Interview with Douglas Jones - Freelance Coach and Equestrian Training

Interview with Douglas Jones.
I was very pleased when Douglas agreed to do an interview with me. He's such a lovely big hearted soul and it was great to chat with him.

We first met at one of the summer horse camps I attended as an equine communicator.  Since then we have become friends, albeit at a distance, we have stayed in touch from time to time.

He is a kind gentle soul with a passion for his work.
So sit back, relax and I hope you enjoy this fun, enlightening and informative  episode.  

Douglas Jones.
Douglas has been riding since the age of 5 and being from a large family his parents were unable to afford a pony so he begged, borrowed and worked for rides on any and every horse he could.  Usually this meant the trickiest, naughtiest and most stubborn animals were his mount and so developed a reputation for successful training of an getting results from the most difficult of horses which has continued throughout his career

Competitively Douglas has had success in pure dressage competing up to advanced medium, showjumping to 1.30m level and eventing to intermediate level. Some highlights of his career have been to win the BUSA National equestrian championship whilst at university; representing GB on the student games teams; producing and competing and winning national championships on the leading coloured stallion in the uk for 3 years running and even being (as a junior) a successful carriage driving competitor winning Junior Whip at Cirencester Driving Trials more years ago than he cares to admit!

He's also lectured at two leading equestrian colleges, managed large competition yards and trained clients in all disciplines from beginners right through to national championship level riders. He is an selector and trainer for various riding clubs and pony clubs for both area and national competition, Judges horse trials dressage and also is often asked to be ride judge at warmblood gradings. 

He has a calm and friendly approach to training both horses and riders and will push you to challenge your limits but will never ask you or your horse to do anything outside your capabilities. 

The psychology of the horse and rider individually and as a combination fascinates Douglas and is the reason he loves working with riders and their horses to help them achieve and hopefully exceed their goals”
https://www.facebook.com/DJETraining

Interview: video version
https://fb.watch/ctydElLFZl/
https://youtu.be/WBgODhVtg-o

Video version (alongside applicable podcasts) can be viewed on facebook and YouTube.
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Contact Ronnie.
mailto:equinevoicesronnie@gmail.com

Transcript

Ronnie: 0:11

Hi everybody my name is Ronnie from equine voices, and I'm very, very excited and pleased to do an interview with Douglas Jones who is a freelance equine coach and trainer and we met at Keysoe, a summer horse camp that I was very honored and lucky enough to work at and that's where we met. I'm going to bring Doug in and then we can chat more about that as we go on. Hi Doug and welcome. Okay I was going to tell the viewers that you've just woke up, but I'll keep that between ourselves

Douglas: 0:44

That's because I'm working a lot lately.

Ronnie: 0:48

Because you've been very, very busy. So Doug, would you explain to people that don't know who you are? A little about you, what it is you to where you are today. And then we'll talk about how you got there, we'll talk a little bit about your past and how you got into horses.

Douglas: 1:03

So I work freelanced training in all three disciplines of dressage, show jumping and cross country, have done for a long time now. I tend to teach private clients and riding clubs or pony clubs, teams, and things. I love working with people that just feel a sense of achievement with anything, like small progress is brilliant, a big progress is amazing. So I like positive training and kindness to horse and rider. I love the psychology of teaching, especially in horses and riders because you have to match the psychology of the horse to the rider and how they influenced each other, which fascinates me every time I teach.

Ronnie: 1:44

When you talk about the psychology, so you have your potential client and they have their horse already, or perhaps they're looking for a horse. What is it that you're starting to look at first?

Douglas: 1:57

So I think people underestimate how much they influence their horses. Just their thoughts and the way you think about the things that influences the horses. So when I first meet people, it tends to be either a writing camp or I've been recommended to them. And I have often specialize in difficult horses. I don't believe there are difficult horses. I believe sometimes incompatible with combinations or ones that haven't learnt to understand each other yet. So I go in with an attitude of, I don't really want to know what the horse has done because as I want preconceived ideas. If there's something their scared of things, but generally if I can also training, I want to know what they want from that. It is the horse and rider combination. I want to know what they've done before and what they'd like to do. And then as you, I liked them pushed a little bit there, then that bit. Thing that fascinates me the most is how you get in a group session, six riders to do the same thing or six different horses who all learn a different way because every person I teach, I have to teach slightly differently. Every horse I teach, I have to teach that didn't say me thoughts, they base layer, but there may be quirks, specific to them that you have to get past and I think in recent years I've become even more empathetic with people because of problems I've had for myself in other areas of my life. And I love helping people like, if it's the fact that they can get on their horse and just walk around the school. Brilliant. That's what they want to do. that's their achievement, if they get to a national championships, that's brilliant. Yeah. It's just, it doesn't matter what people do to you. This is helping them get there.

