RIDER PROFILES

Durham based event rider Amy may only be 21 but she already has a long list of successes to her credit and is in a great position to give many more seasoned eventers a run for their money. Her talent has already been awarded with a place on the World Class Start programme to help her achieve her ambitions of a four star victory and representing her country at senior level.

Amy started her riding career at five and by the age of eight knew she wanted to become a top event rider. She says, “Getting riding lessons from my parents for Christmas was the most expensive mistake they ever made! Their support is invaluable and I know how lucky I am to be able to do what I love every day.” Amy fits in her studies part-time, at the Royal Agricultural College, so she has more time for the horses and does all the usual yard work riding daily, starting at about seven each morning.

With the help of her top horse, Highville (or Bobby as he is known at home), and a dedicated back up team (her family) she claimed both team and individual Gold Medals at last year’s Young Riders Championship at Pardubice, in less than perfect weather conditions. This year she has already ridden as the ‘guinea pig’ dressage rider at Badminton and will be off to Hong Kong to try out next year’s Olympic track in the test event there, as well as being Eventing magazine’s diarist – so she should be pretty busy!

Also in Amy’s string are Whitewall Tribunal (Duncan), Whos Cruise (Tom) and two Welton Crackerjack horses, Welton Rodrigo (Eric) and Baby Welton (Nancy) as well as the huge gelding Merlin, by Mill Law, who stands at 17.2hh - even though he is only five! “The relationship I have with all of my horses is very special,” Amy tells us, “and, although the hours are long and the work is unforgiving, I love it!” “I would probably be better off studying for a degree in English or doing dressage or show jumping as there is more money in them but I love this sport too much.”

This year, as well as jetting off to Hong Kong, Amy hopes to carry on taking her horses through the levels and in the long term has her sights set on Badminton and representing Great Britain at the Olympics, World Equestrian Games and European Championships. “I try not to take life too seriously though as we all have disappointments and in this sport you have to pick yourself up and keep going.” - A good head on young shoulders then!