Harrogate schoolgirl showjumper Isabella Snowden is celebrating after qualifying for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show.
The 10-year-old pupil at Belmont Grosvenor School in Harrogate, who has been riding since she was just three years old, will compete at the world-famous event at the NEC in Birmingham later in the year.
The Year 6 pupil, riding her 128cm pony Penchwintan Glynle, or ‘Rocky’ for short, finished third from a field of 28 riders at a competition in Bicton, Devon, earlier this month.
The top three riders from the one-day event, held over three-rounds, were able to qualify for the Horse of the Year Show.
Isabella, who returned from the Devon competition at 3am before getting up four hours later for her PGL school trip to Lincolnshire, is overjoyed at her success.
Competing at the NEC, the Horse of the Year Show attracts 60,000 spectators and is televised across the world.
Isabella said:
I’m really excited about the Horse of the Year Show – it’s one of the best shows in the world, and to take part will be amazing.
Jane Merriman, headteacher at co-educational prep school Belmont Grosvenor, said everyone was proud of Isabella and wished her well for the event.
Jane said:
Isabella is a really talented young rider and has worked really hard to get to the Horse of the Year Show. She has shown a great deal of determination, dedication, commitment and resilience in striving for her goal – qualities we teach all our children at Belmont Grosvenor.
We wish her every success at the Horse of the Year Show, and in her future horse riding career.