Ronnie: 3:44

It seeing the partnership develop and that's a real skill. You know I'm going to say this, I'm going to embariss you anyway, you've got the biggest hearts and you genuinely want to see your clients, but also the horses, experience it in a positive way. And from what I've seen of you, you go the extra mile and you listen to them, but you also listened to the horse and sometimes if the clients want to do something but you see something in the horse, that's not ready. You will tell them you don't have a problem in telling you, you're giving them something else that they can achieve.

Douglas: 4:19

My philosophy is I will push you past what you thought you're capable off the non past your capabilities. So I would never ask someone to do something I know they can't do because confidence takes seconds to destroy and then to rebuild confidence takes years. I haven't had that issue with horses generally, mine came from my work as a singer as well. I had growths on my vocal chords, which caused me to lose my voice. And I had to have an operation and I avoided singing lessons, working as a singer, any sort of singing I avoided because my confidence had gone. Now at seven years on I'm still not quite there and yet, if you hear me speak on stage, people say you're a very confident person. So. I like to make sure that people, horses and riders individually, and as a combination, just build slowly and achieve a little bit of extra each time. And it's okay to take a step back. If you are ready to go up a level, but then you get there and you think, no, I'm not ready to go back down and be solid and strong at that level before and then work on that. I didn't think anyone needs to be pushed past what they're able to do. One thing I don't like a lot in the equestrian industry, is people be nice to your face and say horrible things behind your back because they don't think you're doing the right thing with your horse or this, that, and the other and I will say Mary who goes down to her pony once a day, brings it in grooms it and puts it back in the field. Horse is still well cared for you don't know that Mary's got a half an hour and that's her escape from the horrible life she hates. Be kind you know, support people and that's the bit I don't like about the equestian industry is that sort of slight back-stabbing thing that goes on. I think it's got better, I think people are much better than they used to be.

Ronnie: 6:22

And they'll be different places. I mean, there'll be some places that you go to and it can sometimes be a little bit cliquey and people are afraid to do or say something with a fear of being laughed at or judged. And then there are other places that you go to and you get lots and lots of support and it's different levels and like you said, I you're coaching somebody and they get on their horse and just go down the lane or they just potter around the field and that's something that they haven't done for a long time, or even sat on the horse.

Douglas: 6:54

That very thing happened at camp, milton Kings two years ago, or just before COVID. And I saw the horse with a different rider on it in the morning in another the lesson and thought that's a smart horse. Then they came and said she was in my lesson at the afternoon, but she wants to have a private session rather than having a group session because she couldn't ride a horse I said, but I saw her on it this morning. There went no that wasn't her. So she came in and bought the horse in and basically she's been terrified to get on the horse and no one's taking the time to understand why. So I said, well, what you do is stand on out and block and lean on you also don't have to get organized to stay there and we chatted and it turns out she was having a really hard time in her personal life and their business life and when that happens, she felt unable to ride and it was that and then suddenly she got on and walked around the areana. I think you have to take time to understand why someone's blocked and often I don't know initially and then when I find out later about something, it's completely apparent as to why they couldn't do that thing at that time. another lady, I'm sure she won't mind me saying, because I'm so proud of her Paula Jay's here is a lovely, lovely person. She has a horse called lady and she was telling you, she used to frustrate the hell out of me because she's so capable and she'd come into the tiniest, showed up for me around and stop. And the horse would step over the fence and literally step over the fence. And then we had a good session and she came for a private lesson next week and she jumped straight round the course with a wall, did she hated jumping walls and she jumped clear and I found after she's been caring for her mother and the stress of that. I said without realizing it, that part of your psychology is stopping you doing something, which means you could not look after your mother. Her mum had passed away and suddenly she was free to do her stuff. So that's why I always like to try and find out a little bit about them and find out is that other reasons as to why that blocking being able to things they can do.. Often this is something that is nothing to do with you, your horse. Hmm.

