I initially met Nicola online during Sophie Callahan’s My Rural Business Challenge 2020. It’s a challenge that fellow photographer/blogger Sophie created to bring together likeminded equestrian/country businesses and individuals. It attracts people from all over the UK but it turns out Nicola and I live approximately 5 minutes away from each other! Cheshire Equine Photoshoot. 

Fast forward to June and one of my first equine photoshoots after lockdown was with the lovely Nicola and her handsome chestnut gelding Bond. I arrived at the most photogenic yard, you’ll see what I mean.

We started off with a lovely summer dress and made our way to the lane stopping for a few photos along the way. The first photos we took were against this corrugated blue metal which works as quite a cool different background.

The next location proved a little tempting for Bond as he pulled Nicola for a munch of grass, as if walking in heels wasn’t difficult enough! But he was also willing to stand and smile for a photo and JUST LOOK AT THAT SMILE so all is forgiven. 

We didn’t want to travel too far with Nicola wearing heels so we walked to this little lane on the entrance to the yard. It was surrounded by lots of trees and greenery. 

On the way back for an outfit change I spotted these wheels, I am not too sure what they are for but I thought they made for an interesting photo! On photo shoots I am always looking for different textures and backgrounds. Whether that be brick walls, coloured containers, flowers and trees.

We took a few black background photos and had a quick outfit change to something more relaxed and casual. With footwear ultimately easier to walk in too!

The views surrounding the fields were stunning as I am sure you will agree. It really was a great yard for having numerous photogenic spots and ultimately we got lots of variety in the images. 

Finally, the last outfit change and I love this little pathway we shot on. I shot a few images through the trees which created a cool effect. Finishing with a photo shot through one side of a barn out to the other and a traditional over the door smiley photo. This simplistic pose is one of my favourites.

Nicola is now one of my brand ambassadors but I will save that story for another blog post that is coming soon! If you want to follow Nicola and Bond on Instagram head to the link below. Nicola has one of the best accounts on instagram, it documents the true friendship and bond she has with Bond.

https://www.instagram.com/nicolajmellor/

Interested in your own photoshoot with your horses, dogs and family? Fill the form in below and I will be in touch.

Jessie x

Interested in your own photoshoot with your horses, dogs and family? Fill the form in below and I will be in touch.

Jessie x

At the beginning of the year I posted on social media that I was looking for a sponsored rider for the 2020 season. I posted a form and got over 100 entries, it took me hours upon hours to whittle it down! There was some amazing entries from people of varying competition levels.

When I was younger I entered numerous sponsored rider searches and was never selected, I wanted to select someone like me who would have been absolutely thrilled. I wanted someone with potential, who looked like they were on their way up in the equestrian world and mainly someone who loved their horses. I think I made an excellent choice with Phoebe, when I finally got to meet her for the first time I loved her winning mentality and passion for her horses.

After having to reschedule due to Covid, we finally got to meet in June for our first photoshoot and at the end I asked Phoebe a few questions. I hope you enjoy this interview learning a little more about Phoebe and her two horses Vince and Fletcher. 

How long have you been riding?

“I’ve been riding for 12 years”

Who was your first pony and what was he/she like?

“Primrose, a little dark bay Welsh A who was really naughty”

Phoebe’s grandad shouts ‘very naughty’ in the background and proceeds to tell me that Phoebe’s mum also rode Primrose when she was a child, which was the start of all things horsey. What an amazing story that both Phoebe and her mum to learnt to ride on the same pony!

How long have you had Vince and Fletcher?

“I’ve had Fletcher since February 2018 and I’ve had Vince not long, only since April last year (2019)”

Tell me what you’ve competed with Fletcher?

“We’ve competed up to 90cm, we went to the British Riding Club national championships last year and got 6th individually. We also did the Pony Club Championship and went to the nationals in Lincolnshire show jumping.”

“We’ve done a bit of everything with him, we’ve had a go at the workers, dressage and show jumped.”

“He’s a cross country machine and he’s the one that gave me the eventing bug.”

So are you hoping to bring Vince on to event?

“We did a lot of training last year with him while competing Fletcher. Next year we will do BE on Vince, we want to do the grassroots Badminton qualifiers”

“Vince has come from a 3 star rider, his dad is one of Mark Todds horses and his brother was in the Olympics in 2012 so he’s got good lines. He’s come a long way, he was a handful.”

Biggest horsey achievement?

“Coming 6th at the nationals last year, it was a really good weekend”

Who is your rider inspiration?

“ Erm probably Oliver Townend, I’ve met him three times and even rode XC with him when I was younger!”

“When I was 11 I was at Pony club doing the XC and he’s was there with his youngster coming through the water and I’m like ‘oh my god what’s this man doing I am trying to have my picture taken and he’s in the way.”

Phoebe’s grandad continues to tell me how he asked Oliver to hang on a second while they just had a picture and when Oliver asked if he wanted him to get in it, Phoebe’s grandad not realising who it was said “oh no you’re alright”. Then once they realised they did then get pictures together!

Her grandad also tells me Phoebe’s never really had rider inspirations, she’s more concentrated on her rivals.

This is where Phoebe’s winning mentality comes in – “You either win or you’ve lost, there’s red rosettes and then there is irrelevant. It’s more rivalry that drives me and I have competitions with people in my head. I only compare with people my level.”

Have you ever tried Showing?

“I started showing with Marcus who was my first proper horse. We did workers and the flat”

Phoebe’s grandad here lets me know that she got bored of it very quickly!!

“I did the showing to get me into the workers, then once I did the workers, I wanted to do the eventing. We did get reserve champion at NW champs in the riding club horse class, I was only 12 in a class full of adults.”

Have you ever done a puissance?

“Only at the yard at the annual yard show. Grandad won it last year at 1m30.” 

Did I mention that Phoebe’s grandad also rides, how cool would it be for your grandad to win the yard puissance!!

Do you ever get nervous?

“Grandads done a good job stopping me from getting nervous. With Fletcher being nervous would be the worst thing. I don’t really get nervous but I do get disappointed in myself if things go wrong, I want to be the best at everything. Its a good but a bad trait at same time. “

Have you been riding during lockdown?

“Yes loads! We hired an arena the other day with Vince, there was a puissance wall he jumped and we ended up jumping round the 1m course. He’s fearless when it comes to cross country, with fillers and everything.

“At first with cross country, I think he was scared and grandad kept saying you need to trust him because he needs to trust you and now we have this partnership we’re onto a winner. He doesn’t bat an eyelid at anything now and he’s incredibly bold. The feistiness in him, I think thats where the boldness and braveness comes from. “

I hope you enjoyed this blog! You can find Phoebe on Instagram phoebebrophyeventing 

Make sure to give her a follow and keep an eye out for her on my feed with future photoshoots and on the eventing circuit next year!

Jessie x