EXCEPTIONALLY-talented horsewoman Patricia Halliday, from North Hinksey, has died aged 93.

Miss Halliday, fondly known as Pat, was best known for passing on her talent, knowledge and love of horses to many other riders during her time at the Old Manor House Riding School in Oxford.

She also founded the Isis Dressage Group and Oxford Riding Club, while running her popular equestrian school at the same time.

Miss Halliday’s close friend Garry Donnelly said “horses were her life” ever since she received her first pony, Blighty, aged nine.

Born in Abingdon on August 17, 1921, Miss Halliday lived with her antiques dealer father, Cecil Alfred, and her opera singer mother Maud Louise, who once performed at the palace for Queen Victoria. Miss Halliday also had a brother, an ordained monk named Donald, who died in 2006 aged 93. Leaving Abingdon, the Halliday family moved to Broad Street in 1925 when Patricia was four. They then moved again to the Old Manor House, North Hinksey Lane, in 1936, where Miss Halliday would stay until her death.

She attended Oxford High School while growing up before joining the Women’s Land Army once the Second World War broke out.

After the sudden death of her father in 1946, Miss Halliday was left supporting her mother and brother – as her father had been the sole breadwinner of the family.

It was then she decided, aged 25, to set up the Old Manor House Riding School.

Beginning with just three ponies, the now-thriving school quickly grew and was housing 50 horses by the 1970s. Today the school holds around 34 horses and is now owned by Mr Donnelly, following the death of its founder. Her passion was eventing and then later in her life she also took up dressage. She received many notable awards during her life, including ones from the Royal International Horse Show in 1962 and the Royal Windsor Horse Show in the same year, where she was presented with a rosette by Queen Elizabeth II. In 1962 she also received an award from the 11th Duke of Marlborough.

Miss Halliday continued riding until she was 80 years old and stayed teaching until she was 87. She never married and had no children. She died of heart failure at the John Radcliffe Hospital on July 13, 2015.

Everyone is welcome to the funeral service at St Michael’s Church, Cumnor, on Tuesday at 11am followed by a burial in Botley Cemetery.

Flowers or donations for Riding for the Disabled are welcome. Donations can be set up through S & R Childs Funeral Services in Headington. Call 01865 427272.