Ronnie: 9:19

Yeah, yeah I can appreciate that.

Douglas: 9:22

So with me and I had a breakdown few years ago, lots of things, my health and work and all sorts of things were going wrong and I just thought, I don't know why anyone would want to use me as a trainer. Can't do this, can't do that and it took someone to take time to talk to me and believe in me and gave me a lovely horse to back and suddenly my confidence start building again because people saw that horse is going really well and someone else brought me a horse, so my confidence was shattered through something which nothing to do with my career, but I didn't relate it at the time but now I understand that that often. I think lots of people use that horse as leisure time. Mine is like my work mostly, but when you think, right I'm going to go and have a ride, you go, you had a horrible day and then you have a horrible ride just because you're not in the right frame of mind, have a nice ride. And your horse picks up on all those things during the day. So often, I think on the days where you have a rubbish day a go and take your horse for quite a hack, don't work it because you're not in the right place. And you'll think you are because it's work. And this is my horse that your mind doesn't let go of the day and your horse picks up all the tensions on it. So all those sort of things upset me and a lot of people don't realize how much their other life affects their horses. Even handeling

Ronnie: 10:57

Absolutely. From my perspective and if you're not handling, just being around your horse, you know, if you're giving off sparks, which is what it feels like sometimes, you know, they'll do what they need to do and then if they can get away, they'll just go and graze and sometimes they'll look at you. If you notice it, they'll give you a look and it's almost like, you know, do you see what I see or can you feel that and sometimes they'll go, what you're looking at well, you know, I'm just grooming you, but you might be a bit more firmer than you need to be.

Douglas: 11:26

Yeah.

Ronnie: 11:27

Yeah. It's not always when it's bad things. So it's not always, when it's really heavy, it can be that your, your head is just full of thoughts. And there's so much going on that what they want you to do is go, you with me for half an hour, whatever it is, cause this is important to you as well as to me. Just balance, just chill, just be in that moment. Like you said, you can go down once a day, whatever you're able to do but be present with your horse and go off because you feel better too.

Douglas: 11:59

And I don't think, you know, a lot of people, I think some traders have a frosty that horse has to work hard as narrow to be able to train. You always have to work it hard. The horse is mentally tired. So well, you'll notice they've mentally tired so quickly and they learn something new, very exhaustive in 10 minutes. And if you done a good 10 minutes stop, but quite frankly, I'm too lazy. If you go now nowadays and keep things short and sweet and constructive, and your horse is more like stay with you. When I see people. I know it's not going, right. I just say, just go and walk away from it for 10 minutes. Go do something else and come back to it because it's not the whole thing of my horse always stops offenses. Don't say my horse always stops. at fences, my horse is going to jump the fence today. So I'd like to try and change the way people think about how they ride with. Cause I think British people especially are very negative with very micromanage. We want to, to manage every little step the horse takes. No, when you're jumping on every stride taught you can't do it. I'm guilty of it myself. I have to really force myself not to micromanage everything but if we can get people to sort of think, right pause first has to be a horse and then the partnership is always better and letting the horse, the horse, and keeping it short sweet and giving yourself achievable goals, especially when you're on your own, I think is really important as well. Achievable goalies, like on the horse and ride around the arena of 10 minutes before it got dark in the winter that's achievable. Rather than and today we're going to learn half pass and then getting frustrated and then you haven't had a constructive session at all for either of you and you'll get them next time remembering that session. Progression all the way through every session is progression as well. So if I'm training a horse, I take everything very, very slowly to start with. So I'm just back into this young horses I'm living in Irland now and everything's taking a lot longer, but we're doing everything on the floor. Got one called Joe who is a diva. She big panic about everything, the first time she does it and then the second time she has a small panic and the third time she goes, well, I don't know what your coping is. I'm fine and because I don't care what she does, I walk everything, you know, she walks up and down steps. She walks I've poles. I've jumped around the lanes now I'm on a riding her she's brilliant Riding her about four weeks now and she's already going really well. Top poles through jump wings around the field a little bit, really been pleased that, but because we did everything slowly, but make sure that each day has progressed from the day before.

