The fearless 21-year-old equestrian clothing entrepreneur tells Julie Harding how she purchased her first stock with money she had saved to buy a car, and what action she is taking to try to boost acceptance of ethnic minorities in equestrianism
YOUR HORSE MAGZINE meets CAROLINE DEBISI OGUNSHOLA OGUNSHOLA
AS A CHILD Caroline Debisi Ogunshola loved Saddle Club. She sat transfixed in front of the TV as the stories involving Lisa, Carole and Stevie played out, as the girls rescued horses, took tumbles, climbed back on board, improved their technique through lessons, won rosettes in competitions and even, once, battled with snakes. It was an unexpected fascination as not a single member of Caroline’s family was remotely interested in equines.
They never discussed horses. They never contemplated lessons. They had never encountered a horse while on a holiday. They hadn’t ever got close enough to stroke one. They had never once put their foot in a stirrup and climbed into a saddle. “I had lived inWelling [in the London Borough of Bexley] since Iwas three, but once I startedwatching Saddle Club I wanted that to bemy life,” says Caroline. Despite debilitating shyness, shewaved goodbye to hermother, Fola, and strolled into the nearby riding school alonewhen the time came for her first lesson, immediately starting to live the Saddle Club dream—minus the battle with snakes, of course.
“Mumwas surprised as Iwouldn’t usually start newthingswithoutmy sister, Toni, and yet Iwas happy to do this onmy own. Iwas nervous, though, as I didn’t knowanyone, plus the smell tookme by surprise. Themuck heapwas near the entrance and Iwasn’t used to such a strong aroma. Iwonderedwhat I had signed up to.”
Mrs Haste, the proprietor ofMounted Rover Legion Riding School, chose a steady mare called Jane for Caroline’s first lesson on the lead rein.
“One of the girls taughtme howto tack up, but this pony hated her girth being tightened andwould nibble anyone nearby. When that happened I got really scared.” Caroline ploughed on, however, and for the next 30minutes she learned howto steer Jane, aswell as give her the right aids forwalk. “Itwas only at this point that I realised howhard ridingwas and that Iwould need more lessons,” she says.
Overcoming her bashfulness, Caroline tried to ignore the fact that shewas “the only black girl at the riding school” and that the other girlswere quite “cliquey” at first and “everyone had their group, but once Imade friends thingswere OK”. As thiswas the school holidays, Caroline spent several eight horse-immersing hours a day atMounted Rover Legion for an affordable £8.
“Mrs Hastewas strict, but itwas so much fun. Iwould help during the day and then have a lesson. That’s where I learned everything I knowabout horses today.”
