We launched an incredible competition, around the normal Burghley Horse Trial dates, for one lucky winner to receive two free Scotts loose boxes.
We have now had a chance to catch up with our worthy stables winner, Zoe King, to find out what the win means to her and her horses.
10 years ago Zoe King was homeless after a nasty separation from her partner. Her only option to keep her horses was to make the decision to live in a tent. Disaster then struck again and Zoe suffered a horrific riding accident, a story covered by Horse and Hound at the time.
Zoe recalls: “It’s every equestrian’s dreams to feature in Horse and Hound, but this was not what I had in mind!”
Almost to the date, ten years later, this thankfully seems far behind her. Zoe has just won a Scotts of Thrapston stable block – a luxurious home for the horses she has stuck by, throughout her ups and downs.
“When I saw the competition, I wanted it so badly. I used to cut out pictures of Scotts stables from magazines as a child and used to pretend this is where my horses lived” said Zoe. “I was inspired by a book by Denise Duffield Thomas called ‘Lucky Bitch’. Using some of the recommended strategies, I tried to visualise the Scotts stables, where I wanted them, and to imagine how they would make me feel.”
Zoe started to implement additional strategies from the book, getting inside the mind of Scotts of Thrapston. She stood in the area of the farm she now lives in with her new partner James, exactly where she wanted the Scotts stables, visualising every detail and how it would make her feel.
James’ family has farmed in the area since the 1600s and the couple now live in a small cottage there. Zoe was able to persuade James to clear the space and prepare the groundwork so she could show Scotts that she was ready to receive the prize.
James Scott, Managing Director remarks: “Zoe’s video was outstanding, she had hit the mark at every point. From baking us a cake to celebrate our centenary with a perfect copy of our logo on top, to the effort put into editing and a time lapse video of the groundwork preparation.”
Zoe commented “I did spend hours cutting out the template for the Scotts logo with a craft knife, determined to get it right. Having never edited a video before, I found a free app on my phone and got started which took even more hours! This investment of time has definitely paid off and I am delighted that my horses will soon be benefitting from my concerted efforts.”
Although announcing our stables winner brought about some negative comments on the Scotts Facebook page, Zoe’s bounce back from her accident and a focus on a new business enterprise proves that Zoe is a fighter and determined to find the positives when the future looks bleak.
Zoe’s tips for when you are struggling and things seem hopeless: “You can trust that there is a bigger plan. You are where you need to be at that time in order for something amazing to follow. At every point in my life when I have been low, it has led to a phenomenal opportunity. I am also very conscious of giving back, so I donate a lot of physio and products to charities and individuals who need some help but maybe can’t afford it.”
We are looking forward to meeting this incredible lady in person, especially with her baking skills – our installation team are already getting excited! And, so they should be apparently, as Zoe has got something even bigger planned for them.
We look forward to sharing the progress of Zoe’s stables as they are designed, manufactured and installed over the coming months.