a rider simultaneously has a business to run. Through his own ‘athlete development programme’ he has been able to expand this side of Flora’s career whilst offering valuable guidance and advice throughout.

 

I have now been working with Brigid for many years and she is totally irreplaceable! Brigid is hugely experienced having originally trained in Germany before returning to the UK to act as dressage trainer to Lucinda Green (6 times Badminton winner) and the British Team. Brigid’s methods are truly correct and she strongly believes in all the horses going in a soft and balanced way and most of all enjoying their work. I would be lost without her!

 

Caroline (pronounced Carolyn) is based at Warren Farm in Devon. Caroline has evented herself to top level and now acts as trainer to various youth programs in the South West as well as trainer to GB Team member Lucy Wiergesma. Caroline is a wonderful help and although I don’t manage to get to Devon as much as I would like she is always on the end of the phone if I need her and always walks the courses and warms me up at the big ones.

 

 

Fred is an international show jump trainer and coach and has evented to top level as well as riding for Sweden Internationally in Show Jumping. We have only recently started to work together but already I can feel a huge improvement in the horses’ show jumping. Fred is founder of Up Top Equestrian and is based just 5 minutes away from me at Claydon, so whilst working with Fred is a great training opportunity it is also very convenient!

 

Nick has been my farrier for as long as I can remember and is a crucial to keeping the horses sound and happy. No horse is too difficult for Nick and he is somewhat of a magician transforming any horse with less than perfect feet into a text book case. Nick also travels to the larger 3 day events to ensure my horses are kept absolutely at their best and change shoes if necessary.

 

Mark, who is partner at Bourton Vale Equine Clinic, has been our regular vet since I moved to Oxfordshire last year. Mark was also the team vet when I travelled to the European Championships with the Young Rider Squad. Mark has extensive experience with competition horses and is always just a phone call away with a wealth of knowledge and advice. Bourton Vale is a fantastic clinic with all the latest in modern technology, able to detect even the most minor of issues.

 

Annabelle trained with the world renowned Mary Bromily, and is responsible for keeping the whole team (humans & horses) feeling their best. She treats most of the horses monthly and is a regular face on the yard when we stop for tea! She also accompanies us to most of our 3-days, helping the horses to perform at their absolute best. For more information on Equine and Human sports physiotherapy contact Annabelle on -07980090665

 

Vicky is a McTimmony chiropractor who has just recently started to work with me and the horses, the difference has been remarkable and she is becoming a vital key to keeping my horses’ straight, level and on the road. Ensuring the horses are skeletally in the right place is essential ensuring their muscles build up correctly and evenly. For more information contact Vicky – 07870173644

 

Dean has been looking after my horses’ teeth since I moved to Oxfordshire and now treats them all twice a year to make sure they feel comfortable and at their best all the time. Dean strongly believes that keeping a horse’s mouth in good health is crucial to them performing at their best and we work closely together discussing each horse’s individual needs and requirements often discovering what bits may suite each horse’s conformation better. For more details contact Dean – 07770405598

 

We are very lucky to be fully supported by Sarah from Spillers for all our nutritional needs. Sarah visits the yard regularly to monitor the horses weight and condition and is always on the end of the phone offering invaluable advice and expertise.

 

Jane has been a huge and invaluable supporter of Team Harris since she bought Law Choice with my mother back in 2007. Jane is a senior partner at Kingsley Knapley solicitors and recently founder of Elkington Stud based at Oathill Farm. In providing me not only with my top horse but also my fantastic yard Jane is firmly at the top of the list of important people!

 

Sue has been part of team Harris for many years and is a very important member of the team. Not only does she fiercely support both of her lovely horses but she also looks after us all very well at competitions making sure we are fed and watered. We are delighted to have Sue and her husband Martin as part of Flora Harris Eventing.

 

My mother Caroline is undoubtedly my number one supporter and I am unbelievably grateful for all her help, backing and encouragement over the years. Mum loves all of the horses and never misses a big occasion. She is masterful at packing the lorry, organising paperwork and entries and mucking in with the dirty work. She is endlessly patient and never pressurises me or any of the horses. She is the backbone of Flora Harris Eventing.

 

Penelope is a newer member to Flora Harris Eventing, owning the stunning Beaurepaire Jasper. Jasper was previously ridden by Lucy and Sam Griffiths so he has been produced beautifully and we are very excited about working with him and Peneolpe for the forthcoming seasons.

 

Jenny qualified from Harper Adams University in 2005, with a BSc Human and Equine Sports Science. Since then she has worked in several spheres of the equine industry. These include nutrition, as a competition groom on a dressage yard, at riding schools, as Manager of The Exmoor Pony Centre, volunteer teacher at The Dartmoor Pony Training Centre. She currently works with people and their horses to help create better relationships and understanding.

 

Jenny began training with Intelligent Horsemanship in 2008, after witnessing first hand the difference this approach makes to the attitude and training of the horse. In 2011 she gained the Monty Roberts Preliminary Certificate Of Horsemanship and is working towards becoming a Recommended Associate of Intelligent Horsemanship.

 

Jenny uses a combination of training techniques based on pressure and release. Each training stage is divided into incremental steps, ensuring each step is solid before moving onto the next. The methods are logical to the horse and are based around their own body language, so that the message and reward can be conveyed as clearly as possible with the maximum efficiency and effect.

 

Jenny is based in Somerset and is contactable by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it