RIHS winner: ‘If something knocks you down, go back and fight twice as hard’ *VIDEO*

Name: Michaela WoodAge: 23Based: Harrogate, North YorkshireHorse: Login Lucky Lad (Lucky)Won: The Howden Specialist Insurance Brokers Ltd Supreme Skewbald & Piebald Indian Trail Ridden Championship

When did you win your first sash?Probably when I was about nine years old, in a Pony Club young handler’s class, with a pony called Snaafi Bright Spark, who actually ended up winning at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

What’s Lucky like at home?My favourite, the best horse in the yard — he’s very spoilt by me.

Does he have any weird habits?He doesn’t like men. “Or aftershave!” chimes in Nigel Hollings.

What are your aims for this year?He’s won at HOYS for the past two years, and I’m aiming for this to be our last season, so if he could go out with a bang and win again that would be amazing. One of my biggest aims was to get to ride in the International arena [at RIHS] and I get to achieve that now [Michaela and Lucky will compete in the supreme on Sunday].

What’s your training philosophy?That’s a secret, I can’t tell you that!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?Nigel told me: “If something knocks you down, go back in there and fight twice as hard.”

What piece of kit could you not live without?Soft mints — the horses love them.

Continued below…

20 signs you’re an incurable showing addict

What’s your favourite show?

I’ve got three – Windsor, the Royal International, and HOYS.

If you could ride any show horse, who would it be?

Nigel: I think you’d like one of Rob Walker’s hunters, or Jayne Ross’ riding horses.

Michaela: I was going to say that – I’d love to ride Jayne Ross’ Comberton Clancy.

Any embarrassing moments?

The yard get annoyed with me because I’m always playing practical jokes on them, so they decided to get me back by soaking me to death and post the pictures on Facebook.

What discipline would you be doing if it wasn’t showing?

Some extreme sport! When I was younger I loved cross-country so I would have liked to go eventing.

Keep up with all the action from RIHS on www.horseandhound.co.uk, and don’t miss the full report in next week’s issue Horse & Hound magazine, out 6 August 2015

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