

	01 August 2010

Chapter One: Ian gets started

Ian Brown started riding at the age of 11 in 1971 at Hill View Riding Stables owned by Malcolm Brown BHSI ( no relation) and well know list 1 dressage judge.

Ian got his first pony at 14 – Golden Embers - with whom he went on to represent the Suffolk branch of the Pony Club in Horse Trials and dressage, he also won a national Junior dressage Championship and represented England in a Germany V England junior dressage competition held at Lincoln Show Ground where he and Golden Embers were the highest placed English rider in the European” Z” test.

On leaving school Ian went to work for Malcolm Brown BHSI at his Hill View Riding Stables as a trainee Instructor where he soon passed his BHSAI and also became one of the youngest listed British Dressage judge, Whilst at Malcolm`s Ian produced his first Event horse – Master Benjamin – who was owned by Malcolm` mother. They were very successful at Novice level BE eventing (then know as BHS Horse Trials) where they were placed in every horse trial entered and won an under 21 class before the horse was sold on to go eventing in Germany.
Before leaving Malcolm`s in 1981, to further his experience, Ian also sat and passed his BHS stage IV .

Ian then went to `do` a season with hunters in a private yard in the Beaufort Hunt country before moving on to widen his experience again by assisting with the stallions at Ravenroyd stud Bingley West Yorkshire for a season.