LINCOLNSHIRE riders are starting this season in top form. Our homebred eventers have had a busy winter producing top young horses and the results are paying off. Equestrian Lincs has caught up with a handful of our young riders to find out what it is they are doing to put Lincolnshire Riders on the map.
Holly said: “ My biggest achievement was when I was selected to ride on the pony European dressage team, I stole my sisters pony for it so when she wasn’t selected, she wasn’t too happy. It was my first major competition though so I was really happy.’
Holly went on to be reserve for the European eventing team a year later. Since then 17 year-old Woodhead has been on the JRN eventing championship teams 2008 and 2009 becoming the first under 18 to be selected for both teams.
Holly is now aiming for the junior teams going to Portugal this year with her horse, The French One, now 14years old. And hopes to be selected once again for the European teams next year with her six year old horse Lumpison.
“Being labeled an Olympic prospect is so exciting, but I know I will have to work hard. My biggest dream is to be an Olympic gold medalist and an overall successful horsewoman and trainer, “ concluded Holly.
Katy’s top ride this season is Weston IV who is competing at Intermediate and 1* level. This season Katy aims to qualify Weston for the CCI2* at Osberton as well as Ms Meriel Berties ‘Tulla Clover’ for the 6 year-old class.
The 28 year-old from Ravendale has numerous achievements to date including being placed at the British Eventing Grassroots National Championships held at Badminton International Horse Trials in 2010. Katy was also on the winning team at the national riding club horse trials for Dressage and Eventing.
Katy is now looking forward to a bright future with her chain of young horses, she said: “All I ever want is to end the season with my bones in tact and healthy horses. But my next ambition is to get to 4* level and compete at the likes of Badminton and Burghley.”
Rebecca Howe(18) from Alford is now feeling the benefit of her years of hard work. Her biggest achievement to date is being part of the winning Midlands JRN team at the championships held at Weston Park.
With four eventers and a show jumper under her name, Rebecca has started the season with pleasing results. Lincolnshire horse trials proved a successful day round a testing course. Rebecca won the local rider novice on her horse ‘smurf’ and continued the day with a double clear on her second ride ‘Echo’ in the U21 local rider class.
Rebecca has huge ambitions to now be selected for the Young Rider squad at Blair Castle this year. She then aims to aim her horse Smurf at CCI**** to be a strong contender to make the 2016Olympic team
Aiming Smurf for 3 star next year and then four star in 2-3 years and the 2016 Olympics