 On graduating, he took law at Yale University and, at that point, looked destined to follow his father into the profession.Oaksey had learned to ride on an old pony called Mince Pie, which later gave rise to the title of his autobiography, "Mince Pie For Starters" A photo of him being ejected from Mince Pie during the 1935 Purton pony trials appeared on the front page of the "Daily Express".He began competitive riding in point-to-points, starting with a ride on a horse called Paula at Siddington, Gloucestershire, in April 1950.