I have been riding on the Ashdown Forest since a teenager and I'm now 43. I have been a member of AFRA for some years and joined the committee last year when an email was sent round looking for a secretary.

Another member was elected as secretary but following Mairede Thomas's resignation last year at the AGM I was elected Chair.

I run a livery yard near Nutley at Pippingford and own two horses, Charile and Breeze. I used to compete a bit but my riding now is mainly hacking on the Ashdown Forest. I live in East Grinstead with my partner Mark and our two dogs. I also run my business Animal Aromatherapy, using essential oils to help deal with physical and behavioural problems in all types of animals.

I have ridden now for about 10 years having started at the ripe old age of 52 after I did some pony treking in Canada and deciding to have lessons when I got home! I ride from King's Standing, usually about three times a week, so am able to enjoy a fairly large area of the forest.

I don't own my own horse but have a loan which works very well for me. I live in Crowborough and am in my second year as an AFRA committee member.

When I was young, my parents would give me the odd 2/6 to spend at the local gypsy riding stables. We would take ponies over the fields and have fun making jumps etc. Then during my adult life I sometimes went on a hack whilst on holiday. When my daughter was 4 years old she rode regularly.

She had a pony on loan from the age of about 7 and we bought her first pony when she was 10. She said to me "Mum why don`t you get a horse?" That's how it all started! My first horse at 43! I just love riding on Ashdown Forest. Years have flown by and I never tire of the changing seasons, come rain, sun, wind or snow. Each day you get a different view of the lovely scenery of the Forest and surrounding countryside.

At present I have a Welsh section D bay mare and to keep her company a 36" blanket spotted gelding. I have taken part in the odd sponsored ride, and trip out with my trailer - but am happiest plodding around on the Forest with friends.

I have lived in Nutley for 13 years and ride out from King's Standing. I have ridden from childhood and had two horses of my own for a number of years. However, I stopped riding for about 20 years but came back some 10 years ago and now loan a horse. I normally ride three times a week over quite a wide area of the forest.

I have been an AFRA committee member for about one and a half years.

I love riding on the forest and keep horses in Colemans Hatch.. As an an equine and animal artist my horses have an important role both in my life and work. I am a volunteer helper with the Eridge branch of Riding for the Disabled who meet weekly at Chuck Hatch.

This can seem quite energetic on a Monday morning but it is great fun and very rewarding. I live in Forest Row with my husband and three teenage children and two dogs.

Joined the AFRA committee in 2010. Has lived on the Ashdown Forest since 1969 at the age of two.

Enjoys riding on the forest since she got her first pony at the age of eleven. Suzy used to compete and now has one horse that she hacks out regularly on the forest, a companion cob and one grass livery that live at her home in Colemans Hatch. She is very much into natural horsemanship and her horses live out as a herd, barefoot and are ridden bitless and sometimes bareback.

Suzy is a volunteer at the Ashdown Forest Centre Information Barn where you may find her on the occasional Sunday morning. Her main passion is animals, particularly her horses and dog. She has a black Labrador whom she competes regularly at gundog competitions. Suzy is also on the committee of SEGS gundog club.

She is a keen photographer and loves to capture the essence of the forest and put it into framed print. Suzy works locally part-time as a Technical Assistant for a company that makes bricks.