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Meet the Team: Equestrian

Darcie Connacher, Jasmine Teague, Rosie Jones, Lucy Hughes, and Euan Montgomery are some of the members of our very successful 2020 Equestrian Team.

What made you start riding? 
We started performing in Equestrian at very young ages as our families are all involved with horses in one way or another. Mums were the main driving forces for us to participate in the sport as they were riders themselves when they were younger. The opportunities to travel to different venues, compete in various competitions against other people, and represent the school is another reason why we all started competing. We all have stables at home where we can practice.

What do you enjoy most about the sport?
The enjoyment of any sport is very important and has a big effect on a person's career in that sport. We all enjoy competing and don;t mind the amount of training and travelling time needed to achieve what we have so far. Achievement and competition are the main two reasons we are involved in the sport and we all achieve in different ways. Some of us prefer the achievement of getting a better and stronger relationship with the horse and then being placed in a competition, whereas others relish in the sense of achievement and pride when they complete something, as a pair, that they've been working so hard on. We all enjoy the bond between horse and rider, the competition just helps to drive motivation and there is definitely a thrill in doing a clear round. 

What do you want to achieve? 
Most of us have personal goals we want to achieve along with wanting our horses to perform well. One of us really wants to come first at championships or British Eventing and doing more technical and bigger courses, but we all really want to continue riding as a hobby. 

Opportunities 
The school has given us lots of opportunities to compete in national events through the National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) and if it wasn’t for this we wouldn’t have been able to achieve what we have done so far.

Sporting Role Models 
Along with Andrew Nicholson, Bubby Upton and Richard Curruthers the best role models are our mums who show us how to love the sport and our peers who inspire us and push us to strive for success through the competitive nature of the sport.

The achievement you are most proud of
This is a tough question! Placing 4th at Cheltenham pony racing and 3rd at Hickstead, competing for Central England at Regionals and Nationals and getting a clear round, coming 5th in NSEA championships and having a solid team of horses all fit and ready for a winter of training are all things we're proud of.
 
Guilty Pleasure 
Gravy and mayonnaise, food, beating my brothers, and feeding my horse Haribo Tangfastics!