Ronnie: 15:01

So you just said that you are in irleland now, so is that where you're based?

Douglas: 15:08

And south coast, but I came here efficiently and came here. a year ago And I was here during the lockdowns because my mum wasn't very well. And then my dad suddenly passed away in January. So I decided to stay here with my mum and it's beautiful. So beautiful. We're back by the coast I was long reining horses on the beach in the morning. Very different than the UK in terms of there's less of everything, but more space. So I had a 20 year business in UK and now I'm having to rebuild it again. Yeah.

Ronnie: 15:44

And you told me something that I didn't know. You used to be in a accountant.

Douglas: 15:49

Yes. I used to be a accountant and corporate financial underwriter and I managed directors and officers renewable first and actual services for AIG. Hates it but I was good at it. And I found out whilst on holiday my dad had cancer, came home handed my notice in and left. And we came over to keysoe and when Mia, had it and ran her business work cause she broke her leg. I came for six weeks and I left two and a half years later. I'm freelanceever since.

Ronnie: 16:24

So was Keysoe a big push to do more in the horse world?

Douglas: 16:30

Well, the reason I'd gone into the financial stuff was mum and dad have always been really supportive. I'm not from the horse background. Like that's as close as my mom's got two horses there. I've got one photo of my mother holding or one of the healthier pony and I didn't now thirties, nearly 40 years and twice amongst outdoors. They're so supportive, mum and dad. They also siad to have a backup plan. So if something goes wrong and you can't earn money from your horses, you've got another string to your bow. Yeah. So I did a business degree as well and then in 2002, I had a bad accident. Do you remember all the horses that were somersaulting and of cross country died and there were seven somersaults and two survive. My horse hit a corner on top of the hill at Bishop burden and summer salted.. And luckily, cause he hit the corner. He went that way and I went that way. So I smashed my shoulder sort of down there somewhere I'm allowed on the grounds we went and it doesn't hurt yet. I know I can't move. Don't cut my boots off. Don't cut them off. I lost my horse from it. He broke his neck, essentially. It was put down a few months later. We tried really hard to get him, right and he's amazing horse. Another one that no one else wanted and quite dangerous of other people but for me, he was great and I gave up, I didn't want to do it anymore. I think losing him. He's awesome I've ever sat on cross country and I've never had to do it. So I was moving in with my boyfriend at the time in Birmingham, I'm just got a temp job and then they were like, oh, I'm quite good at this and promoted me. Did that for two and a half years and then I realized I really didn't want to be in a city being outside and I loved working face to face with people. I love developing relationships I love being phoned up and asked, what you think of this? Or can I send you a little snippet of video or this happened today? I feel really proud to people when they achieve something like almost more than I do of myself.

Ronnie: 18:49

It's your passion it's something that makes you glow and it makes you feel good. Not on an ego place, but it makes you feel good because you know, what that feels like to achieve something. So to give that somebody else encouragement.

Douglas: 19:03

Yeah and like someone has helped me, you know, that day when you said that thing And we often see things that we say is significant, but to someone else, they can be so important. So like you messaged me the first time you messaged me and said, I need to tell you something you've been coming to my mind, that day was really important to me. I needed to hear those things and.

Ronnie: 19:29

You talk about what you want to Doug if you want to stop that's fine.,

19:33

So I'd have a really hard time when I had my breakdown. When you sent me the message, it may me positive again.

Ronnie: 19:44

But that was you that did that darling, that was you.

19:48

But you were the catalyst for that day. Like, it was amazing. And I love I'm sorry.

Ronnie: 19:56

No, it's fine, don't apologize, it's absolutley fine.

Douglas: 20:01

If you then listen to me, I will cry quite a lot. So when I had the mind breakdowns and I thought why would anyone use me as a trainer, and then as I was getting confidence again and suddenly I started getting messages of people and there was no real prompting for, I don't know why. And I think had I had them at the time that I was going through my really hard time I was just ignored them. But lovely messages from people saying about the one lesson that I had with many across cross country on how to temper skinny, changed the way they road cross country and they won the next cross country. countries to walks and everything. Cause if I can understand how to walk, they would have to intend to, if you come to them first and they stab them, then you've already created an issue. And people messaged me said because of that, I, that my next loss and with great cross-country, but they couldn't jump a pitch before. So I, I like to tell people, I used to tell them. To get that feedback from people because people that don't think often say it when you're less than if Facebook is great, but to actually get a message from someone society, that thing you did helped is amazing. Not just me, but my real sensors too. Yeah,

Ronnie: 21:24

brilliant. So, and so it should, I'm just clear that you compose yourself and get a drink of water, and I'm just going to put on this. Some people, ah, So Angie Greg's, Doug is an amazing instructor. I miss you so much. You give so much confidence in your lessons.

