At 14 years old India and her ponies are competing at levels that most of us can only dream of. Last week she was competing in the National Schools Equestrian Association championships at Keysoe in many team and individual classes.
Over the summer India travelled much further afield, competing at The National British Showjumping championships, Academy championships and her first international – the Future Global Champions Show at Valkennswaard, Holland where she brought home two prizes.
Growing up with a mother who regularly competes internationally, trains show jumpers and coaches riders has obviously been a great benefit and much of India’s success will of course be attributable to Judi’s excellent coaching. India is also clearly enjoying the advantage of having wonderful facilities available at home.
The new stables at Starnash Farm were built in 2017. These internal stables are light, bright and airy and immaculately kept. As well as being home to India and mum Judi’s horses, they offer horses and riders a luxury environment in which to train in a very well-run yard.
Outside, the large sand arena is perfect for practice, with a great selection of brightly coloured show jumps and there is even a couple of water jumps! Back when I had my first jumping pony, a young palomino Welsh Section B called Sunny, we had to make do with rustic poles, old car tyres and oil barrels! The first time I took Sunny to a big show with posh jumps he had no idea what to make of them and I was eliminated in the first round – a very embarrassing experience! There would be no excuses after practicing at Starnash – these jumps are impressive!
Judi is the British Showjumping Sussex Junior Academy coach (Level 3 UKCC) and has clearly encouraged and motivated India to become the driven, successful and ambitious competitor that she now is. After doing well at 90cm, on the little grey pony Grace, India now has two lovely 148cm ponies to compete to 120cm and move on up the levels. Both ponies are bay, but they are very different – Shelby, is an Irish sports pony, relaxed but eager to please. Firene, is more unusual – a shire cross thoroughbred pony with an incredibly bold jump.
Over the next few years I hope to be able to follow India’s progress and will be taking many more photographs of her and her ponies, creating beautiful images that may be used to promote India to her sponsors or on the website to promote the facilities at Starnash and the coaching offered by Judi, but also some of these images will also be framed or placed into albums to become family heirlooms where I am sure they will be treasured for a lifetime.
You can keep up-to-date on India, Shelby and Firene’s successes by following India on Instagram and don’t forget to follow Pony Portrait too if you don’t already.