A three-year-old jockey has qualified for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) with her home-produced Dartmoor pony, making her the youngest rider to be bound for the final so far this year.
Penelope Rae Dale, Dartmoor pony Hisley Caliph (Sven) and her mother Leigh Dale were called forward to win the mountain and moorland (M&M) lead rein qualifier at Royal Cheshire County (20-21 June). The trio won their HOYS ticket on a score of 95/100, before they clinched the overall mini M&M championship.
Penelope Rae was riding in her second ever HOYS qualifier, and she’s already booked in to attend this year’s Royal International (RIHS) final with her home-produced pony Sven.
“Sven is such a saint and he’s so safe that we can do these fun, electric shows,” said Leigh, who works as a sister at Trinity Hospice in Blackpool and produces nine-year-old Sven with help from her mother, Michelle Dale.
“Penelope Rae is still so small in these classes. This year was all about just giving it a go, so I was totally shocked to qualify.”
Penelope Rae started riding when she was 17 months old. She began on a Shetland pony before Leigh purchased 11-year-old Sven — who she describes as a ‘mother’s dream’ — from Holly Levett. Sven joined the family in February, and the trio stood mini M&M champions at BSPS Area 2B soon after his arrival. They booked their RIHS Pretty Polly pass at the North of England spring show in April.
“She is riding against jockeys who are more than twice her age; I think the next oldest jockey in the class at Cheshire was six,” said Leigh, who has ridden show horses at county level for many years.
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
