"I am 30 years of age and in my third year as a professional event rider. At 5ft I am a little short for my liking but I do not let it hinder my riding and my horses respect me. I believe that I have the attributes needed to get to the top of the sport – dedication, hard work, talent and enthusiasm. I am a perfectionist but I always strive to be honest and down to earth.

I know that to succeed in this sport a certain amount of “luck” is required, but I do believe in making my own luck and creating opportunities. I have produced many of the horses I compete from scratch, providing them with the best education and ground work I can. Many of the horses that are sent to me are not particularly easy but I enjoy assessing behaviour and working with rather than against them. I really enjoy working with ex-race horses; re-educating them so they can have success in a new career.

In 2008 I was named as one of the 100 to watch for the following season in the Horse & Hound magazine. Due to the pressures of establishing my own yard and the sad early retirement of a couple of my best horses my eventing career was forced to take a back seat for a couple of seasons. I am so excited about the start of the 2011 season as I feel I have some truly talented horses which, with a bit of luck, could do exceptionally well, so watch this space..."

Although Colina comes from a knowledgeable horsey family, her riding career only began at the age of eight when her parents could take no more of her relentless pleading for a four-legged friend.

Colina was a keen and competitive member of the Warwickshire Hunt Pony Club and tried her hand at most disciplines, including eventing, show jumping, Prince Philip Cup and Tetrathlon.

Her first real taste of success on the eventing scene came on board Nictim, a 15hh grey gelding. He was brought from show jumper Steve Hadley for Colina’s older sister, but when she headed off to university Colina took up the reins. Although hugely talented, Nictim was not the most straightforward horse. Colina persevered but did not get any real help until, as part of her university degree, she went to Bill and Jenny Levett’s event yard as a working pupil.

During her first year working for Bill she started eventing Nictim at BE novice and intermediate level. She returned to Bill’s yard as his head girl and support rider after completing her degree.  During this time she learnt “the trade” from a true horseman and professional and was given the opportunity to compete a range of quality horses at different levels.

In her spare time Colina started teaching and found that she had a natural flare. She now trains the Warwickshire Pony Club’s Area teams as well as riders at every level both in the Pony Club and British Eventing. After five years at Bill’s she felt that she had gained the knowledge and skill needed to start up her own eventing yard, and has not looked back since.