All about Orange Fox Eventing
First of all I should start by explaining how Orange Fox came about.
Its quite simple really but if you don't know me prior to Eventing you may not know that orange is my favourite colour (as it is brilliantly bright and cheerful) and that my maiden name is Fox. When I married John I was undecided for a while about changing my name to be double-barrelled and call myself 'Mosley-Fox' but actually in the end it was easier to stick with Mosley and use Fox when ordering take-away!
Over the years John has allowed my orangeyness to grow from orange sleeves on my cross country top to basically everything orange from my stirrup irons to my lorry! I also have some orange foxy knickers (they even have ears!) that are my lucky pants but I hopefully won't be flashing those to you anytime soon!
Its quite simple really but if you don't know me prior to Eventing you may not know that orange is my favourite colour (as it is brilliantly bright and cheerful) and that my maiden name is Fox. When I married John I was undecided for a while about changing my name to be double-barrelled and call myself 'Mosley-Fox' but actually in the end it was easier to stick with Mosley and use Fox when ordering take-away!
Over the years John has allowed my orangeyness to grow from orange sleeves on my cross country top to basically everything orange from my stirrup irons to my lorry! I also have some orange foxy knickers (they even have ears!) that are my lucky pants but I hopefully won't be flashing those to you anytime soon!
21 months old on Pepsi
I started life on the west coast of Cumbria with my older sister and parents. I don't remember when I first sat on a horse as I was about 6 weeks old (held, rather than sat I suspect!) and my first competition was a lead rein fancy dress when I was 18months! I was very fortunate to have parents who sacrificed so much to allow my sister and I to have ponies.
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With Mum, Dad and Sarah, we travelled all over Britain to compete at British Showjumping affiliated shows with several different ponies over the years. My most successful pony was the extremely talented 13.2hh gelding Blonde Bombshell. We won many classes together and I was lucky enough to represent my country at home pony internationals on him twice. We even graced the front cover of the BSJA monthly Showjumper magazine as my sister had qualifed her pony for the Horse of the Year Show and they came to do a feature on us! As an adult I'd like to apologise to my mum for what I chose to wear that day! (face palm!) |
Blonde Bombshell
I should have gone with orange instead of a green tracksuit!
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I moved onto horses and not only produced my young horse Rocky (Civil Engineer) up to Foxhunter but I competed my sisters grade A mare Lakeland Masquarade in under 18's missing out qualifying for HOYS on a couple of occasions by one placing!
At this time I had started work, and it was a struggle to balance everything so I decided to take a break from horses and concentrate on my training as a Veterinary Nurse
Brad, a super jumper competing in Oz
After qualifying in 1998 I didn't get the horse riding urge back so decided to head off travelling around Australia. During this time I ended up at a farmstay where we rode many horses out to watch the sunrise with guests. From there I ended up meeting a showjumper and found myself with a job riding their horses. I travelled with them competing at several 'show runs' around New South Wales. I met some lovely people, and it was the boost I needed to get back home and pick up the reins again.
RHS & GYS champion, Yellabelly Rudolph
On my return, I moved up to Edinburgh to work at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and I continue to work there now. I met my husband and we bought a smallholding in the Scottish Borders in 2008. It is very hilly and very windy but we love it and have expanded our livestock numbers by adding in Hebridean Sheep! You can often see us competing at the Royal Highland, Great Yorkshire and Border Union show with them. We have been very fortunate and have won a few Champions over the years.
We survived our first hunter trial and caught the eventing bug!
Having never done it before I was introduced to eventing in 2007 and caught the bug after competing at a hunter trial with my horse Montana V. After trying eventing with him it became clear he was too careful and that showjumping was the life for him, so in 2010 Jack came to live with us after viewing him at a local dealers yard.
Along with eventing Jack and I managed to have a go at other things such as the Royal Highland Workers (something now crossed off my bucket list!) and side saddle, winning the equitation and best horse classes on our first (and only) attempt! He was very consistent as an eventer and we won several top 10 placings including a win at BE100 at Hutton in the Forest in 2013.
Along with eventing Jack and I managed to have a go at other things such as the Royal Highland Workers (something now crossed off my bucket list!) and side saddle, winning the equitation and best horse classes on our first (and only) attempt! He was very consistent as an eventer and we won several top 10 placings including a win at BE100 at Hutton in the Forest in 2013.
Competing Jack at Hopetoun Novice in 2013
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Sometimes I look elegant!
This is the only time I ever rode without a proper hat. It did not feel safe!
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2013 Royal Highland Show workers.
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Check out the orange leads!
Despite being very quirky, I managed to find what worked for him and over the 2013-2014 period we were doing really well having made the step up to BE Novice (its not for novices!!) before disaster struck and I was seriously injured in a car accident.
