Coming from a non horsey background, Ross quickly fell in love with riding after a holiday in France. He went to a local riding school learning as much as he could, and, at ten years old he got his first pony. Magic was no stranger as she was a hand me down from his older brother and was a typical nightmare pony - she hit grass and went; nothing could stop her - she would fly into a fence and at the last minute stop dead. Ross soon learned to sit up and keep his shoulders back!!
 
 
Ross on Magic at his first hunter trial where he had to walk in between the jumps so his dad could catch up!
 
 When he outgrew her, he moved on to TJ ('Am I Dun'), again another hand me down from his older brother. T.J also had his problems but totally different from those of Magic - he is very lazy and will only show jump if he has to. T.J was great for Ross although he was, and still is, very spooky. He taught Ross all the basics and at the grand old age of 19 he has done it all, from eventing, to passing his Pony Club 'B' Test five times with five different riders and meeting the Queen and the Princess Royal.  But he won't retire yet, as he loves it too much and he is the type of horse who, when he doesn't want to do it any more, will soon let everyone know.
 
Ross competing T.J at the Pony Club Area 1999
 
 Ross' eventing career started when his local Pony Club District Commissioner offered him the ride on her sister's homebred gelding, 'Shivering Wreck', known as Jake. Aimed at Open Pony Club Area Competition, but to gain experience he was advised him to get a couple of day tickets and have a go British Eventing. Ross can still remember his first event at Floors Castle. He walked the course and thought it the scariest course he'd ever seen ( so did his dad!!) The dressage came and went, he went clear show jumping, and with the huge heart for which he is now famous, Jake  popped over the cross-country clear to finish tenth. After that Ross got the bug and went to Hexham, again to do the PN, were he went double clear to finish ninth. The Open track for the Pony club was round a Novice course and in preparation Ross competed at a JRN. Again, even though a huge step up, Jake carried Ross round double clear to finish second at Skipton.  The following year, Ross had to obtain BE permission to jump round Thirlestane Intermediate at the grand old age of fourteen, and the combination finished 7th in their first competition at this level.  Over the years, Jake has taken Ross from Pony Club right up to CCI***.
 
 
After that little bit of success Ross began to get rides on other horses, and although they were not all world winners, and some down right naughty, he soon began to love the challenge of working with young or difficult horses. He was selected for the JRN Northern team in 2003 and 2004 and was longlisted for the Junior Europeans in 2005. He spent two summers working for the late Ronnie Durrand where he learned not to cut corners and look at the bigger picture. He also learned very quickly how to keep horse and stable immaculate!!! Since then Ross has had lessons from the best in the country, each giving him something new to learn and think about. He never gives up on a horse, and will spend as much time and effort as required to gain that horse's trust and make the partnership bond. 
 
Question time:
What are your horsy ambitions?
 
I would love to go round Badminton and hopefully if all goes well it could be next year. Also I love working with young and difficult horses and it gives me huge pleasure to experience a young horse gaining confidence, or a more mature horse overcoming his/her prejudices.

Forgotten anything?
 
I forgot my back protector at Gatcombe last year and borrowed one from an old friend. which was a bit of a tight squeeze!!!

What's your best result?
 
 My best result has to be at Eglinton Advanced. This was my first advanced class and I was petrified at the idea of doing changes in the dressage, even more than the cross country. I was shocked when, three from home, I was near the optimum time and finished just outside it, not only taking 3rd place but also taking the Carlsberg Viking ship for finishing closest to the optimum time. The scary thing was that I didn't think I was going fast but Shivering Wreck just has an amazing ground covering stride. And to top the day off, I was also third in the novice with another ride, Samstar.

What's your worst result?
 
 My worst result, or most unlucky result, has to be Thirlestane Castle advanced, as I was the only person to jump clear in the show jumping and my horse Shivering Wreck flew round the cross country taking all the straight routes until the very last fence, when I relaxed and Shivering Wreck pecked on landing. I fell off! It was the easiest fence, even the novices jumped it - I tried to cling on till I got through the finish but I just couldn't. I was so embarrassed and got seriously mocked by my brothers, who were acting as my grooms for the day!!!
 
Inspirations
 
 Really it was Mark Todd and Ian Stark that got me thinking that eventing is the route I want to go down. I remember when I was young seeing Ian Stark give a demonstration and then seeing him fly round Bramham. Galloping at that speed looked great fun.

Favourite Food
 
I love Fruit Pastilles
 
Favourute
 
Mrs. Doubtfire
 
Favourite Music
 
I like all sorts really. I get quite a few funny looks as one day down the yard I will be playing hip hop dance music then the next day jazz.
 
What are your other intrests?
 
Apart from riding, I play rugby and have even scored a try at Twickenham!!