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Hi Karen,

Thank You!!

I was lucky enough to qualify for the Talent Spotting Finals last October and came 3rd in the Junior Section. I just want to say 'thank you' to British Dressage and all others involved for the whole idea of talent spotting.

From a young person’s point of view it is an amazing opportunity to be judged by the best people around on your own ability as a rider - we don't all own super flashy horses, but it helps you to measure how capable you really are. It has boosted my confidence enormously.

I was also very lucky to be offered the opportunity of a weeks training at Talland with Pammy Hutton. I went there in the Feb half term holidays to train on her advanced horses.

I had a super time at Pammy's. It was my first time away from home and everyone there was really friendly and made me very welcome. I had 3 lessons a day with Pammy, her husband Brian and trainer Justine, riding her advanced horses. Wow, I had some of the most amazing lessons ever and it made me realise just what I can achieve with a talented and well trained horse. Not all of the horses were easy to ride, she made me ride some of the difficult ones towards the end of the week to see how I managed - I did rather well, and after a few minutes
on each managed to get them working well. Pammy said that I "have a lot going for me, a really good seat and tremendous feel for the horses" She commented that I have been very well trained by Sonia, I just need to be determined to pursue my goal. She gave me the same advice as the top judges at the Talent Spotting Competition - find your self an Advanced Dressage Horse and go for it!

British Dressage and Pammy should be thanked very greatly for offering chances like this to young riders, it is invaluable experience. Over the week there I made a massive leap in both my riding development and my own confidence in my ability.

I have contacted Pammy to repeat the experience on a paid basis - you get so much from a week's intensive training. Just a thought - would some of our other top trainers consider offering similar intensive week's through the U25 structure? I am sure a lot of young people would be keen to pay a reasonable rate for such opportunities and maybe it will help to bring
on younger riders for the future?

Just wanted you to know how much I appreciated the whole thing, and to say the biggest 'thanks' on behalf of everyone who takes part.

Emma Jablonski

Dear Penny,

I am writing to you to let you know how my year has gone since winning the Junior Talent Spotting Final last October.

Firstly I had a wonderful weekend at Addington at the final as I had qualified for the pony final on the 2 previous years but had various mishaps at the finals and was not placed. When I won the junior section I had only had the ride on Equilibra Niky for 5 days so she was totally new to me and I had never seen what she could be like at a competition. She was a star until she escaped from me as I was leading her out of the indoor arena. She fled to the stables. I think she was expecting Carl Hester’s stallion to still be in residence.

I was selected to take part in the viewing day for the World Class Start in November with my own horse Limiro and I managed to get selected to the final viewing day at the Unicorn in Stow from where we had a rather hurried journey to the BD Ball in London. Unfortunately I didn’t get through to the world class start but I think may be our partnership was very new and we didn’t really know each other.

I took my GCSE’s this summer where I got fair grades. They probably would be better if I didn’t have horses in my life but I think I have given both a fair balance.

I represented the North West BYRDS region at the Inter regional in July where I was the highest placed NW member. The judging is based on the talent spotting test.

Since then I have qualified for the Pony Club Championships where I came 3rd in my arena missing out on the ride off by 0.5% due to my error of course. I also qualified for the summer regionals and after winning the North West Medium Restricted I qualified for the Nationals. Unfortunately my horse Limiro decided that he didn’t want to be the medium restricted champion so he gave an almighty buck in the middle of his test. Never mind may be next year!

Since the Nation I have received the TASS bursary which will help to keep training whilst studying for my A levels and I have been accepted on to National Training with Equilibra Niky.

The bridle I won is used every day and has brought me luck this year and my training grant was spent on 5 lessons with Carl Hester. He now trains me once a month and complements Kate Atlee’s training, which I have 3 times a week. She is my inspiration and I know I couldn’t do it without her. Two riders that train with Kate have also qualified for the Talent Spotting Final this year, Natalie Everall (junior) and Georgie Bolton (pony). I wish them luck in October.

I think that the success I had at the talent spotting final has definitely helped me this year and I would like to thank BDSC for supporting this event.

Megan Daley