Curriculum Vitae

CHARLES WILLIAM SELBY LANE
Hardway, Somerset
DOB 5 July 1956.

I have over 40 years experience with horses. There are few areas of equestrianism with which I have not been involved:- I have experience in Racing, Eventing, Show Jumping, Dressage, Hunting, Shows, Pony Clubs, Riding Clubs, Riding Schools, Trekking Centres and Livery Yards

Equestrian Expert Witness

In the last ten years I have:

  • Provided over 400 written expert witness reports for over 60 firms of solicitors as both a single and as a joint expert
  • Given oral evidence on over 35 occasions, in both the County Court and the High Court, in cases involving all areas of equestrianism
Academic Qualifications
  • MA (Hons) Agriculture and Forest Science (Oxon)
  • Postgraduate Diploma Equine Science, University College of Wales (Aberystwyth)
  • Member of the Chartered Management Institute

Experience with Horses

  • Have ridden numerous horses over the last 40 years.
  • Winner of numerous equestrian competitions:
  • Until 1999 competed successfully on a number of horses up to and including Advanced level at British Horse Trials Association Horse Trials – both 1 and 3 day events
  • Past British One-Day Horse Trials Champion
  • Show Jumped in BSJA Discovery and Foxhunter classes
  • Currently run my own small competition/hunter livery yard, including schooling young and problem horses.
  • Ridden out racehorses for many different trainers and raced as a successful Amateur Rider (see below).
  • Have broken in (i.e. trained from unridden) competition and Thoroughbred horses, personally and in racing yards. Managed breaking of military horses for The King’s Troop RHA. Taught breaking procedure.
  • Educated in Pony Club system.
  • Played low-goal polo, horseball, tent pegging.

Experience as a Riding Instructor and Equine Lecturer

  • Current Registered British Horse Society Intermediate Instructor teaching a variety of private clients. Pony Club instructor over many years. British Eventing Accredited Trainer.
  • Head of Equine Business Management at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, 1994-99.
  • Member of the Animal Care & Equine Training Organisation Horsemastership Working Group.
  • Speaker at major British Horse Society, Pony Club, Association of British Riding Schools and Medical Equestrian Association Health and Safety seminars.
Experience in the Racing Industry
  • For 16 years held a Category B Amateur Permit, allowing me to race against professional jockeys, in UK and Germany, in both flat and jump races. Past winner of the Grand Military Gold Cup plus other Hunter-Chases and Point to Points.
  • Manager of the Racecourse Department of The Jockey Club and National Point-to-Point Controller, 1999-2000.
  • Current Steward at Sandown and Kempton Park Racecourses and on Point-to-Point courses. Qualified Chairman for National Hunt and Flat meetings.
  • Joint author (50% contribution) of British Horseracing Board Racecourse Training Manual.
  • Jockey Club assessor for steeplechasers with poor jumping record.
Experience in the Competition Horse Sector
  • Team Manager of the British Three-Day Event Team (1992-6) during which time the Team were World and European Champions and 5th at the Atlanta Olympics.
  • Member of British Eventing Rules Committee
  • British Eventing Steward.
  • Chairman of the Medical Sub-Committee of the British Eventing Standing Committee on Safety of Cross-Country Courses in Eventing.
  • Health and Safety Adviser to International One-Day Event.
  • Referee for carriage Driving trials at Royal Windsor Horse Show.
  • Foreign Delegate on Jury of Appeal for the USA National Driving Championships, 1990.
  • Disciplinary Steward for the British Show Jumping Association
Experience in the Hunting Field
  • Have hunted since 5 years old with over 10 packs of hounds in UK.
  • Drag hunted in Germany and hunted in USA.
Other Equestrian Consultancy Work
  • Equestrian professional on Harper Adams/Warwickshire University College Equine Degrees Validation Panel.
  • Health & Safety advice to racing, eventing, and horse welfare yards and riding schools, and an international horse competition, including preparation of Risk Assessment and Health & Safety Policy.
  • Member of DEFRA initiated Working Group investigating methods to counter increasing equestrian related insurance premiums
Military Equestrian Experience
  • Commanding Officer, The King's Troop RHA, 1991-93, with responsibilities for 120 horses and 180 personnel including Farriers, Saddlers, Veterinary Officer, Horsebox Drivers, Grooms, Foragemen and Equitation Instruction Staff.
  • Second-in-Command, The King's Troop RHA, 1985-88.
  • Advanced Military Equitation Course 1984-85, top student.
Contact me