Social Supercharge: Riders... Getting to know Becky Wren

Image by Sophie Callahan

Last year, Social Supercharge: Riders hit the virtual shelves, to help equestrian utilise their social media better (and attract what they want through using it!) . Since it launched, I’ve been able to work with, learn about, and help riders from (literally) all over the world through the beauty of online training! In addition to the course, all equestrians taking part in my Social Supercharge: Riders get access to a free Facebook group and, lately, the chance to participate in the NEW NFU Countryside equestrian T&T panel! It’s an incredible group and it’s lovely to see these fab riders upping their social media game and getting what they want from it. And I want you to get to know these riders better too…

In this blog, I’m going to introduce you to Becky Wren, who you might know better as Country Bumpkin Chic. Becky is a Hiho Silver ambassador and I have got to know her through this, through her award winning blog, and through the group too. And now you can find out more about her here…

Image by William Carey Photography

Name

Becky Wren

Whereabouts do you live?

In a lovely rural village just outside Dorchester in Dorset. Which very handily is only 2 miles from the horses & a 20 minute drive to the coast for non horsey fun.

What’s your favourite equestrian discipline?

Eventing of course! I love to challenge myself & you can’t beat the XC adrenalin rush.

Tell us about the horses in your life

Barley aka Red Sky Diamond is a 17.1 ISH who we’ve had since he was 5 & he’s now 16 – so part of the family. He’s had lots of injuries over the years but loves his XC, so we wrap him up in cotton wool for his BE events. He has such a gorgeous soul & owes me nothing. He’ll start next season at BE 100 aiming to step up to Novice.

Leo aka MBF online is a 6-year-old 16.1 ISH who we’ve owned for 2 years. He is full of character & I’m very excited about his future in eventing & show jumping. He’ll start next season at BE 90 & then step up to BE 100.

I’d love to do an International 2* with the boys at some point, so that will be the aim in 2020.

Credit: Dorset Photo Event

What’s your greatest equestrian achievement so far?

Having 2 sound horses at the end of the 2019 season was amazing.

When I was 16, I was selected to represent the South West at the JRN (Junior Regional Novice) championships, however, sadly my horse was off games so we didn’t attend – but was an honour to be selected & the training was great & this is 20+ years ago.

What’s your ultimate equestrian dream?

To compete at an international over in Ireland where the boys are originally from.

Care to share a funny equestrian story?

Not funny at the time, but when I was 10 & riding my Welsh Section B pony Music Master, at a local hunter trial, he stopped at a downhill ditch or coffin as we used to call them back then. I fell off into the coffin with his bridle. My mum was not impressed.

Best bit of riding advice you’ve been given

For dressage from event rider Joe Roome, it was to be in the moment with your horse, which helps me to stay in the zone. And from Jabeena Maslin for my show jumping, making sure I ride like a tiger & have enough fuel in the tank. I now play eye of the tiger in the morning before a competition to psyche myself up.

Favourite equestrian brands

Noble Outfitters for all my everyday breeches

Pikeur for competition breeches & jacket – which you can put in the washing machine

KEP for my gorgeous helmet

Flying Changes for my super smart jacket for best

Super X Country for the smartest XC colours

Henry James Saddlery for my bridle, stirrup leathers & reins – they have amazing grip.

One thing we might not know about you?

In my early days I competed 2 horses up to Intermediate & used to jump 1.25m for fun.

Do you have anything you deem as ‘lucky’ when you ride/compete?

Yes, I don’t compete without my rose quartz in the pocket of my breeches. It was a new ritual for 2019 to keep me safe & it really has. It’s said that it brings the energy rays of determination, commitment & caring.

If you could have dinner with any rider/equestrian, who would that be?

Can I have a dinner party please? I would invite: Pippa Funnell, Piggy French, Tim Price, Chris Burton, Laura Collett, Ben Hobday, Gemma Tattersall & Carl Hester (I had a Christmas lunch with him when I was 12 at a Dressage event for young dressage riders & he was lovely)

If you could ride any horse in the world – past or present – who would it be?

I’d ride Charlotte Dujardin’s Valegro in the dressage, Ben Maher’s Explosion in the show jumping & Tim Price’s Wesko on the cross country – a winning combination for eventing, right?

Why did you join Social Supercharge: Riders?

I treated myself to membership after winning the 2019 Haynet Countryside Blogger of the Year Award as I wanted to keep up the momentum from winning the award & step it up a notch.

What’s the best thing about the course?

The information is so easy to digest & I love the style of the talking power points as well as being able to dip in & out of the course as & when.

Tell us all the places where we can find you

I blog over at www.countrybumpkinchic.co.uk

Instagram @becky_wren https://www.instagram.com/becky_wren/

Facebook Country Bumpkin Chic https://www.facebook.com/CountryBumpkinChic/

Twitter @becky_wren https://twitter.com/Becky_Wren