An eight-year-old rider is gearing up for her London Worldwide Horse Present debut together with her 18-year-old mare Overley Gamebird, after the Cornavirus pandemic prevented them for competing on the prestigious present two years in the past.
Millie Rackham-Cobb and the Welsh part-bred veteran, who is named Mildred at house, certified for the Senior Displaying and Dressage Ltd (SSADL) finals on the lead rein at Rutland County. Millie’s mom, Heidi Rackham, will probably be main the pair below the highlight at London. The household produce their ponies from house in Suffolk.
“We’d solely had Mildred for just a few months after we certified for London in 2020,” explains Heidi, who bought the mare, a former Horse of the 12 months Present (HOYS) finalist, simply over three years in the past, shortly after Millie was identified with epilepsy.
“After Millie’s analysis, I used to be on the hunt for a schoolmaster,” Heidi continues. “Mildred is simply superior; she is aware of when Millie isn’t feeling fairly proper, and can drop again for her. However she’ll additionally go up the gears when Millie asks.”
Heidi mentioned that whereas Millie’s situation means she will be able to undergo from seizures, often at night time time, and she will be able to get drained in the course of the day, her daughter has not let her epilepsy cease her from reaching within the present ring together with her ponies.
“She lives and breathes ponies,” says Heidi of Millie, who has ridden Mildred to prime placings on the Royal Worldwide (RIHS) and received the senior of the 12 months title on the SSADL championships earlier this 12 months. “She’s obsessive about horses and she or he works so laborious. She is a real perfectionist, a lot in order that we let her get the ponies prepared for a present herself.”
Notably, Millie can also be the youngest jockey to be competing within the displaying lessons at London Worldwide this season.
“Millie is counting down the times to the ultimate,” says Heidi.
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