Sharon’s a shining light in the world of dressage!

When Sharon Earey won the Welsh Preliminary Dressage Championships at Mount Ballan Manor in Chepstow it was fitting reward for a great deal of hard work and total commitment after a life-long love of equestrianism.

Their success came in June and over the two days of intense competition Sharon and her horse, Brownscombe Fernando, did really well. Although a relative ‘baby’ at six years of age, ‘Fernando’ performed well to gain second place on the first day and even better 24 hours later to be in top spot for the day – and overall winner as reward!

Close partnership

Sharon had qualified for the championships over the dressage period prior to her two-day trek to the David Broome’s superb facilities in Chepstow – and her partnership with a horse she clearly loves to bits has also earned her a place in the British Regional Championships in August at the same venue, from where the top four go on to compete in the British National Championships a month later and take on the professionals, as well as other aspiring amateurs.

“We all have that ambition,” admitted Sharon, “and although it means a great deal of commitment we will give it our best shot and just see how it goes.”

Perfect fit between horse and rider

Sharon’s success with ‘Fernando’ is all the more terrific because she has only had the 17.3 hands horse for 18 months.

"We originally bought ‘Fernando’ for my husband Tom, who also competes in dressage, but to be honest Tom wasn’t really taken with him.

“ ‘Fernando’ is a British Warmblood, this country’s equivalent of the Hanoverian breed in Germany, which we bought from Penny Padmore – and from the very first time that I sat on his back it felt absolutely perfect for me, although he is a big beast for me because I am only 5’ 7” and weigh 9.5 stone.

“Luckily, he has a lovely temperament, doesn’t mind the long-distance travelling to events, and enjoys all the training that we have to do.”

Practice aplenty

Sharon and her horse work out six days a week, including four dressage sessions where he is learning to respond more every day to her sensitive touch in a range of exercises to show the judges his rhythm, balance and obedience. These include transitional work, moving from trot to canter and back, free walks, circles and a whole heap more.

“I mustn’t have tension in my body and control him by my body weight and tiny manoeuvres from my fingers.”

Family support

Sharon’s husband Tom is also an experienced dressage rider.

“He’s also got the added bonus that he does a good job of driving the lorry”, says Sharon with a chuckle, “and he’s a great help to me”.

“We also have support from Margaret Johns at Castle Morris Feeds because she orders in food especially for Tom and me.”

Her parents, Tom and Valmai Owen, bred ponies and her sister Eryl Thomas has also been a keen rider so horses have traditionally been a part of the family’s life, with ‘Duke’ as her first pony when she was 11.

“Dad was the vicar at Wolfsdale and there was a nearby field that was part of the living accommodation and so we always had ponies and in the 1970s, as a member of the Pembrokeshire Pony Club and the West Wales Riding Club I took part in Section B and pony riding competitions, as well as showing horses at the County and Royal Welsh Shows”.

Dressage interest grew

When she started out in the world of work Sharon gained her British Horse Society Institute’s qualification and took three years out of teaching languages to train horses.
I
t was at this time that she began her interest in dressage and it grew into something important in her life. Prior to her meeting up with ‘Fernando’ she rode a Belgian Warmblood named ‘Connie’, and Sharon smiles at the thought of her.

“She was a real sweetheart but a little bit nuts as well. One day she would be just perfect and the next so excitable that you’d think it wasn’t the same horse. So competitions were often interesting, to say the least.”

Odd down moments

Ask Sharon about ‘down moments’ and she is quick to respond.

“Probably my biggest disappointment was my mare Anna going lame at 10 (I'd had her since she was two). I never achieved what I set out to on her but I bred two youngsters from her, backed them and sold them on as they were too small for us. Their sale financed the purchase of Fernando, who is definitely my horse of a lifetime!”
Having said that, Sharon says that even Fernando can have his off day.

“We went to the PEP Plan Championships last year in Pencoed and he immediately decided it was a scary place. Perhaps it was the fact that there were two judges in the ring, instead of the usual one, that caused him to be nervous. But it is all part of his learning curve and he hasn’t reacted in that way since.”

Busy schedule

A recent event at Aberaeron (the ‘Celaeron’) shows how busy Sharon and Tom can be on a weekend. After Sharon plaits ‘Fernando’ and does all the other early jobs needed, the pair drove up the coast road ready to be there by 11.15 latest for a 12.30 start. Sharon and ‘Fernando’ then warm up with a series of exercises and generally get him used to the fact that there are so many other horses and people about over a period of about 30 minutes.

Their first event was the Prelim 19, which is part of the qualification for the Regional Championships, and later in the day the ‘Higher Test’, which is even more demanding because in seven minutes horse and rider have to show their ability, rhythm, balance and his obedience to her instructions in forming circles, free walks, transition into trot and canter, all to her minute changes in the way the reins are held.

Then there’s the long journey home and ‘Fernando’ has to be settled back into his routine at home.

“But it’s a labour of love,” says Sharon with a smile, “because I really do enjoy seeing how all our hard work comes to fruition in the dressage ring.”

And finally . . .

“I just love being involved with horses in general and ‘Fernando’ in particular. It’s sometimes challenging but always great fun and I am already looking forward to more competitions.”

She is clearly very enthusiastic and provides a wonderful example to young equestrians – and we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk can only say, long may Sharon Earey continue to grace dressage with ‘Brownscombe Fernando’!