The next addition to Living Equine’s Equestrian Profiles, is shining star, Rochelle King-Andrews.
EQUESTRIAN QUICK TEN
1) What made you fall in love with horses?
When I was very young we lived in the suburbs. There was a horse in a paddock across the road from us, (the paddock is all houses now!) I used to visit him and save my lunches for him. I was fascinated. I’ve always been in love with horses and prepared to work any hours necessary to own one!
2) How long have you been riding for?
40 years! Omg!
3) Have you done any Tertiary Education in horses?
No never interested me, the school of hard knocks gave me the tools of the craft and helped me build my training and coaching system.
4) Have you broken any horses in yourself?
I have broken in, handled and started I guess probably two thousand horses over my life. can’t even count how many!!!! I love raising babies and starting them and taking them to their first competitions. It’s a very beautiful, rewarding journey. My hubby Greg, and his rider Nathan Sloey, start them all now and hand them over after they have been ridden a few weeks.
5) What are your greatest Equine Achievements?
To me an achievement with my horses is to feel them gaining understanding and strength. I like training and only compete to ensure my horses are truly becoming more through and on the aids, and that I am actually able to produce movements when I must…not when it feels like the perfect moment!
But I guess my greatest achievement must be to raise Challenger Jacaranda from a foal and compete and win at Grand Prix at the State Championships. That is a super cool feeling. Or maybe raising Florencia from a foal and her winning NSW State Dressage Championships last year and this year; so many good moments!
6) What has been your deepest Equine low?
Oh gosh that is a hard question to answer; the memory still makes me cry. My stallion Challenger dying broke my heart very deeply, and I miss him still. Jacaranda has his stable now. Special horses make all the hard work worthwhile.
7) What jobs have you been able to work with horses so far?
Just horses horses horses!
8) What are your current Equine ambitions?
Looking forward to a lot more coaching now! We’ve reduced the size of the barn and I can now ride 6 a day and coach! Perfect! Also this will allow me to train in Europe a little more which I look forward to greatly.
9) What is your favourite movie?
Haha! Tinkerbell…Shrek!?! I only get to watch kids TV these days.
10) Favourite accessory?
My coaching headsets, so I don’t have to shout all day. Pure JOY!!!
Living Equine thanks Rochelle very much for taking the time to be profiled, and wish her all the best with her future equine endeavours!
