Cool hands young horsewoman Charlotte has won a class at the Horse of the Year Show for the second year in succession.
Charlotte, aged 10, and a pupil at King’s Juniors, was riding her seven-year-old pony Tidesbrook Roger Rabbit, Roger for short, in the BMW sponsored First Ridden Class for aged 10-years and under at the NEC, Birmingham.
Competing against 40 of the nation’s other top young riders, Charlotte knew it was time for a cool head and, more importantly, cool hands.
“I know Roger really well and he’s a bit of a scaredie cat. He gets very nervous, so it’s very important to be cool, calm and collected and above all very confident and to be able to transmit that confidence through your hands into the reins and through his bit.”
It was a bitter sweet moment for Charlotte as it was the last time she would be able to ride Roger in competition. He has now been sold as he was getting too old for her to ride.
Charlotte, whose ultimate ambition is to ride for Great Britain in the Olympics, said: “I am sure another lucky child will have lots of fun with him like I have over the last three years. Thank you Roger for being such a brilliant pony. I will always love you.”
