It started with a very naughty pony ...

I was that kid - the one who could talk about nothing but horses before I could properly tie my own shoelaces. My obsession got so out of hand that when no riding school would take me until I was five, my mum told a small white lie and said I was five when I was actually four. (Thanks, Mum. Worth it.)

There was Lucky the Shetland, who was anything but - if I only fell off four times in a lesson, we called it a triumph. Then came Harlequin, the grey Welsh pony my parents bought me on my seventh birthday, who taught me everything I know about humility, usually by depositing me at the feet of a very polished show judge.

That little girl in muddy boots never really left. She just grew up and started a business.

The year the light went out...

I won't pretend it's all been chocolate bars and rosettes. 2024 was the hardest year of my life. I lost three horses, including Clooney, my heart horse of over 15 years. Losing them left a hole I genuinely didn't think could be filled - like the "pony" part of me had simply gone.

Then a friend messaged me about a sensitive, neurotic, deeply lovable chestnut mare named Patsy, whose brain is 90% ruled by her stomach and 10% by her need for cuddles. She's been my long road home - through eye injuries, hospital stays, surgery and months of box rest. My dream is to get her back in the dressage arena one day. For now, I'm just happy to feed her carrots and breathe in her soft nose.

A colourful lightbulb moment...

While Patsy was on box rest, I was on my own journey - finally being diagnosed with ADHD and Autism in my late thirties, and finding a psychiatrist who actually listened. For the first time, the world felt manageable.

Here's the thing about me: I need colour to function. Grey, gloomy days are hard. But hand me a bright pink dustpan instead of a grey one and suddenly even the boring jobs feel lighter. So when I picked up a "craft your own collar" kit to keep my hands busy during Patsy's recovery, something clicked. I looked at all the drab, boring horse and dog gear out there and thought: why can't this be beautiful?

That was the moment Ponies & Pups was born.

Gear tested by genuine professionals...

Every piece I make is handcrafted right here in the UK, designed to survive real life - the mud, the British winter, the full-speed charge through a hedge. I work in BioThane and premium rope because I wanted gear that's as tough as it is gorgeous: odour-resistant, easy to wipe clean, and available in endless colours so you can find the exact shade that brings you a little hit of joy.

And nothing reaches you untested. My quality control team is ruthless:

• Lily, my 7-year-old Jack Russell cross Pug, the seasoned veteran who'll turn back to the car at the first hint of drizzle. She's the reason our slim straps sit so perfectly on a regal little neck.
• Milo, the 11-month-old Sprocker Spaniel and resident chaos merchant, whose love of "The Mud Spa" is exactly why I take stink-proof and easy-to-clean so seriously.
• Jessie, our quiet, dignified elder spaniel, who vanishes the instant a camera appears and who inspired some of my softer, more soulful colours.

If a lead can survive a stomp through the deepest mud, a hallway wrestling match, and a dramatic towel-off at the front door, then - and only then - is it ready for you.

Why I do this...

Whether you're navigating a tough diagnosis, grieving a heart animal, or just surviving the school-run-to-stables dash, I hope my gear brings a bit of colour to your day. Life with animals is chaotic, messy and sometimes heartbreaking. But with a little neon pink and a lot of love, it's also the most beautiful journey in the world.

So go on - pick the bold colour. Life is meant to be lived in it.

Sophia x

Ready to bring some colour to your own muddy adventures? Have a browse and find your shade - Click here to see our shop.