One of Bermuda's most accomplished equestrians, veteran Joan Taplin, says that her earliest memory is sitting upon a horse nestled against the warmth of her mother, Naomi Wainwright.

"Before I can even remember, mother used to place me in front of her in the saddle and we would go for a gentle ride. This was before I was a year old.

"Mother loved horses, rode frequently and founded the Bermuda Pony Club in 1938. She taught hundreds of children, including me.

"When I returned to Bermuda in 1970, I took over the running of the Pony Club. Most of our Olympic riders started their riding careers in the Pony Club, as did many of Bermuda's present day riders.'' Harriet Richold, Jennifer Gray, and Mrs. Taplin, all dedicated equestrians, are reviving the sport of eventing in Bermuda putting on combined training events, which include dressage, cross-country and show jumping.

Quite naturally Mrs. Taplin grew up to love horses and as a small girl rode her pony from "Waterloo Cottage'' to Bermuda High School for Girls on school days. This was in the days before cars came to Bermuda.

It wasn't long before she outgrew her pony and was given a horse which she adored, `Lucky Lady'. When she was 14 years old she went abroad to Foxcroft boarding school in Virginia and she took her horse with her.

Considering her background it is not surprising to learn that Mrs. Taplin is an equestrian champion and is qualified by the International Equestrian Federation to judge international three-day events.

As such she has judged at the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg, and at three North American Young Riders Championships, as well as other three-day events in the US and Canada.

Her responsibilities at these prestigious events include the general running of the event and inspection of the horses before and during the event. She also judges the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country and show-jumping which make up the three day event.

"Dressage is a test of the horse's training and obedience when performing a set pattern in a ring; cross country day consists of roads and tracks, steeplechase and about 30 cross country jumps totaling about 10 to 12 miles.

"Show jumping test the horse's ability to compete over a course of formal jumps after the strain of cross country day,'' Mrs. Taplin explained.

She has acted as team manager for various Bermudian eventing teams helping the horses and riders do their best at Pan-Am Games and Young Riders Championships.

She finds this a challenging and rewarding experience and encourages Bermuda's more successful riders to compete abroad and gain international exposure.

When asked if horses are smart creatures, Mrs. Taplin said: "It depends what you mean by `smart'. They learn by repetition. You must first gain the horse's trust and affection and then find out how his particular mind works.

"Then you can teach him the basics of being trained and ridden and slowly work up to your goal -- rather like going to kindergarten and then on to real school.

"Most horses like people and want to please them, but some can be very crafty and figure out how to evade what you want them to do, so you have to stay one step ahead of them.

"Some like to win -- to show off and be the `Top Horse'. Others are happy with a more relaxed atmosphere. Then there are those who prefer not to be caught.'' All horses need a lot of attention, according to Mrs. Taplin, and they must be fed, watered, groomed, exercised, sheltered and cared for in general.

"The more love and care you give horses, the more they bond with you and become your partner,'' she said.

Rory is the name of her Bermuda horse, age 10, and stands about 15.3 hands tall. He is a good natured, handsome bay Connamara thoroughbred crossbred who loves peppermint treats.

She also has a much loved horse in Virginia and together they go fox hunting (now called `fox chasing as the fox is chased but no longer caught).

"It is all very exciting. I love following the hounds and watching them find and follow the scent! We gallop around the countryside with friends who enjoy it too,'' she said.

On another level, Mrs. Taplin teaches riding for the disabled at Windreach, in Warwick, and feels rewarded by the children's pleasure and improvement during their lessons on the ponies.

When asked who she most admires she said: "Sir Winston Churchill who snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat when Germany was to invade England.

Otherwise, we might all be speaking German and life would be different.'' During the past 30 years Mrs. Taplin has won nearly all the big show jumping competitions here. Currently she competes for fun in a few shows a year.

Bermuda is fortunate to have such a highly respected and talented equestrian judge as the warm and friendly Mrs. Taplin who was riding a horse before she could walk.

Joan Taplin, a qualified international equestrian judge, with her handsome horse Rory, a Conamara thoroughbred.