Charlotte rides into Horse of the Year Show

A DEDICATED youngster has booked a place at one of this year’s most prestigious equestrian events at her first attempt.
Charlotte Martin, from Stainton Village, qualified for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) on pony Solaris Dwenqua on June 4.
The 16-year-old rider has had a busy couple of months with GCSE exams at Barnard Castle School.
But the teenager managed to secure her place between her studies at an event in Grantham.
Mum Clare Martin said the feat was all more impressive given the limited qualifying opportunities Charlotte had this summer.
Ms Martin said: “She has been very limited in what she’s been able to do this year because she is so dedicated to her school work.
“I think the most satisfying thing is qualifying Dwenqua for HOYS so early in the season. There are only 18 opportunities throughout the whole country and the North qualifiers haven’t even started yet.
“It’s a month earlier than last year and it's very satisfying.”
Charlotte’s journey into dressage began three years ago.
With a family with pedigree in showing horses behind her, she has now qualified for the HOYS for the third year running.
Last year’s edition saw her become the highest ranked amateur and highest placed junior at the Birmingham NEC arena in front of a crowd of thousands.
And this season has seen her progress onto riding a friend’s horse in competitions with good results.
Charlotte explained how the confidence she’d gained in recent years had served her well.
She added: “We feel confident as a partnership entering the ring. We click better and work better together.”
The Martin family have a strong pedigree in equestrian circles having shown their horses for more than 20 years.
Mrs Martin won champion horse at HOYS with Merrigan in 2003.
She was very proud of her daughter’s dedication to the sport.
“Her training has enabled her to learn new skills to get the horse even better,” added Mrs Martin.
“That’s all down to dedication in training – she puts so much effort in.
“She is unbelievable – when she is not doing school work she is training and riding a horse.”
The youngster also got the chance to rub shoulders with Olympic star Charlotte Dujardin at a training session in April.
“She was very polite,” said Charlotte.
Mrs Martin added: “It was brief but what an honour. It was Charlotte meeting Charlotte.”