Meet Laura and Natasha – Mother and Daughter Eventing Duo
This Mothers Day, we’re sharing the inspirational story of Laura and her daughter Natasha – a mother/daughter duo taking on the Eventing world by storm.
‘I feel the luckiest mum in the world to be able to share the wonderful sport of Eventing with my daughter. To compete together is fabulous as we both help each other at home to prepare for the competitions. I’m also a riding instructor and love teaching Natasha. We hack out together, muck out together; it is wonderful to share our dreams and we both encourage each other to try and achieve them.’
‘Natasha is now 15 and she joined East Cheshire Pony Club when she was 4 with her Welsh Mountain Pony called Sparky. The Branch were so encouraging and she did her first canter and cross pole in a rally!’
‘She did her first Pony Club ODE with her next loan pony Billy, she was instantly hooked! Everyone was so encouraging and her dream was to compete at The Pony Club Championships.’
‘2023/24 was when she started to combine British Eventing and Pony Club, and she and loan pony Afon represented Wales and West Midlands at the 90cm Championships at Chillington in 2024 coming 2nd as a team and 9th individually.’
‘2025 started brilliantly with she and Afon becoming top of the 90cm Leader Table, but tragically it was discovered that Afon had cataracts in both eyes; a total miracle that they had managed to compete that spring, demonstrating the incredible partnership they had. He had to retire instantly.’
‘Natasha was very lucky to be offered the ride on our neighbour’s horse Ross Skylark; they had great success at 90 and then did their first 100 at The Pony Club Area’s which they were lucky enough to win, and the team came 2nd qualifying them for the Championships where the team came 3rd!’
‘I competed at 5* level before I was married – my maiden name was Laura Fortune. I’d been in Cheshire Hunt North Pony Club and I used to love the rallies and hunter trials – it definitely started my passion for Eventing.’
‘I produced two horses to 5* level and did a double clear at Burghley in 2000 at 24 with Loughnatousa Sam. All my students came to watch and my DC Psyche Kennerley remembered me at their age!!’
‘I became the Intermediate champion at Gatcombe in 2004 with Hallo Again and was placed 16th at Badminton with him in 2005 with a double clear. He was sadly injured at Burghley in 2005 and I haven’t ridden at that level since.’
‘I then got married to my wonderful husband, Mark. I competed when I was 5 months pregnant with Natasha at Chatsworth and she thinks that’s what got her hooked on Eventing!’
‘I continued to teach and compete at a lower level but put my time into enjoying the children growing up. It was only when Natasha looked at old photos of me competing and she asked if I’d ever try to get to 5* level again, and if I did she’d love watching me and helping me to get there! This ignited a spark, so we looked for a suitable horse and we found Romeo who I’ve now had for 2 years.’
‘Last season we both competed at Burgham together and I was so proud to ride around with my daughter! I had finished in the morning and when Natasha competed in the afternoon the commentator said, ‘Natasha Grice is starting now, whose mother Laura has been round this morning.’ Both Natasha and I said how proud we were to hear that!’
‘Then the most special moment was Natasha being asked to compete in The Pony Club Nations Cup at Ballindenisk. She begged to go so I thought I may as well take my horse! Packing the lorry, the adventure of getting the boat, it was truly incredible – the highlight of the year.’
‘The big part of competing together is sharing the highs and lows and being there to encourage and help if either of us has a mishap, we are so close because of it and I feel so lucky. To top it off my mum did the same for me and is now loving watching her granddaughter compete! Everyone nicknamed her Granny Fortune and all the old and familiar faces on the Eventing circuit remember her and make her feel so welcome.’
‘For me, that is what is so special – sharing the love of our sport brings us so close as a family and it’s something so real in this uncertain modern world. We all have the mutual love of horses and caring for them together as mother and daughter is the most precious gift I could wish for.’