Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2015 | Page 92

EQUESTRIAN

Strike it Lucky!
We speak to Melanie Newnham
about the love of her life, Striker

M

elanie’s husband wanted to
surprise her by buying her a
horse for her birthday in 1994.
He was bought at 7 months old from
the late Phil Legge, a local breeder and
horse dealer.
Melanie used to work for Phil at
Brickfields Horse Country. “I saw this
horse everyday and I really took a liking
to it.
“It was the only horse that used to come
up to me and say hello. So if I was going to
buy a horse this would have to be the one.
“Upon getting him home people
would say what an ugly horse he was,
but I could see through this. People said
he’s terrible, what have you bought? I
used to say ‘he’ll be fine’, thank God I
was right!”
Striker is half shire and half
connemara. He was not the best
looking horse in the stables, but
Melanie just had an immediate
connection with him. She took him
home and their partnership began.
Over the next few years Melanie
spent hours slowly training and
backing him, ready to begin his
ridden life, with help from others.
“There were the odd occasions
where he decided enough was
enough and I ended up on the floor.
“Striker was not always the
easiest horse to ride in traffic as a
youngster, however with patience
and perseverance his confidence
grew.
“We spent the next few years
competing locally, showing and
showjumping with some success.
Throughout this time he started
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to show ability. “
Melanie commented “I suffer from
really bad nerves before events, so I knew
I wasn’t the one to take Striker further. It
was only fair that someone more capable
should take him on to better things.
“During this time I used to go and have
lessons at Lake Farm with Sue Holmes,
and together we worked hard and
progressed even further. Sue was a good
instructor as I was not the easiest person
to teach.”
From then on Sue’s daughter, Sarah
took over Strikers training, in preparation
for him to start eventing.
Sarah continued to ride Striker for
five years, two years on and off with the
riding club, then three years eventing.

“Striker has been
a wonderful horse
and has achieved far
more than we ever
expected”
In 2010 Striker and Sarah competed in
the Milton Keynes three day event and
were placed 3rd.
Striker and Sarah competed in
unaffiliated events where they won the