HAVING started her career tackling human manes, Haley Grime now has a totally different set of clients to deal with.

The 26-year-old from Todmorden decided to follow her heart, turn her back on the salon and find a new client list through the district's stableyards.

Haley now combines a busy diary as a Horse and Pony beautician with bringing on her two youngsters ready for the coming showing season.
A keen rider since she was a young, Haley originally from Darwin in Blackburn, left school and went into hairdressing.

"I just got to the point where I couldn't stand being inside," she said.
At that point she was competing Fossway Avalon, a bay gelding owned by Lynne Renton-Grady. The pair, competing in Intermediate Show Riding Type classes, were enjoying a lot of success qualifying for the Horse of the Year Show at the now defunct Birchinley Manor, and coming third at the Royal International Horse Show.

It was through Lynne that she joined the team on the Mizon yard in Todmorden. Working initially for Richard Mizon, who was a keen eventer and then his son international show jumper Andrew.

"It was a great place to work and I learned a lot there," said Haley.

As well as grooming she competed some of the Mizon horses taking the hotly contested Derby House Novice Dressage Championship. "I was riding an eventer who needed a lot of work on his dressage. We scraped through the qualifier in sixth place which was the last placing to qualify for the final. But on the day it all went right and we won the final which was brilliant," Haley said.

Since leaving the Mizon yard after three years Haley struck out on her own as a Horse Beautician, putting all her experience and knowledge of turning out competition horses into helping others get the results with theirs.

Last year she was able to fulfill another ambition, competing at the Great Yorkshire Show with Helen Horsfall's Connemara Paddy.

"Going to the Great Yorkshire was brilliant even though the weather was terrible. There were 32 horses in the class, Paddy was only five and it was his first show of the season so it was quite a lot to take in. When he did his individual show the spectators applauded which was lovely."

She has also been able to get her own horse who arrived in May last year. Basil, a Welsh Section D she keeps him at the home she shares with supportive boyfriend Karl Starkey on Royd Road in Todmorden.

The three and a half year old, bought in May last year was originally bought with a view to selling him on but Haley said she has grown far too fond of him for that.

She has also bought a Welsh Section A, Itsy Bitsy who is only six months old.

"Basil competed in hand last year and hopefully this year he'll compete under saddle when he's ready and I'm hoping to take Itsy Bitsy to Todmorden show this year," she said.

Haley's top tips for the ring
1. Put baby oil on your horses eyes, muzzle and legs to enhance their features.
2. Put make-up on black points to emphasis them. You can buy blackner from the saddlers or use boot polish.
3. It might sound basic but make sure your tack is clean.
4. Trim for the type and breed of horse you are competing. If you are unsure what is right or wrong – find out before you trim anything.
5. Use cotton when plaiting, not rubber bands. It makes better plaits and isn't as visible.
6. Use hoof paint instead of hoof oil. It drys on and doesn't rub off.
7. Put chalk on white socks and white points.
8. Make sure your clothes fit and are correct for your class.
9. If you plait up the night before put a hood on your horse to keep the plaits tidy.
10. Make sure all bridle straps are in their keepers. It spoils your appearance if straps are flapping.