A shy rider whose love of horses began in childhood has become the star of a daring equestrian show.
Edie Bainbridge, 26, originally from the Cotswolds, is the lead rider in The Trusty Steed, one of the headline productions at Kynren – The Storied Lands in Bishop Auckland, where she performs trick riding, jousting, and liberty work on a Spanish horse named Pegaso.
Her journey began in an unexpected way, starting out with the touring Giffords Circus looking after one of the performers’ children.
Miss Bainbridge said: "I was working in a horse show in America during the day and as a magician’s assistant at night.
"I worked and trained with so many different people, often for free, simply trying to learn as much as I could.
"It’s a very small industry and incredibly difficult to break into, but once one door opens, others start to follow."
Her dedication and persistence led to opportunities around the world, performing in the US, Germany, France, and the UK.
Now, she has landed the biggest role of her career.
Kynren's Edie Bainbridge
(Image: Kynren)
The Trusty Steed is one of five major live productions created for Kynren – The Storied Lands, blending horsemanship, stunt riding, and storytelling to explore the connection between horse and rider.
It is also one of the few major equestrian shows to feature a female lead.
Miss Bainbridge said: "I feel very honoured to be working on a show where the lead character is a woman.
"Often in the stunt industry women are asked to pretend to be men or move like men.
"This is the first show I’ve worked on where the lead role is very clearly a woman and it is female skill that is being celebrated.
"It’s also my first leading role, which is quite funny because I’m actually pretty shy."
Despite her nerves offstage, she comes alive in the arena.
Kynren's Edie Bainbridge
(Image: Kynren)
She said: "I’ve always found public speaking difficult.
"Put me on a horse though and everything changes."
Central to her performance is Pegaso, the horse she describes as "intelligent and brave."
Miss Bainbridge said building trust with Pegaso is as vital as mastering the stunts.
She said: "We ask horses to work with us as partners.
"You can’t force them.
"They have to trust you and want to do what you’re asking of them, and you have to earn that trust every single day."
This bond is most evident during the show’s liberty sequences, where Pegaso performs without tack.
She said: "If he doesn’t want to be with me, he simply won’t.
"You can’t fake or force that relationship."
Each performance is the result of years of training and teamwork.
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Miss Bainbridge said: "People see the finished show, but they don’t necessarily realise how much work has gone into creating those few moments of action."
Reflecting on her journey, she said she still finds it remarkable how her passion for horses led to such a prominent role.
She added: "I feel incredibly lucky."