Rebecca Crosbie Starling
The Grange, Birkland lane, South Clifton, Newark, Notts, NG23 7BQ
07968 493027/ 01522 779190
Working with horses has always been my aim in life and after leaving school with 11 GCSE’s A star or A’s and 3 A levels at ABC, I began my career in the horse industry. During my school years I was a member of the BSPS and Pony Club taking an interest in showing, jumping and hunting on ponies ranging from all ages and abilities. It was at the age of 6 I began doing cradle stakes and that was when my love of hunter ponies/horses took off. I carried on up the height divisions until 2008 when I turned to eventing as my main discipline. Eventing at the highest level has made me take a huge pride in dressage and the need for striving for perfection as well as always having to produce an athlete that is both careful and scopey jumping whilst maintaining the right temperament to cope with the buzzy atmospheres fit eventers have to cope with in the modern day sport. Whilst eventing took precedence, I took the chance to be stable jockey to Tim and Christie Fairburn in 2011 and had the opportunity to ride beautiful young show horses and this, along with a chance encounter of having a show hunter to produce at my own yard, was the start of a passion for riding and producing show and working hunters.
My key achievements in my career so far are:
· Winning RIHS and HOYS in 2007 with my 15hh WHP Mystic Napoliana and representing England in the inter country teams from 2005-2007.
· Winning both the individual and team at the open eventing pony club championships in 2007 leading from start to finish on my intermediate worker, The Diamond Hunter
· In 2009 I was placed on the BEF federation 2 year programme, recognising young talent in the eventing sphere and enabling me access to training from some of the UKs top trainers
· In 2010, I was accepted onto the Excel Talent Programme, again recognising talent. Here I had access to physiotherapists, vets, nutritionists and core stability trainers.
· In 2010 I was in the top 20 on both my 3 star rides at the Bramham under 25 championships, being the youngest rider and also on the youngest horse, Chance Remark at the age of 8.
· In 2011, I was part of the Gold medal winning Young rider eventing European Team on my horse, Clifton Clicquot that I produced from a novice.
· In 2011, I was 5th and 12th from over 150 2 star starters at the Osberton international horse trials
· In 2012, I was the youngest competitor at the Burghley Horse Trials 4 star event on Paddys Gold, a horse that again I had produced from a novice horse.
· In the same year, I produced a 4 year old that won the 5000 euro Gorsebridge bonus in the Burghley young event horse competition gaining top jump mark of the day and 5th overall.
· Although mainly eventing, 2013 has seen me qualify my small hunter for HOYS as well as a young horse worker making her HOYS debut after being 4th at the RIHS earlier this year.
Employment Experience:
· Manager and Rider at Clifton Equestrian. 2008-Present
This is my family owned and run yard that caters for event and show horses as well as offering schooling services and full livery. Having 10 to 12 horses in at any one time, it maintains the small friendly atmosphere that I like my horses to be in where they have plenty of one to one attention for their needs.
· Stable Jockey to Tim and Christie Fairburn. 2010-2012
As well as running my own yard, I became sole stable jockey for the Fairburn’s small show yard/dealing operation. Here I rode young show horses from hacks to heavyweight hunters from 3 upwards learning all the tricks of the trade in the modern showing world as well as meeting many showing personalities. Here I learnt the attention to detail showing needs and how to produce and get the best out of a horse.
· Stable Jockey to Edward and Robert Nicholson at the Curtis Stud 2007- 2010
After leaving school, I started working for the Nicholson’s who breed top class event horses. In my first season I was given 9 horses to event ranging from intro to advanced, a dream job for any young person and a way of learning key horsemanship, for example, how to get a horse advanced event fit. Although their breeding operation has now wound down, I still have 2/3 Curtis horses at my yard.
Past Judging experience
· In early 2013 I was accepted onto the BSPS Ride Judge Panel
· In 2011 I was ride judge at the NCPA Nottinghamshire spring show riding over 100 hundred horses from horse workers, cobs and riding horses.
· 2011 I also was ride judge at the Collingham Ploughing Match, again riding all horse sections
· 2013 I was ride judge at Equifest for the Open weight classes and Open Small Hunter
· 2013 I was ride judge to Flintham Ploughing match, again riding all horse sections