Tina and her family started Contessa Riding Centre in 1977 and it has continued to blossom and grow ever since. Tina has competed up to Grand Prix level with her mare Pik Dame, who she trained right through the levels. The highlight of her competition career with Pik Dame was representing Great Britain in 2000. At present she is preparing Queijada for competition, a Lusitano mare owned by the daughter of Sylvia Loch of the Classical Riding Club, who wanted her horse to be trained by a classical rider who would be able to take her to her full potential.
Other important horses in Tina's Dressage career have been Borrowdale (Buster to his friends) who introduced Tina to Grand Prix competition, Karleton Quartz - an inexpensive Anglo-Arab bought to bring on and sell, who ended up competing to Prix St. Georges with Tina, then training a great many students in the advanced movements, Lanzo (also bought to sell, but ended up staying!) with whom Tina competed to advanced level nationally, and who has introduced a few lucky members of staff to advanced competition.
As an Instructor and trainer, Tina has coached a huge number of riders, encouraging them all to work with their horse to achieve harmony and balance in the classical method. She has trained a great many students through their riding and teaching exams to the highest levels, including the dressage section of the BHS Fellowship. She was previously a BHS examiner, and currently examines for the ABRS to their ATD Exam - the top exam that they offer. Tina is also a UKCC level 3 Tutor in Sport, NVQ A1 assessor and a BHS Riding and Road Safety trainer and examiner.
Tina has been training with Arthur Kottas, former First Chief Rider of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, for over 20 Years. Tina goes to the TTT in Guildford several times a year to train with Arthur and is regularly asked to perform in their lecture/demonstrations. Tina has also been training with John Bowen since 1993. This gives a great deal of continuity to the training, which is passed on to her students. John gives clinics at Contessa every two months.
In 2001 Tina made her own addition to the Layton clan with her son Zak. Tina would love for Zak to follow in her footsteps, but although he enjoys riding he is more interested in the quad bike at present.
