Those of you with an involvement in the riding club net work, pony club, one day events, showcross and dressage will know that an event usually goes 'hand in hand' with Robert Blane.

Born to a dairy farmer from Cheshire in 1954, Robert's life from the age of six has been dedicated to his equestrian friends - the four and two-legged varieties.

"My father came home with this scratchy 12.2hh pony called Robin who had only just been broken in," he said. "Believe me when I say that if you could ride Robin you could ride absolutely anything. I used him to bring in the cattle and even remember riding him to school on occasions. I was allowed to join the Cheshire South Pony Club with him, and we were off."

Robert stayed with the Cheshire South until the age of 17. Once he had outgrown Robin, Night Hawk, otherwise known as Niggy, came into his life. "Niggy was terrific, he was the kind of pony that every child should have the pleasure of owning, absolutely nothing fazed him."

Eventing had taken a hold and at 16 Robert's first serious event horse Spoil Sport joined his yard. Together they climbed the scale to become an advanced level horse and rider. "I was doing the three-day event at Tidworth on him and we completed the steeple-chase section 15 seconds under the allotted time, he was that fast," said Robert.

Sporty was sold as Robert went to study archaeology at Sheffield University, but the need to get back to equestrianism outgrew the need to stay at university and he dropped out. Robert then passed his Pony Club A test and his BHSAI examination with Janet Sturrock in Rutland in just three weeks. He took up the position as assistant stable manager at Crabbet Park, where he met his wife, Fran. "I believe that to learn more about horses you have to move around to gain experience," Robert said. He and Fran moved to Kent, where he took the position of chief instructor and stable manager for Captain Kendall's string of event horses. Robert had ten superb eventers under his charge and Fran had a new baby girl, born in 1976, called Eleanor.

In 1978 Robert passed BHSII and BHSI exams and was offered the chance to run a large equestrian centre at Haddington, East Lothian. That year the couple had their second child, Ben. In Scotland Robert discovered Point to Pointing. "I had a livery yard as part of the centre and one of my clients had two point to pointers and no rider. He asked me to ride and I accepted," he said.

It was on one of these horses, Merry Leap, that he won his first race. Robert ended his time in Scotland on a high note, becoming Scottish Novice Point to Point Champion in 1980. A year later Robert and Fran bought their house in Pickhill near Thirsk. National Hunt trainer Michael Dickinson had horses for Robert. "He had wonderful horses and such experience, it was a pleasure to be involved" he said.

Dickinson's horse Fort Hall and Can't Catch Me owned by Shelly Ward, gave him his first winning double at West Norfolk Point to Point. Riding club had also entered his life as rider and instructor; even here Robert didn't do things by halves; in 1985 he became the National Riding Club Event Champion riding Rembrandt owned by Jo Swiers.

During this period, which included the birth of the couple's third child, Emma, Robert was chief instructor for the Bedale and West of Yore Pony Club. He achieved great results; in 1985 he got the PC teams to the championships, which the show jumping team went on to win. It was the first time in 20 years that a team was represented from the Bedale and West of Yore.

"Every child is capable of doing something well, even if it is only hacking out. They need encouragement and guidance and receiving correct instruction at novice levels heads them on the right road," Robert said. "Because we do this, the standard of riding is so much better, and we currently have some staggeringly good riders at the moment."

Robert's organisational skills are known to many. For the pony club he organises rallies, team show jumping, team training and one-day events. He prepares PC tests as well as being an experienced examiner. He also organises events for Northallerton Riding Club and the West of Yore hunt.

Three serious riding accidents have left their mark. Robert may not be racing any more but he has made up for that on a large scale with everything else that he does. The newest string to his ever-increasing equestrian bow is my sport, endurance riding. Robert may have trained me as a child but I hope that it is now my turn to return the favour!

Published: 01/04/2005