Sevenoaks School’s junior riding team worked hard all year to secure their place in the National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) finals at Hickstead. Twenty-two schools from around the country competed at this event on 5 August.

Unfortunately Sienna Rothery’s horse became unsound at the beginning of the week, so it was decided that she would ride Gabby Hodgkins’ pony, having only jumped it once. Gabby rode her friend’s pony, which she had also only jumped once. With three team members available to ride, and no reserve, they all went to a practice competition at Felbridge Equestrian Centre a few days before the finals. All the ponies went clear with their new riders over a course of approximately 3ft to a metre. The ground was very hard but despite this they all went well.

On the day of the competition we were drawn first to jump following heavy rain on very hard ground. Sadly the awful conditions of the course and the lack of experience of the animals meant that despite giving it everything the girls were eliminated. The ponies were sliding into a number of fences despite two of them being fitted with studs.  

On a high note we finished 4th in the South Eastern Show Jumping League with 21 points, behind Farlington (winners with 29 points) and Mayfield and Cranleigh (joint second with 24 points).

Farlington and Mayfield are big riding schools which field a number of teams at every event and to have come 4th in our first year against this competition is a fantastic result. 

Tracy Hodgkins, Junior team coordinator

Riders: Sienna Rothery, Ellie Rothery, Gabby Hodgkins
Coach: Mandy Roebuck