21:43

Yeah.

Ronnie: 21:49

And,

21:50

Under the Griggs is the only person I've ever taught. Who's going into rolling. Back woods off a horse. Unintentionally asked me how she did it.

Ronnie: 22:02

Oh, I see. We'll love to hear about that one. So this Sharon, she says she misses you duke. So you've got a lot of people that I glad that you. You're still around. And,

22:14

but I like for me now, I think this is the right choice

Ronnie: 22:16

to be here. Yeah. And life takes you in different directions and some times, especially when things have happened it gives you a chance to. To see what you want to do. And, and you definitely want to be around horses and work with horses. And just because it's not the same as in the UK at the minute where you are that's maybe because where you go in a slightly different.

22:39

Yeah, I think, I think it is. It's not that I'm getting lazy. I'm getting older. I can't work as hard as I used to. I used to, I used to work seven days a week and gig four nights a week. I had to do it for like that for like 10 years. And there's exhaust. Exhausting. And so I just haven't like I come to do a lesson, so I'll say you're wearing glitter or tell it to do a gig, spelling a horses.

Ronnie: 23:07

So do you, do you, do you want to explain to people what your or the workers, because tonight aren't, you said not everybody's could be aware of what you do.

23:17

So at the same time as I quit the job, The financial sector. I've been working as a singer anyway, and the girls that worked at me for the worst Christmas party to go in drag and stress. So the first year it was a seventies theme. So I went in a sequined flags outfit with a blonde wig about here, and I won the prize. And the second year I went to the masquerade ball and a gold bull game. Yeah. 10 meters from the skirt. I could fit in the lift and the two foot high pink behind amazing costume made by my really good friend, Raven Dewberry who makes period drama, costumes, corseted. And I was a bit heavier than I am now and it pushed everything up. So it looked like it hadn't been enormous boobs. The boys at work for I'd hadn't done in the time between leaving work at five and go to the party and seven straight boys. So, and then a friend of mine asked if I would do a double activity because he'd been a track artist in going to an area and wants to get back into doing it. And so I said, yes, and my job was to sing in his, was to be funny. And then suddenly they asked us to start doing separate shows as well. And suddenly I had to be funding as well. I still don't think I am, but. I know that the show is quite funny. So I love performing again. Same thing for me. It's if someone enjoys the night, I don't think. Well,

Ronnie: 24:49

I've only ever seen you, it was the Christmas party at Keysoe and I can't remember what dress you had on, but I was like, oh my God there's legs. Yeah and you have the most amazing legs.

Douglas: 24:59

I actualy have leg envey.

Ronnie: 25:02

The shoes as well. It was like, holy Moses, this guys tall.

25:05

As I will say on stage, none of my heels are below six inches. And my mother said never go less so I sticking it in every aspect of my life.

Ronnie: 25:14

But it was, I lived it because I didn't know what to expect. I mean I knew that you did drag but I didn't know what your voice really sounded like and when you started singing you belted at this tune. He like, oh my God, he's got lungs on him as well. Is there anything this guy can't do?

Douglas: 25:30

I'm lucky I get to do my two passions of my job.

Ronnie: 25:33

Seeing those two sides of you and then I think that was before you had you break down and I thought, my God, this guy is so passionate, he's so talented. He comes out and he's got this aura, this glow about him, and then that happens and it was like, crikey. So it can happen to anybody. I mean, you know, we're good at hiding things and we sometimes are outwardness in mask.

