Capt. Ted Moore (8 Sep 1934 - 14 Oct 2020)

Capt. Ted Moore was born in Victoria, Hong Kong. His parents were of Scottish origin and returned to Scotland with their young son when World War 2 started to close in on the then British Territory.

Ted was educated at Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow. He developed his love of animals as a child with his pet dog and on horse riding holidays along the Clyde.

Ted had a very varied professional career, working in a bank, serving in the army, managing a garage, managing a well-known caravan firm and as a salesman in Europe for an American oil firm, which took him to Norway. He travelled widely but in time decided that there was much more to life than rushing from country to country, hotel room to hotel room. Ted had to choose between his love for animals and of sailing. Animals won hands down! He started T.M. International School of Horsemanship in a very modest way in Norway: learnt Norwegian, apprenticed himself to an elderly farrier to learn the trade and rented some land with stables ( at that time foreigners were not allowed to buy agricultural land in Norway). Then Ted set about caring for his beloved ponies and teaching children to ride and care for their equines.

Mary joined him in his venture and when circumstances led them to leave, they moved lock, stock and tractor (!) to Cornwall, England. Both had spent 15 years in Norway and left many good friends, lots of whom remain in contact today.

T.M. International School of Horsemanship UK was born – a small farm on the edge of the most beautiful Bodmin Moor in the village of Henwood. New friends were made, over the years hundreds of visitors came to ride from all over the world. Local children and adults became regular customers, some reaching dizzying heights of national dressage competitions; others wishing solely to do what Ted always loved, to ride on Bodmin Moor. Ted and Mary’s much-loved son, William was born.

A local vet wrote recently of Ted, “I held Ted in high regard. He was always courteous and straight to the point. He had a real depth of knowledge and respect for animals. He could seem tough ……but what a huge softie he really was!”

The end of an era. Rest in peace Ted – we miss you.