I spent several weeks in hospital, alternating between Intensive Care and High Dependency, I underwent spinal surgery and had lots of different tubes inserted including a chest drain, two abdominal drains, urinary catheter, nasogastric tube, central line and many peripheral intravenous catheters. My experience of hospitals is that all procedures hurt and that most of the staff are lovely and very patient! I developed gut stasis - vomited more times than I can remember - and lost a lot of weight. On the positive side, I have the most amazing family and friends - My mum, husband and Pam (Grossick Photography) visited me daily and without their support I am not sure I would have made it out as quickly as I did. Although I was as positive as I could be, it was a very difficult time and at my lowest point (when I felt I was never going to make it out of hospital), John had arranged for the dogs to come and visit me as a surprise. I cannot tell you how amazing, and emotional it was to see them coming towards me. I had just said to John that I could see someone had their dogs with them across the car park until I realised they were mine! I couldn't speak and felt so choked with emotion it was just the lift I needed. It took a lot to hold back the tears seeing them on what was a rotten day - they really are wonderful therapists and a few hugs and licks was enough to give me a boost. Thank you Louise for being the dogs taxi driver, and I am sorry about your gear stick (chewed by the younger lab)!
I spent several weeks in hospital, alternating between Intensive Care and High Dependency, I underwent spinal surgery and had lots of different tubes inserted including a chest drain, two abdominal drains, urinary catheter, nasogastric tube, central line and many peripheral intravenous catheters. My experience of hospitals is that all procedures hurt and that most of the staff are lovely and very patient! I developed gut stasis - vomited more times than I can remember - and lost a lot of weight. On the positive side, I have the most amazing family and friends - My mum, husband and Pam (Grossick Photography) visited me daily and without their support I am not sure I would have made it out as quickly as I did. Although I was as positive as I could be, it was a very difficult time and at my lowest point (when I felt I was never going to make it out of hospital), John had arranged for the dogs to come and visit me as a surprise. I cannot tell you how amazing, and emotional it was to see them coming towards me. I had just said to John that I could see someone had their dogs with them across the car park until I realised they were mine! I couldn't speak and felt so choked with emotion it was just the lift I needed. It took a lot to hold back the tears seeing them on what was a rotten day - they really are wonderful therapists and a few hugs and licks was enough to give me a boost. Thank you Louise for being the dogs taxi driver, and I am sorry about your gear stick (chewed by the younger lab)!
When I was discharged from hospital I was advised that sitting on a horse would be out of the question due to the risk of re-injury. At the time I was discharged I couldn't stand up in the shower, carry an empty kettle, or walk unaided so I could see their point...... but I was determined to prove them wrong and spent months working hard to show the consultants that I was ok to ride! I think they gave up on me eventually and advised that as long as I don't fall off, I could sit on a sensible horse! so naturally, I jumped at the chance to sit in the saddle again and made a steady plan to make sure I was giving myself the best chance.
Sitting in a saddle again!
After purchased an air jacket, and a glass of Pimms it felt like a good starting point!
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Walking the fields at home - I was so glad to ditch the spinal brace! It was so uncomfortable!
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My first sit on a horse! As promised I remained on the lead rein. Thanks to Louise for her wonderful sensible Fresco it was brilliant to be back on board even in walk!
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Having to be sensible about riding sadly this meant I could no longer ride Jack due to his quirkyness and I was so lucky to then be offered Classy Touch on loan to just play about with. He is very sensible and at 19yo had been and got the t-shirt so was the perfect gent to hopefully get back to normality.
Classy went over and above my expectations and transformed everything for me. He is the reason why I started my Facebook page 'Orange Fox Eventing' so I could document my journey back to the saddle and into eventing with this super special horse! Together we have competed at international 2* (was 1*) three day events and at BE national Intermediate level. He has made me a better rider than before and looked after me when I wasn't at my best. He is a wonderful horse and I hoped he would be with us for many years into his retirement but sadly that wasn't to be. He died very suddenly in the field and my heart broke. Although time has passed since that sad day he is still very much missed. He lays at rest in his favourite paddock and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to loan him from Olivia Wilmot Eventing.
Because of Classy, I now have this website, some amazing supporters and sponsors and (in my opinion) some amazing four legged friends who I will be writing about on my social media channels to continue to document our journeys.
If you would like to find out more about the horses and what we are up to then please have a look around this website and my social media platforms for more info! I post lots of our random things that we get up to on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok!
I hope you enjoy joining us for the journey.
Classy went over and above my expectations and transformed everything for me. He is the reason why I started my Facebook page 'Orange Fox Eventing' so I could document my journey back to the saddle and into eventing with this super special horse! Together we have competed at international 2* (was 1*) three day events and at BE national Intermediate level. He has made me a better rider than before and looked after me when I wasn't at my best. He is a wonderful horse and I hoped he would be with us for many years into his retirement but sadly that wasn't to be. He died very suddenly in the field and my heart broke. Although time has passed since that sad day he is still very much missed. He lays at rest in his favourite paddock and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to loan him from Olivia Wilmot Eventing.
Because of Classy, I now have this website, some amazing supporters and sponsors and (in my opinion) some amazing four legged friends who I will be writing about on my social media channels to continue to document our journeys.
If you would like to find out more about the horses and what we are up to then please have a look around this website and my social media platforms for more info! I post lots of our random things that we get up to on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok!
I hope you enjoy joining us for the journey.
The uber amazing Classy Touch