Douglas: 26:01

Think as well, I'm a helper. I love helping people. To say I needed help, still find it hard now. Or to say I'm not okay today. I've learned to do it, cause, I don't ever want to go back. I coped for years and years and years of lots of different things that happened until I couldn't cope and you don't notice it. I thought I hid it really well. There was a network of people who were phoning each other but I didn't want to burden people. You're not burdening your friends. And I think now I would say hi, and I've had a rubbish day and have a good day, I'm ok to say so when people ask you how you all actually tell them, which sometimes they don't want to hear, but people shouldn't be afraid to say how they are and it's really hard sometimes. But when you say how you are, it makes it less and less.

Ronnie: 26:52

I think sometimes people don't know how to, to respond to that. Some people don't know what to say and sometimes you don't want to chat or you don't want to interact, you just want them to know, do you know what this is how I'm feeling today and somebody said to you, okay, I see that. I'll give you a space but I'm here if you need me, that's all they need to say sometimes.

Douglas: 27:16

Yeah and I think as well, a lot of times, men, especially I think and the horse industry we're tough people. You know, get back up and get on and again. But we don't say actually, could you just helped me with that, you know, can you help me get back up? Can you not make me ride today because it can be anything in your life. I think that it's okay not to be okay. You can't be okay all the time, but when people go begging for help, it's so hard to need help and you do think you're hiding it really well. And everyone knew, I was ill, I was ill as well I had health problems as well, but I just didn't tell anyone. So I went down to under 11 stone in weight and I'm six foot three, it's not healthy. I was deaths door at one point but I've got amazing family, amazing friends who never gave up on me and they brought me through it..

Ronnie: 28:18

There's a lot of love out there for you to Doug because of what you do, but because you're a nice person and yeah there's a lot of love out there for you. Right let's go back a bit. So you didn't come from horse background. So who was the first horse and how did you get introduced to the horse? I know a little bit, but for the people that don't know.

Douglas: 28:39

So my dad was a lecture in the engenerining and my mom's housewife and have various other jobs and we're from a really big family, like, and mum was one of 14 children and I'm on four. They bought a house just as the session hit in the eighties. All the things went wrong and we didn't have any. So the first time I remember a horse. We think he was called Pollo because our grandma told him as he was called Pollo who a little white pony by the canal in calm forth, in Lancashire where my grandparents lived and we used to go and give him a pollo. Then we went and holiday and I remember it was posh holiday sprinter, chalet park, we didn't just go campaign and there was a ride to school on the challet park. And I begged every day, you know, I was five years old to go for riding lessons. And no one knows why, because no one else in my family rides. So one of the 40 in my generation, I'm the only one. So I begged every day and then somehow mum got the money together. So me, my brother, my younger sister, all went for lessons. I loved it. I hated it. But at that time, you'd lay down in the middle in the middle of the areana, there's a pony telling you what he is thinking. And then for my sixth birthday, I started writing, Wesley's widen school, which is in Swindon and I used to go every Saturday and. Terry enormous bells of hay. Mum said she seen me like six years old carrying all this stuff whilst the girls starting to call the smoking. And so I'd have a lesson and then work and have another lesson in the day. And then I begged borrowed and stole every pony and every party that no one would ride, I would. And got good results from it and look about now. Now I'll probably be pretty hard problems somewhere. And we were just like, let's get on it and rise. But it gave me a really good education cause I was constantly having to learn how to get the best each horse. So I did that and I did some carridge driving for a while. I think 12 by won driving trials, with a 34 inch high Shetland pony called wink. Then I went to Latin college. It will accept which now Wiltshire at college agriculture for two years and did my AI and the business course. And then when you did a degree in business and the questions that is officially Burton college in Yorkshire, and in my year out, I taught at mountain college and welcome to the show. I have my little bit where I've run just our jobs. I run show jumping out and had maxed and quit for a short while and then coming back across the key. So just my six weeks turned into 20 years living down the road from Keysoe.

Ronnie: 31:35

That's a beautiful area isn't it around that absolute gorgeous.

Douglas: 31:38

For me as a freelance person, really great because I was on the border of Beds, Bucks, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, I ta ught for a lot of different clubs and places that most people wouldn't have got a chance to leave.

Ronnie: 31:54

Yeah. I'm just looking at the time cause Doug's got a gig on tonight, so we're just watching the time. What I was going to ask you, when you had your accident, how did you get over that initial getting back on a horse? I mean, that's a big thing to get over.

