By Isabel Hepburne-Scott, Year 10 Journalist Leader

Did you know we had a Dressage Champion at NHEHS?

Year 10’s Betsy competed at the NSEA (National Schools Equestrian Association) County Dressage championships in March and came first out of Surrey, West Sussex and London! She will be competing next month in the NSEA National Dressage finals, so Journalist Leader Isabel went to interview Betsy about her favourite sport.

Q: When did you start riding?

Betsy: I started riding when I was four at a riding school and I got my first pony when I was eight.

Q: Tell us about your horse.

Betsy: Bow is a 17hh Dutch Warmblood. She is very loveable but she can be difficult to handle because she is very big and has rather a lot of energy! She picks up new dressage movements really quickly and is very intelligent. I will have had her for a year in April.

Q: How do you balance school life and riding?

Betsy: I try to do some homework/revision in the car on the way to the yard during the week, as I don’t normally get home until about 19.45, but I’m definitely not the most organised person!

Q: Tell us about the competition you are taking part in in April.

Betsy: The NSEA National Dressage finals are being held at a venue which is only about an hour’s drive from my yard, so we compete there quite often. I will be I enjoy competing against other teenagers as I am usually against adults at BD (British Dressage) competitions, but it makes it more fun competing against riders my age!

We wish Betsy and Bow luck in the NSEA Dressage finals in April, and in all their future competitions!