Horse of the Year Show Qualifying Story 💜
“A DREAM WORTH CHASING.
“People often see the rosette, the qualification ticket and the smile in the winner’s photograph. What they don’t always see is the journey it took to get there.
“My name is Poppy, I am 12 years old, and this is the story of how my pony Charlie, and I qualified for the Horse of the Year Show. Visiting HOYS with my mum from a young age made it my dream to compete there one day. But turning that dream into reality was far from easy.
“I started riding when I was eight years old. My older brother had a 15-hand horse and, when he decided riding wasn’t for him anymore, my mum encouraged me to have a go. I fell in love with horses the moment I sat in the saddle. Although Teddy was very kind he was just too big.
“After months of searching, we found Charlie, Fair View Barney Bear. He was an experienced cob who loved jumping, and we thought he was perfect. What we didn’t realise was just how much personality came with him.
“Charlie is clever, powerful and incredibly cheeky. He likes everyone to know he has an opinion and isn’t afraid to test his rider. At first I found his occasional bucks and bursts of excitement very scary. My confidence took knock after knock, and there were many days when I was nervous before I even got on him.
“At one stage, my anxiety became so difficult that I even tried hypnotherapy to help overcome my nerves. It taught me ways to stay calm, focus on the positives and believe in myself. It wasn’t a quick fix, but it helped me keep going when things felt hard.
“There were plenty of setbacks. Charlie would occasionally stop at a jump, and sometimes I found myself sitting in the dirt wondering what had happened. Every fall dented my confidence, but each time I got back on. Looking back, those moments taught me resilience, determination and the importance of never giving up.
“When he first arrived, we weren’t the perfect partnership. We had to learn about each other, build trust and figure things out together. The bond we have today wasn’t built in the show ring. It was built during early mornings before school, late evenings at the yard, lots of lessons, and show days when nothing seemed to go right.
“Some of my favourite memories aren’t from competitions at all. They’re the quiet moments, standing with Charlie in his stable, giving him a cuddle after a good ride or talking to him after a bad one. Over time, the pony who once made me nervous became the pony I trusted most in the world. Charlie taught me patience, resilience and, most importantly, courage.
“None of this would have been possible without my parents. They have given up countless hours to support my dream through early starts, long journeys, lessons and show days when nothing went right.
“One week before we qualified, we competed at a HOYS qualifier in Penrith. Against older teenagers and adults, the competition was tough. We gave it everything, but we weren’t placed in a class of sixteen. I was disappointed, but I was proud of Charlie. He had given me his best, and that was all I could ask. With one qualifier left, I was determined to keep fighting for my dream.
“A week later, after another 5am start and a three-hour journey to Stoneleigh Park, we arrived for the final Search for a Star qualifier of the year. It was our last chance. As I walked into a class full of older, more experienced riders, it would have been easy to feel intimidated. Instead, I reminded myself of everything Charlie and I had overcome together. When we entered the ring, something felt different. For the first time, I wasn’t thinking about what might go wrong. I trusted Charlie completely, and he trusted me. Together, we produced one of our best performances ever. As the results were called, my heart sank. Tenth, ninth, eighth, seventh. Our number still hadn’t been called. Then sixth, fifth, fourth and third. By then, I was convinced we hadn’t done enough. I looked towards my dad feeling heartbroken, then the judge announced second place, not us, yet a split second later, I heard my number, for a moment, I couldn’t believe it. Charlie and I had won. First place out of sixteen competitors, and with it, qualification for the Horse of the Year Show.
“There aren’t enough words to describe how that moment felt. Every early morning, every tear, every setback, every lesson and every mile travelled had led to that one incredible moment. As I sat on Charlie, I wasn’t thinking about winning. I was thinking about how far we’d come. The nervous little girl who once feared an excitable pony had grown into a rider who believed in herself. I thought about my family, especially my mum, and all the support they had given me.
“Most of all, I thought about Charlie, my best friend and teammate. He taught me that being brave doesn’t mean you’re never scared. It means carrying on even when you are.
“Qualifying for HOYS means so much more than a result. It represents perseverance, hard work and the special bond between a girl and her pony. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but it has been worth every second.
“Together, we never gave up on our dream, and now, together, we’re heading to the Horse of the Year Show. HOYS, here we come.”
Poppy Pollard and Fair View Barney Bear qualified for the SEIC Search for a Star Working Horse/Pony of the Year at The Showing Register Summer Show