Rachel Proudley’s riding career has soared since hitting the heights of a podium finish on her puissance debut at the Horse of the Year Show in 2024.
She will return for another tilt at one of HOYS’ most prestigious titles on Saturday night, lining up in a high-octane class that will be watched by a capacity crowd at Birmingham NEC.
It is always a magical occasion, and this year promises to be no exception when the Ripon Select Foods Puissance takes centre-stage, with 20-year-old Rachel and Easy Boy De Laubry Z potentially among its headline acts.
They have wowed the puissance world during the past 12 months, claiming significant wins at the London International Horse Show, Bolesworth in Cheshire and Dublin Horse Show, where she became the first woman for 61 years to achieve that feat.
And it did not stop there as Rachel also became European Young Rider individual champion when she steered Quality Street to gold medal glory in Riesenbeck, Germany after jumping a remarkable five clear rounds.
She is unquestionably one of showjumping’s rising talents, with HOYS proving a successful port of call in the past, having previously won Speed Horse of the Year and the Silver League Championship.
“Last year was an absolutely amazing experience,” said Rachel, who is based in North Yorkshire. “It was a great thrill to jump in my first puissance here, and I didn’t really know what to expect.
“It was his first one – we had only practised it once at home – so to get to the fourth round was brilliant.
“He is getting better and better. He jumped 2.20 metres at Bolesworth and 2.15 metres in Dublin, which was absolutely brilliant. He is exceptional at his job, and we can’t wait to see how he gets on this week.
“He means a lot to us. He is owned by Graham Ward, who is a lovely owner for us, and we’ve had him from a foal. In his spare time, he goes hunting with my dad, and he is such a chilled out horse and does his job in the ring, so that’s all that counts.
“He has been hunting already this season, and to bring him here he doesn’t need any special preparation at all. He knows his job, so hopefully we can do it in the ring.”
The HOYS puissance is always a thrilling spectacle, and its 2025 edition has once again attracted some of the finest exponents when it comes to tackling and conquering the big red wall.
“It is always a thrill to go into a class like the puissance. It is an amazing atmosphere and gives you such a good buzz,” Rachel added.
“The competition here is amazing. It attracts riders from all over the world, which makes it even more exciting, and it is one of the best shows of the year.
“You always look forward to coming here, and to jump in front of a home crowd really means a lot. I am excited, and I am looking forward to hopefully getting it done. Fingers crossed, we have a good run.”
ENDS
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2025, please contact
Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd.
Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk
Image credit: 1st Class Images
