11 year old Izzy Armstrong from Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire enjoyed her first SEIB Trailblazers so much in 2017 that she was determined to qualify for this year’s championships final, which takes place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire from 27th July – 4th August 2018.
Show jumping is Izzy’s passion and she has worked hard to qualify her two ponies at Richmond Equestrian Centre. Izzy thoroughly enjoyed competing at the championships last year, she thought it was fun, well organised and met so many new people and their ponies! All of which encouraged her to set a goal for 2018, campaigning over the winter to move her two ponies up through the heights, and aiming towards her double clears in the first round and then being placed in second rounds.
I practice every night, when I can, and train as often as possible with my trainer, Morgan Kent of HK Horses. We work on my jumping but also understand the importance of good flatwork and on riding nice controlled rounds”.
Izzy lives on the family farm with mum, dad and her little sister, and keeps her ponies, Spike and Salsa, at home.
Spike is a 13.1hh Dartmoor Hill pony who loves to jump and never says no – he’s so enthusiastic the hardest part is slowing him down.
I’m so proud of him as we have gone from qualifying 85cm last year to 1m05 this year – he’s small but mighty!”
said Izzy of the pony who enjoys his jumping so much he has a tendency to jump out of the field.
Izzy’s other pony is 21 year old Salsa (12.2hh) knows every trick in the book. A talented show jumper, she can turn on the spot but is opinionated and likes to do things her own way, such as throwing Izzy into water trays on cold days!
Journalist and News Reporter, Everything Horse
Reporting on equestrian news stories, Abby also produces a variety of engaging content for the magazine.