WHEN local amateur event rider Sarah-Jane Brown launched a website to record her own personal journey and the struggles and sacrifices when juggling a career with competing little did she imagine the following it would attract.

Her aptly named www.shoestringeventing.co.uk website has been nominated in three categories for a national equestrian award which recognises the use of social media.

Launched in 2011, The Equestrian Social Media Awards (ESMA's) were set up to bring together the global equestrian community through social media.

The ESMAs are now a global affair with finalists representing; America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Norway, France, Holland, Italy, Switzerland and, of course, the UK and Ireland.

Anticipated

Sarah-Jane, who is based near Carn Brea, and works full time as a Health and Safety Inspector and Animal Licensing Officer for Cornwall Council. said: "I launched the site three years-ago. I thought people might be interested in following the ups and downs of an amateur event rider warts and all but never anticipated the huge number of visitors to the site. Shoestring Eventing has been a real success with over 20,000 visitors in peak months.

" There are also complimentary Facebook, You Tube and Twitter accounts which all give followers regular updates and ways of keeping abreast of my news."

Sarah-Jane's lively and frank accounts of the obstacles faced by an amateur event rider with limited resources and her honesty about her hopes, disasters and disappointments have struck a chord with visitors to the site.

She added: "It's an accurate reflection and shows that it is possible to achieve success at eventing with hard work, dedication and limited funds.

"I keep my horses at a rented yard and do all the stable work myself. I have no sanded school on site and have even adapted half pass and transitions into my hacking.

"On average we travel four to five hours to British Evening competitions and I don't have limitless funds – I work hard to earn the money to achieve my dreams."

Shoestringeventing.co.uk has helped put Cornwall on the map and Sarah-Jane is hoping the site will once again be recognised at the global awards.

"I'm hoping people will take the time to vote for me," she said.

"I won the amateur rider category last year and being nominated once more will give me the chance to retain this award.

"My site has also been put forward for the regional award and in the talking animal category for the tongue in cheek blogs I write from the eyes of my mare Sarnita."

Sarah-Jane has produced Sarnita from intro level up to advanced and their rise through the ranks makes compulsive reading.

Sarah-Jane, who is currently out of action after falling on the road from one of her young horses resulting in a broken hip, said: "Sarnita has her own blog which can be quite amusing.

" I've recorded everything on the site from breaking my hip through to the highs of winning at an event."

To vote for Sarah-Jane visit www.equestriansocialmediaawards.com or for a direct link log onto the Shoestring Eventing website.

DIARY DATES

Friday 3-Saturday February 4: Tall Trees Arena, Affiliated Dressage.

Saturday February 4 : Colraine EC, Unaffiliated Dressage incl NPS Qualifiers; North Cornwall Hunt, Tregarden, St Mabyn; Four Burrow Hunt, Ventonwyn Farm, Tregony.

Sunday February 5: British Riding Clubs, Dressage area 19 qualifier, Duchy College, Stoke Climsland. Senior enquires call Sally Callow 07818 022488 or junior enquiries Helen Moore 01752 851365; Colraine EC, Unaffiliated Showjumping (incorp BS Club Show) & British Show Jumping (Ponies).

Tuesday February 7: Claire Rushworth SJ Clinic, Tall Trees Arena, call Claire Rushworth 01208 814900; Four Burrow Hunt, Medlyn Farm; Wednesday February 8: Tall Trees Arena, Unaffiliated dressage Int B, P4, P13, N24, N28 ; North Cornwall Hunt, Cobweb Inn, Boscastle.

Thursday February 9: Colraine EC, British Dressage; Four Burrow Hunt, Messack Farm, St Just in Roseland.

Saturday February 11: Duchy College, Affiliated dressage; Threewaters Riding Club, Showjumping training with Claire Rushworth at Chyverton Park, Zelah; North Cornwall Hunt, Levathen, Blisland; Four Burrow Hunt, Pengelly Farm, St Erme; Colraine EC, Unaffiliated Showjumping & British Show Jumping (Horses).

Sunday February 12: Newquay Riding Club, Show Jumping at Resparveth Riding Centre, Grampound Road. Royal Windsor and Cricklands Qualifier. Call Lyn Penrose 0786 7535826 or schedules/info on newquayridingclub.com; Goonbell Jumping Show. Call 01872 552063; Colraine EC, Unaffiliated Showjumping & British Show Jumping (Horses).

Monday February 13, Four Burrow Hunt, Eastcourt House, Eastcourt.

Wednesday February 15: North Cornwall Hunt, Norton Crest.

Thursday February 16: Four Burrow Hunt, Pawton Springs; Tall Trees Arena, Tetcott PC Open Show; Friday November 17: Colraine EC, BD Clinic for members & non-members with Nicky du Plessis.