When LegUpforTalent was created 10 years ago, it was made to enable amateur riders to gain some sort of financial sponsorship to support them in reaching their competitive ambitions.
It’s no secret that horses aren’t cheap and with the rising cost of living and the prices of fuel going up, entries for competitions are having to be put on the back burner for a lot of amateur riders.
As our riders have worked incredibly hard to secure their sponsorship with the help and support of the LegUpforTalent coaches and the use of the network, it’s meant they’ve been able to get out to some competitions and some have even been able to move up the levels and have been off to a flying start for the season.
Rachel Dorrell had a particularly successful weekend where she became BRC arena Eventing 90 individual national champion, the Arena Eventing 100 league winner at Pyecombe, was league runner up in the 90, Chipstead RC Prelim dressage champion and came 10th in the South East Eventers league final!
Becky also had a great first run this season, picking up a 2nd on a 29 DC at Novice.
Rochelle joined the placings club out Eventing with a 31 DC at Oasby for 5th and a 29 DC for 4th in the BE100 at Great Witchinham. All great preparation for her first 2* coming up.
Cheryl has also been working very hard with her sponsor Mindful Riding to conquer those competition nerves and it’s a real credit to her that she went and did her first BE100 on her horse Apache that she rescued as a 22 month old and has self produced from backing. She even went clear round storming round the cross country with just a couple of poles knocked down in the showjumping.
Dani has also moved up to 90 out on the eventing front now with her little cob and has so far had some great runs. Even placing at the BRC qualifier in the open section last weekend!
Aileen also managed to win some British Novice Classes on a horse she’s had the ride on whilst her own horse is doing their rehab before they come back to competing.
For those that weren’t leaving the ground, Megan Holmes cleaned up out showing in an ex racer class, riding horse and novice class, gaining qualifications for Sparkle, Caledonian champs and Equifest as well as gaining points for stars at Aintree.
Caroline also won the BRC area 17 intermediate dressage qualifier with a score of 74% at Novice!
Rachael Taylor also won her Elementary class on her second go at this level and came 2nd in the Novice at BD.
Sophie and Vicky had the right idea doing some online dressage, which is a great way to still get some competitions in without having to travel! Sophie came 1st in the medium with 67%, 1st in Advanced Medium 66% and 1st in PSG with 63%, Vicky won Novice music, Elementary 44 and Novice 30 and came 2nd in Novice 37A.
All in all, a pretty successful time for our LegUpforTalent Rides. We’re looking forward to them all continuing to find new sponsors which should allow them to keep training, keep going out competing and hopefully give them that financial leg up to move up the levels.