A young rider with a terminal illness brought a showground to a halt as she competed in – and won – her first ever showing class.
Lexi-May Pearce, 10, rode Beth Naylor’s Highland stallion Lagalgarve Brian at the Kirkby Riding Club show on Sunday (25 June).
Beth, who led Brian in the ring with Lexi on board, told H&H Lexi fell for the eight-year-old as soon as she saw him.
“She lives in Rainworth, the same village as us, and Mum invited her to our yard to see the Shetland, who’s been a therapy pony, but of course, she fell in love with Brian instead!” she said. “I gave her a couple of lessons on him and she loved him; he’s a Highland who only puts in minimal effort which is great.”
Lexi, who was first diagnosed with Wilms’ tumour aged six, then had lessons on riding school ponies with Sam Gorman, thanks to huge local support.
“We did some fundraising, for her hat and body protector and everything, and when I say everybody chipped in – I don’t know one person who didn’t,” Beth said. “All she’s known is pain and operations, and we wanted to do something nice. Then Mum rang the riding club, which we’ve been members of since I was Lexi’s age, and asked if they could do something.
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“They put on her class and had a rosette made in her favourite colour, and they stood all the rings down for her.”
Lexi, on Brian, with her mother Danielle and brother Dylan
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Beth added that she had told Lexi she could take her oxygen into the ring with her.
“I said Brian wouldn’t mind but she was determined she was going in without it,” Beth said. “She seemed happy, and that’s what matters.
“It was heartbreaking. But it was amazing. He’s qualified for the Royal International, and he’s been to Horse of the Year Show – but this was genuinely more special.”
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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