Douglas: 32:11

I don't remember the accident itself. I know it was my fault. I know it could be my fault. It was a horse that you have to let him do his thing. You know, he would jump anything you pointed it out, but if you interfeared with him he was cross..

Ronnie: 32:24

I've just got it because you taught me. Well, that's what she's come through because you taught me well.

Douglas: 32:32

He was bred by Bishop Burton college and he was there my first year, but none of us had ridden him he was just backed at the time and then when I came back from a year out out, he was there again, they had offered him to me and my year out to take with me and I rushed down and was like, I don't like him. And then basically, he just put anyone who rode him in hospital, quite quickly. He jumped another horse with a rider on it, on it cause he was annoyed that he's coming to work in the arena and so he just took off across the school and the horse just got in the way so he jumped it. And that was down at mery smith was college was very fellow of and the threat check. I said, get that off my yard. I don't want to hear he went back to college and dumped everybody that sat with him. Then one of the instructors got on with him really well. He won show jumping classes, also sales and then able to try to, didn't want to get back on him again. So when I came back in my third year, they created a day project, horse scheme, where they level four riders with schooling, a lower level horse off one day a week. There was seven horses and it said how many hours I could do and what level? they just said Douglas, graduate and they basically gave him to me. And I rode every lesson, barely read another one was that year. And he never once tried to get me off. I didn't know all the other things he'd done before. I just know to have the summer off in the field. So I just launched him for a week and then I went to get on him and the gallery was packed and I was thinking, I didn't know why, but I was the only student in my course, you hadn't fallen off in the first year. So they were waiting to see me fall off and he behaved impeccably. I mean, he did some scary things like so when they stack round bales and pyramids, He was just being in the arena one day, not wanting to hold, not wanting to do anything. So it's all about, we'll go for a walk around the farm and then attracts was coming and asked him to hold and cause I was asking him to hold again. So he was cross. So he stuck his head in the air and in a dressage saddle went up three parents high with me, or name perched on top of this round bale. I'm terrified of Heights terrified. And then he just was out and came down and got off, I got off it and carried on like nothing had happened, but he was the most incredible horse. Never start anything like someone's country. He just was a machine. Incredible. Always getting confidence to jump it. Yeah.

Ronnie: 35:08

Yeah, definitely meant to be we

Douglas: 35:11

And we tried putting another rider on him, really good rider because it's all the girls he's thrown off and I've ridden him for about six weeks at that point. I think anyone watching it Graham literally put his foot in the stirrup, sat down and graduate stuck with these legs and went for it. Like just didn't want us to ride him. Until he came away and has been with me, competing for awhile. And my friend Naomi was hacking mountain out loved her, good as gold, but you just didn't see the environment of being in college and definitely wasn't a full anyone, he was awesome, just awesome horse.

Ronnie: 35:49

Okay so you're in the Ireland, we've only got a bit of time, cause I know you've got to get away haven't yet and get ready, this is just going so quick, we'll have to do this again Doug, because we've just scratched the surface. So where would you like to go, where do you see yourself heading.

Douglas: 36:05

I love training, I love competing as well. Like I said, I put my TBT on hold. My horse Elsa is in the UK, when I moved here, with my friends and she's coming back to me next month. So I will be getting out competing again, which would be great. I think my head with Mum and dad, Covid, lost all my business and everything changing. I wasn't in the right place to do it. And now I am. And if I can force it up, I'll do more eating again. And just slowly built, I think, hopefully a good reputation here as well. I don't mind if I just ride young horses that's my life or you know, help people jump their first little cross country courses, I just love doing all that stuff. life takes me really.

Ronnie: 36:56

You know, me and the people that know me on here know me. So what I'm feeling and what I'm sensing now, and what I'm being told to say to you is just have fun with your life. This is a time for doing what you feel is in your heart for follow your passion for having fun and adventures as well. Because what I see, I'm not a fortune teller, I don't tell futures but what I get is this sensitive. I get a sense of things and I feel it's there for you Doug whatever you want to do, as long as you feel, that's really what you want to do, it will be successful. Okay cause it's there.

Douglas: 37:35

I am a typical Torian in that I've got to do something, I put everything into it and if I don't want to do it, I won't do it.

