Over this festive season, we are shining a light on up-and-coming talent across the equestrian disciplines. These are riders you really need to keep an eye out for during the 2021 season.
Meet Ellie McCarthy, the young dressage rider setting herself up for a successful grand prix career with an exciting string of horses and new yard to match
Ellie McCarthy was always destined for a career in horses, but she could just have easily ended up a professional polo player as a dressage rider. Her father, Spencer, is playing patron of the highly successful Emlor polo team, and Ellie grew up playing Pony Club polo.
Alex Harrison on Diamond Hill at the National Grand Prix Championships 2020. Credit: KEVIN SPARROW
Over this festive season, we are shining a light on up-and-coming talent across the equestrian disciplines. These are riders you really need to keep an eye out for during the 2021 season.
Alex Harrison admits that he didn’t have a typical horsey upbringing, but it certainly hasn’t held him back from reaching the top of the sport.
“I didn’t start riding until I was about 11, then when I was 12 we bought a cheap off-the-track racehorse. I don’t think I even had a saddle at first – I spent a lot of time hacking down the road in a headcollar, wearing my school uniform,” remembers Alex, 23.
Horse & Hound
Trending: Lord Leatherdale (pictured) has joined British junior Isobel Lickley’s string. Credit: EQUIGENIEK
Top dressage breeding stallion Lord Leatherdale has joined the string of British teenager Isobel Lickley.
Isobel, 16, has represented Britain at three pony European Championships on three different ponies.
She made the step up to juniors this year, riding under the British flag at her first junior CDI, aboard the nine-year-old mare Gracia, at Keysoe in October, and has now boosted her horsepower with the addition of Lord Leatherdale.
The 17-year-old (Lord Loxley x Ferragamo) is the sire of grand prix stallions Glamourdale, who was crowned seven-year-old World Champion in 2018, Everdale, Chippendale and Lord Europe.
Horse & Hound
Trending:
In this week’s
Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday, 10 December, don’t missthe announcement of this year’s
Horse & Hound Awards, in partnership with NAF. In this week’s “Vet clinic”, we explore what happens if horses don’t drink enough water, plus check out our nostalgic feature on the remarkable horse, who changed the face of dressage, Totilas. We also find out the life lessons of event rider Daisy Berkeley and we focus on the Bicester with Whaddon Chase hunt in our Pack of the week feature. Plus, read reports from the High Profile Show at Keyso, top racing action from Sandown and Aintree and much more.