TALENTED equine instructor Sheila Reed is hoping to bring her skills to yards in Worcestershire to promote the latest Horse Agility craze which is sweeping the country. All she needs is an arena or a large secure field, a seesaw and a bridge – and she will bring the rest.

“I am only too happy to travel to the county to spread the word about this fantastic sport,” said Sheila, who is inviting people to her yard tomorrow, where she has organised a training and competition day.

Sheila is a horse agility accredited trainer. She said: “I can transport smaller things I need, such as cones and flags, but obviously not the heavy equipment. I am happy to hold clinics for small groups at yards if some friends want to get together.

“I am anxious to promote the sport as the more people who know about it, the more competitions and events we can organise.”

Horse agility is for horses that aren’t able to be ridden for behavioural or physical reasons, ponies that are too small for their owners to ride or for people who can’t or don’t want to ride.

“Horse agility gives everyone the chance to compete without having to ride or spend hours preparing their horse for showing classes as it comprises a variety of obstacles for the horse to complete,” said Sheila.

“At the higher levels, this is against the clock which makes it a great spectator sport in which to participate.

“Horse agility tests your horse’s physical as well as emotional fitness and tests your ability as a trainer to keep your horse travelling safely over the course effectively and with style.”

Sheila, who is a recommended associate of intelligent horsemanship and the holder of a much-coveted Monty Roberts preliminary certificate of horsemanship, is based at Castle Barn Farm, just outside Cheltenham, and holds events every five weeks for people interested in horse agility.

For Sheila, her life with horses is a dream come true.

“Not having had the opportunity to ride as a child, I started riding when I was a teenager and was instantly hooked,” she said.

“I began my career as a chef at the age of 24, when I managed to buy my own horse. After calling out an associate of intelligent horsemanship to help me with a farrier phobic problem, I was inspired to attend training courses with Kelly Marks, of intelligent horsemanship, and studied horse psychology and behavioural training.

“Now I specialise in helping with problems involved with owning a horse, such as aggression, barging, phobias and spooking. And, of course, promoting horse agility.”

If you are interested in visiting Sheila or knowing more about horse agility, visit her website sheilareedequine.com or call her on 07780 668136.