Meet the amazing Cressida at SEU, the lovely lady behind our range of silver jewellery that will help you show how proud you are to be involved with such a great FB group. She created an incredible site, it is so difficult to find a place on social media that embodies all the attitudes and positivity that we all, as horse lovers, know you truly must have to keep on loving your “#patchytwat”.
Found out more about Cressida and what makes her tick.
Cressida please tell us a bit about yourself, what do you do, where are you from?
I'm originally from Cheltenham but have moved around a lot living in Birmingham, London, Shropshire and now finally back to Gloucestershire. Planning on one final move to Cornwall in the future to be near the sea. Then I might stop!
I used to be a professional backing dancer and my training and original line of work was theatre and I worked backstage in the West end for many years before giving it up (somewhat stupidly!) When I (even more stupidly) got married and moved to Shropshire. I've always worked with horses on and off but that's when I started really properly doing it full time. I've ridden since the age of 3 but am from a totally non horsey family who still don't get it!
These days my own yard keeps me very busy. I have 3 grown ups, my ex eventers and 3 youngsters that I've bred over the last couple of years and a full livery. I also freelance and drive polo lorries so I am very very busy!! I used to event and my one mare got to Intermediate. My big gelding was set to follow suit making very easy work of Novices but sadly lost him suddenly at the age of 11 to colic. So I don't event anymore. It's become a bit too expensive for me and as a single mum it's just too much of a stretch. That's why I started breeding, I love having babies around they're absolutely gorgeous and it will be hard to sell them on.
What inspired you to set up SEU?
SEU was created in what was a pretty dark time for me. I was going through a very nasty acrimonious divorce and I just...Kept...Falling...Off! I don't know why! At stupid things. I was at an event at Aston le walls competing with a close friend whom I had shared a yard with up in Shropshire previously and we were, as we still do, comparing notes on our most stupid recent endeavours. Hers being that she was competing at Advanced, nobody had gone clear showjumping except her, she had a good dressage and no one had gone clear in the time xc. Except her.... so she was finishing her xc round knowing she would be in 1st place, cleared the last fence.... checked her watch and the horse tripped and she fell off just before the finish line. So, elimination! I mean if that's not shite nothing is!!!! So while we were laughing about this I said we should really start a facebook group for stories like this… It's hilarious. She said "you can, I'm not". So I did! That was 2019.
What’s the funniest story you have heard so far in the SEU community?
There've been so many great stories but the best one that sticks in my mind is the one of the poor lady who had had her horse cremated and was planning a little ceremony to scatter his ashes. Which she did. On a breezy day. Ash scattering and crying done she went back to the house where (her husband or friend I can't remember) remarked what's all that black stuff in your teeth...... she told it better than me admittedly....
Can anyone join in the fun with SEU and where can we find you?
What do you do in your spare time & what do you get up to offline?
I don't have a lot of spare time with all these horses and my little boy but I do love surfing. It's just as addictive as eventing and quite a bit cheaper! It's a real positive to winter when we get the best waves. I've had some amazing sunny winter days in the beautiful blue sea. It really does help me get through what usually is just mud mud mud with horses. And it's so nice to come out with clean fingernails for a change!!!
What is your ultimate Hiho love (favourite piece from the Hiho collection) and why?
I love the Hiho jewellery. I'm a bit of a magpie and love things that sparkle and shine. In my youth I'd wear a LOT (think Madonna in the 80s!!) But that's not really practical around horses so these days it's a bit more subdued but that's why I love the Hiho jewellery because you can wear something all the time like my cherry roller snaffle necklace and it won't get in the way. The detail on it is beautiful with actual cherry rollers that roll! I love it.
And finally - what is the best piece of business advice you have received?
Best piece of business advice I ever had... not sure about that one... if anyone's ever given me any I can't remember it!
