LOUISA MILNE HOME

The Scottish eventer on the family donkey and terrifying ski adventures

My biggest indulgence…

Horses. Most of my money goes on them. Otherwise I’m pretty “Scottish” — by which I mean frugal.

Looking back at blunders…

I was at Aswanley Horse Trials and in with a shout of victory when I decided to take a shortcut through a barley field. The spikes of the crop made the horse buck and fly-jump, and I made a starfish imprint in the crop where I fell off. What made matters worse was the fact that the venue belongs to my uncle. I had a lot of explaining to do.

When I am getting away from it all…

My sister, Beanie de la Rue, is a professional skier and occasionally I join her for a slightly terrifying break in France. She forgets that I only ski every two years and expects me to do the equivalent of Badminton on the slopes.

Settling down with…

A Game of Thrones set of books (left). Pure heaven. I’m quite fond of trashy telly too.

Remembering when…

I used to fall off regularly when one of my first ponies put his head down to eat after every jump — even with grass reins on. I spent many hours with a Pony Club friend trying to teach him some better manners.

The funniest bit of advice I’ve ever been given…

My money-saving tip…

Don’t go eventing.

My earliest equestrian memories…

These involve the family donkey, Thumbelina, who would often to escape from her leader and run down two steep lawns and straight into the rhododendron bushes at the bottom. H&H

Les Smith, my Pony Club instructor, used to say, ‘Squeeze it like a tube of toothpaste.’