The day Tim walked into Vale Lodge Stables to enquire about riding for Tracey was the start of a lovely friendship between her, Jill, Wendy, Helen, Susie, Lizzie, Sara and Patrick and lots of others. She joined the riding school with so much enthusiasm and in no time it was as though she had always been there. She would often ride both days at the weekend and if she happened to have a holiday from work, she would be there during the week as well. Tracey loved all the horses, riding amongst others Tommy, Sarno, Taluca and Trojan but her favourite was probably Taluca – he was a very big chap, a real gentle giant and with Tracey being such a small person, it was amazing that they got on so well together.
 
Jill owned the stables, Wendy lived there and helped run the yard. Patrick is a marvellous maintenance/handyman. Susie, Helen and Lizzie are identical triplets who shared one horse of their own (called Sea Shanty) but rowed all the others as well. They were the most experienced riders but Tracey tried her level best to live up to their standards. They all got on extremely well together.
 
Sara and Tracey became very good friends and met up at times away from the stables.  Sara continued to visit Tracey when she moved to Hayling Island which must have helped keep her connected to Leatherhead and the horses and the people at Vale Lodge.
 
The stables held various riding competitions which Tracey joined in. She was always a little nervous when it came to this but still played her part in making it a happy day.
 
Tim donated a lovely trophy which was called “The Pointer Pot” and the girls competed for this once or twice a year. Everyone wanted to win the Pointer Pot. Sadly Tracey never quite managed it but always made a huge effort.
 
Tracey was a very generous person, most noticeably at Christmas. Some years she and Tim would arrive at the yard to visit Jill and Wendy carrying bags full of presents all beautifully wrapped. The rest of the morning was spent unwrapping these incredible gifts. She was a great “giver”.
 
On Jills 80th birthday, Tim brought Tracey all the way up from Hayling Island to join a small party which was being held. She arrived carrying a huge box which, when opened, produced a large garden ornament in the shape of a lovely tortoise. It still spends the spring and summer sitting out on the grass in front of the bungalow in the stable yard with lots of other garden animals for company.  
 
It was really good for the stables to be involved in what must have been the happiest day of Tracey’s life – the day she and Tim were married.  It took place in the local registry office, half a mile from the stable yard. Jill and Helen were asked to be witnesses and whilst everyone was in the service, black and white Trojan – another of Tracey’s favourite horses – was led up the road to wait in the gardens for her to come out. He was such a good boy that day. When she and Tim emerged, the look on her face when she saw Trojan waiting for her was a joy to behold. Some beautiful photographs were taken of Tracey with Trojan, one of which still stands in the living room of Jill’s bungalow at the stables.
 
Tracey really loved the Stables and Tim was incredibly supportive more often than not bringing her and picking her and up and frequently watching her lessons. They were both a big part of the life there. When they moved to Hayling Island, they were missed enormously and left a very big hole.
 
God bless you Tracey.
 
Much love from us all
 
Jill, Wendy, Helen, Lizzie, Susie, Patrick and Sara