It was a tense time for 26 young dressage riders as the Pony Rider Spotting final 2000 took place at Talland School of Equitation, Cirencester, Glos.
Melissa Deville, aged 13, from Derbyshire, and trained by Sue Carson, who had only been riding Daylesford Blythe Spirit for three weeks prior to the event, held her own to win the hotly fought contest.
Young dressage riders aged between eight and 16 competed through the summer at the 15 qualifiers for the Pony Rider Spotting Final 2000.
Only two riders from each qualifier can go through to the final and a total of 21 pony riders qualified to compete in the 2000 final in front of judges Erik Theilgaard and Maureen Newall.
Melissa, was presented with a £350 training grant from British Dressage, the Albert Darnall Challenge Trophy and a snaffle bridle from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers and donated prizes from from In Stitches Equine.
