Someone made a pony-less girl very happy...

Try old local newspapers from around that time - there might have been show reports with her name if she was organising shows?
 
Amazing story, real inspiration. If you can't find her what about setting out to pay it forward? You probably do lots of stuff anyway but something that clicks just for her...
 
RuthM said:
Amazing story, real inspiration. If you can't find her what about setting out to pay it forward? You probably do lots of stuff anyway but something that clicks just for her...
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I would love to pay it forward, I wonder what I could do?

I have been on Google all day, trying to track down any connection with Surbition and skewbalds! Now I'm trying to see if I can find the old issue of Pony magazine I was in, because it must have her name in the clipping. I just emailed a whole bunch of vintage magazine sellers. I think my best bet though is the BSPA themselves, they must know surely (fingers crossed)
 
Why don't you write a letter to Horse and Hound (I think you can email them in these days). There is a letters page which is printed each week. Everyone in the horsey world reads it, and I'm sure if your letter was published (and it is such a lovely story it made me feel quite tearful!) that you'll find someone gets in touch.

Good luck with your search!
 
What a lovely story, sounds like something out of the 'Jill' books!
I wish you the best of luck trying to track her down :)
 
Found her!
She didn't live in Surbiton at all, she lived in SHEPPERTON! I remember my mum saying, "that's where they make films".I was just sitting here watching TV and that popped into my head from nowhere! All I had to do then was Google "Shepperton" and "Skewbald" and there she was! Her name is Diane, she is still putting on shows, and doing loads for horse and dog charities too, by the looks of it. I have her address now, so I'm going to hand-write her a proper thank you letter. Bless her! What a thing to do for an unhappy little kid she didn't even know.
 
Just read that you have found her - how lovely & what a lovely thing she did for you when you were little :)
 
What a lovely lady. Such a wonderful thing to do. I'm sure she'll appreciate your letter and the effort you've gone to to find her. Especially that you still think of that weekend and that you're still riding.
 
Epona78 said:
Found her!
She didn't live in Surbiton at all, she lived in SHEPPERTON! I remember my mum saying, "that's where they make films".I was just sitting here watching TV and that popped into my head from nowhere! All I had to do then was Google "Shepperton" and "Skewbald" and there she was! Her name is Diane, she is still putting on shows, and doing loads for horse and dog charities too, by the looks of it. I have her address now, so I'm going to hand-write her a proper thank you letter. Bless her! What a thing to do for an unhappy little kid she didn't even know.
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Brilliant! :D So glad you've tracked her down, she sounds like such a special lady. How lovely of you to write to her all these years later, I'm sure it'll mean so much to her to know how much you appreciated it (and still do!) Let us know if you get a response! Lovely story. x
 
Wow, what a lovely story. I can imagine how excited you must have been when you received the invitation. And what a lovely lady Diane is!
Just edited to add, nosily looked your search up on google and was surprised to see Diane is related to the Shields Show which I went to with my younger sister and her friend about 8 years ago! It was a lovely show we really enjoyed the day!
 
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Cheiro1 said:
Epona did you ever get a response from this? :)
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No, purely because I didn't give her my return address when I wrote to her - I didn't want her to think I was after another riding weekend or anything, haha! I hope it was enough to just say thank you. She might not even remember me, from what I remember she was a foster carer, or worked with children in some way, she may well have given many unhappy little girls the same experience.
 
Epona78 said:
No, purely because I didn't give her my return address when I wrote to her - I didn't want her to think I was after another riding weekend or anything, haha! I hope it was enough to just say thank you. She might not even remember me, from what I remember she was a foster carer, or worked with children in some way, she may well have given many unhappy little girls the same experience.
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What a remarkable lady. There's lots of pony mad but pony less children around, but sadly elf and safety means those of us with spare ponies and time can't help them out. Parents are so suspicious too :(
 
I know Diane & she is a truly lovely lady! She still keeps her horses there and still has skewbalds - she breeds as well. She won the Mars win a dream competition and won a horse which started her off (if my memory is right!). She runs the Shield Shows at her place in Shepperton still! :)
 
Bit late for this year, but why dont you just poodle down to the show next year and have a nose around , they are lovely shows, great for beginners as they will tell you what your doing wrong, tack and dress code etc. very friendly and relaxed. And only £5 an entry bargain!! and very smart rosttes, and a small trophy for first. Brilliant!!!! :)
 
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