8 riders that are so young and successful we can’t help being jealous
They’re not just good for their age group, they’re brilliant across the board. And although we’re really happy for them, it does make us feel pretty inadequate. All we had done by the time we turned 19 was pass a few exams and won the bending race 12 years ago on the last day of Pony Club camp. Here’s why you should be keeping an eye on these guys as they head to the horsey stratosphere…
Eventing
Alex Kennedy
Age: 18
Alex was a member of the bronze medal-winning team at this year’s junior European championships with her faithful partner Chocolate Domino. She also managed individual seventh place at these championships. Alex, based with top up-and-coming event rider Millie Dumas and her family, has an almost faultless cross-country record over the past two years and she was recently described by the chairman of the British junior selectors Darrell Scaife as “outstanding in every phase.”
Sam Ecroyd
Age: 18
Aged just 13 Sam won a team gold medal at the 2010 pony European eventing championships. He has since gone on to win two team bronze medals and individual silver at both pony and junior European championships. Sam doesn’t have a weak phase and has already completed two advanced classes. He has an eviable string of horses and the future looks bright for him.
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Sophie Beaty
Age: 19
Sophie has been a stalwart for the British youth teams since 2010 where she was a team gold medalist and individual fourth at the pony European Championships. In 2011 she won a team silver medal at the pony Europeans, while in 2013 she was a member of the junior quad before upgrading to young riders, where she was a squad member in 2014 and an individual silver medalist in 2015. She has already jumped around three CIC3*’s and was 11th in the CCI3* under-25 class at Bramham this year. Look out for her at a four-star in 2016.
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Dressage
Holly Kerslake
Age: 11
Yes, this girl is just 11-years-old and she is already tipped for the top. Trained by none other than Charlotte Dujardin, Holly is already winning at British Dressage medium level with her ponies and recently competed in her first international pony competition at Hickstead.
Rose Hugh-Smith
Age: 16
A former team bronze medal winner at the pony European championships, Rose who trains with Gareth Hughes, was second reserve for this year’s junior European Championships. Already winning at advanced medium level BD, we are certain that Rose will be one to look for on the youth teams in years to come.
Showjumping
Jessica Mendoza
Age: 19
Jessica needs little introduction, bursting onto the senior stage this year as a member of the British European showjumping championship squad. She won gold medals at pony and junior European level and has since gone on to win at huge shows across the globe including the Gucci Masters in Paris (December 2014). She has multiple HOYS, Hickstead and Olympia wins to her name and is surely set to remain at the top of her game for many years to come.
Harry Charles
Age: 16
Son of Team GB showjumping Olympic gold medalist Peter Charles, Harry was bred for his job. He won individual silver and team bronze at this year’s junior European showjumping championships. He is regularly jumping in two-star competitions and he won the leading pony showjumper of the year title at HOYS in 2014. Peter needs to watch his back!
Jodie Hall McAteer
Age: 15
Jodie, who is in the enviable position of having the ride on Jessica Mendoza’s former pony multi-European medalist Tixylix, won team gold and individual silver at the 2015 pony European championships. She has also enjoyed success with horses, placing in a couple of two-star classes at the London Global Champions Tour earlier this year.
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Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.