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 Janine Kerr, who you might know better as Cornish Connemara (or @cornishconnemara on Instagram).
Name
Janine Kerr
Whereabouts do you live?
I live a few miles outside Newquay in beautiful Cornwall.
Favourite equestrian discipline..
To watch.. Eventing. To do.. dressage 😂😂 (but I am working on the Eventing thing)
Tell us about the horses in your life
I have two horses in my life.. Tom is a Black, 14hh, 26 year old Welsh D X (cross we aren’t sure!) whose been with me since he was 3. He’s my soul mate and although he’s now retired due to arthritis, I still love looking after him.
For years he got me into trouble escaping into back gardens/schools/onto main roads and going for walks to nearby towns. He would also run off in a headcollar regularly. He was always the “Loooose Hooorse!” at the show ground.
We competed in showing, Working Hunter and hunter trials and I loved every minute with him.
Ruby is my new 15hh 6 year old, Rose Grey Connie X KWPN mare, who came to me from a friend in June. We’re still getting to know each other but I plan to start with Dressage, working our way up to BD and then gather some guts together to start jumping! She’s a lovely, (very nosey!!) mare who can’t walk in a straight line whilst hacking because she’s constantly looking around. She’s still young but is generally a level headed girl and I hope she will restore my confidence after a fall last year.
What’s your greatest equestrian achievement so far?
My greatest equestrian achievement is getting back riding after the accident. For a short time I feared I wouldn’t be able to.
My most treasured memory though is definitely having a lesson with Mary King. To this day I’m not sure how I managed to hold in my excitement/nerves enough to jump fences in front of her!
What’s your ultimate equestrian dream?
My ultimate equestrian dream would be to get placed at a BE event. I hope one day to work at that but it’s one step at a time with achievable targets whilst I gain confidence.
Care to share a funny equestrian story?
As I mentioned, Tom was a notorious escape artist. He’s had main roads closed when he took whole herds of horses for a walk in the night, but the funniest time was when I got a call from a lovely elderly lady telling me that she had “black beauty” in her garden and that I should probably come and get him.
When I got there I found him in the most beautiful landscaped garden drinking from the lady’s marble water fountain (the cherub was piddling in his mouth!)
I could have died.
The worst part is that I couldn’t get him back over where he had gotten in so I had to take him out through her house over her carpet.
She was very good about it, gave him a biscuit on the way out and said she’d miss watching him out of her window 🙈
Best bit of riding advice you’ve been given
Best bit of riding advice I’ve ever been given would probably be by a jump trainer of mine when I just couldn’t stop standing up in my stirrups and picking the horse up over fences.
She said “When you go over a fence stick your butt out the back and try to touch your elbows together, you won’t be able to but it will force you to crouch and you won’t stick your elbows out”
Favourite equestrian brands
You’ll find me using a lot of Woofwear, Horseware and Equilibrium products. I always find the quality of these brands to be very high, the customer service is great and I trust them.
My hats are Champion, and my rugs are almost all Shires as I think they’re brilliant value for money.
My feed room, grooming kit and first aid kit are full of NAF products, and my splurge brands are Fairfax & Favor and Hiho Silver.. though there are a ton of exciting small brands I’m really interested in at the moment!
One thing we might not know about you?
Something you may not know about me..it’s not equestrian based but I once played the part of a Zombie in a music video for a metal band called ChickenHawk. It’s called I “I Hate This, Do you Like It?”
My scene ends with me being smacked over the head with the top of a toilet. It’s one heck of a conversation starter!
Do you have anything you deem as ‘lucky’ when you ride/compete?
I always have something in my pocket at an event which belonged to my mum, a broach or a necklace. If anyone will look after me it would be her.
Do you have any superstitions or rituals?
The lucky item as above.. but nothing else in particular. I usually find when the run up to a show is a little rocky, the event itself goes well and vice versa!
I force myself to eat something and smile and try to have fun when the nerves threaten to take over.
If you could have dinner with any rider/equestrian, who would that be?
I was lucky enough to have dinner with Mary and Emily King so that was something ticked off my bucket list… but I’d love to meet Carl Hester. I almost head butted him at Your Horse Live because Charlotte had just walked past, I was shocked and wasn’t looking where I was going 😂
If you could ride any horse in the world – past or present – who would it be?
100% Valegro. Apart from being gorgeous and outstandingly clever he is really forgiving and safe, such a character.
Why did you join Social Supercharge: Riders?
I joined the Supercharged Riders Course because I am addicted to all things Equestrian and Country, have found a love for Instagram and meeting new people using the platform and have always been interested in photography and editing photos and videos.
I wanted to document my journey back to riding confidence after an accident last year which broke my back and I hoped Rhea and her course would give me the tools to do that. They certainly have!
What’s the best thing about the course?
The best thing about the course is honestly the confidence you are given to go ahead and put yourself out there. The encouragement and backing is really invaluable. I have met some lovely people as a result of taking part in this course and Rhea has been unbelievably supportive. The advice is awesome and the discounts are an added bonus!
Tell us all the places where we can find you
Instagram @cornishconnemara
Facebook Janine Kerr Cornish Connemara