Ronnie: 37:41

Yeah. But I don't think it's just one thing so don't pigeonhole yourself because there's opportunities that are going to come up that are not been presented yet. Okay and you might normally go no and what the saying is start saying yes, more often but give yourself time to think about it because you can say no later say yes, but I need to think about this because there's opportunities coming up. The next three months is going to be a good grounding, which is funny. Cause you do in groundwork with the horses. So it's not just the horses you're working through it's yourself. There's going to be a good grounding. And this is going to I can't think of the word. Elevate you, that's not quite the right word, but to the next next phase and it feels exciting. Yeah I actually since my dad passing away? I obviously missed him desperately and he was so supportive, but mum and I were here all the time. When mum was here, I could go out. But I wouldn't have felt right going away for two days teaching, you know I found it quite hard to do that. And that's the non horsey influences, influencing my horses. But now I feel, I feel like I want to do it again. Yeah. And I think people sometimes don't admit that sometimes you just don't want to do it, the days you just don't want to and it doesn't matter because tomorrow you might want to do it more than you did yesterday. Yeah. That's why they're saying if an opportunity comes up, say yes, but you'll have time to think about it.

Douglas: 39:20

I'm bad at saying no.

Ronnie: 39:23

Honestly that's something I've changed, I don't think, oh, I can't, for all the reasons that everybody else would associate, no, I've stopped saying that because I'm finding, if I say yes, it's like, okay you want this good we'll send you this then.

Douglas: 39:38

That's the same with the teaching. It's changing how you think, it's not I'm going to get on the horse it's going to be naughty today. I'm going to get on with my horse is going to go walk around the areana nicely, I think it's really important in training and teaching. But I've have days where I've gone. What's the point, lock down take everything away again, I nearly gave up. I thought I've done, I've worked so hard and then I told you about the silver feather. So my grandmother, when she died, she told me if I need to know something's right. Ask her and she'll bring your white feather and she does it all the time. I can't have feathers so don't have any feathers in my room and there'd be a feather on a pillow, or there'll be a feather, like really weird places. And then the morning I was leaving to come from my friend, Lizz's two Irland. I clear my car out and then the runner of my seat, there's a silver feather pendant on the person that goes in my car. I don't want to ring or anything. So I don't know where it came from, how it got there, but it made me think, okay, it's the right thing to do.

Ronnie: 40:42

That's a lovely story, but like you said it doesn't matter where it came from. The fact this you knew that was a sign for you, that it's going to be okay.

Douglas: 40:52

Still on my car keys now all time.

Ronnie: 40:55

Amazing, amazing. And I thought silver Trump's white feather. That's lovely. Oh, right Doug, it's about 57. You've got to get ready at eight o'clock.

Douglas: 41:07

My other person.

Ronnie: 41:08

And this is candy. Have a fantastic evening at your gig and we'll have to do this again, if you want to and then we can chat some more and maybe get some people can ask some questions. I think I put that on earlier, Sharon talented gentlemen, no matter what you do.

Douglas: 41:27

I love Sharon she's amazing. When I first met her, she was like, you tell us slightly rude joke and be like God, now she's got the filthiest mind I've ever known. She's hilarious. Always remember her being so prudish, now she's like take her to Candy's show she's off.

Ronnie: 41:46

Yes cause candy can be a little bit on the cuff sometimes.

Douglas: 41:52

She pushes the envelope.

Ronnie: 41:55

That's what she does. You've got another, the here from Derek. Thanks Derek. See, you've got love and support out there, which you've always had. And it's so if you need it, and that's what you know now, you know, that it's there.

Douglas: 42:07

And Thank everyone that supported me when I was having a tough time without me even knowing it, thanks because lots of people did and did things. I didn't even know what happening.

Ronnie: 42:18

Okay so say bye to your fans, your friends. See you and thank you.

Douglas: 42:24

Thank you everybody for stopping by and listen to Doug. Bless him he's such a lovely guy, such a lovely guy, and we've just scratched the surface and he's going on a gig tonight. So how exciting is that, he's a multitalented guy, but the best thing is got the kindest heart, biggest heart. Even if he's not sure how to deal with something, he tries his best, especially for his clients. You know, he'll do his best for his clients and their horses because he generally wants to see them achieve and see that glow on their face. Even if it's just ridding around a field. So thank you very much for joining us this evening and thank you for Doug for joining me too. That was lovely. See you again soon. Bye for now.