Successful showing season for 11-year-old Rowan
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YOUNG Caithness side saddle enthusiast Rowan Lee has had a very successful showing season.
Eleven-year-old Rowan, of Clayock, Halkirk, took home an array of prizes from the National Side Saddle Show held over three days at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre, near Buckingham, earlier in August.
Making her debut at the nationals, the young rider and her nine-year-old Welsh section B gelding Thistledown on Every Street, known by his stable name of Teddy, took home the mountain and moorland championship title after coming first in the small mountain and moorland class.
They also won the show hunter pony class, came third in the newcomers equitation turnout marks and were fourth in the junior costume concours d'élégance.
The journey to Addington involved a two-day road trip for Rowan and her family with a stopover at Dumfries.
Rowan said she was "really happy" with the whole experience and plans to go back next year and add another side saddle discipline to her repertoire – the Rococo freestyle to music junior dressage class.
Around 200 competitors from all over UK took part in the nationals with a number of entrants also coming from overseas, including riders from New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Germany and Spain.
In the showing section at Blair Castle Internationals Horse Trials, Rowan and Teddy won both their side saddle classes. This is just their second year taking part in side saddle events.
