Xanthe achieves top ten finish at prestigious Horse of The Year Show

Published by Tudor Hall on Wednesday 4th of January 2023

Last weekend Xanthe (LVI) competed at the Horse of the Year Show, one of the biggest shows not only in the UK but in the world. To reach this point was a remarkable achievement by Xanthe who competed through 8 qualifiers over a 6-month period to reach this stage with the top 26 under 16’s making it to the HOYS finals.

Xanthe has been a keen rider from a young age thanks to her parents who both have a love for horses; her mother competed in eventing and was shortlisted for the Sydney Olympics and her father ran a prestigious horse behaviour business, Xanthe fell in love with show jumping explaining “I love the intensity and infinitely detailed skill needed”.

This year Xanthe has put a huge amount of time and effort into her riding and has been incredibly successful. The qualification for HOYS is an intense trial of challenges and it hasn’t gone unrecognised that Xanthe took this on alongside studying for her GCSEs showing such commitment to both her education and her passion.

She has shown a huge amount of grit and determination this year all paying off as this weekend she came an 8th with Airde in the Horse of the Year Show, the most prestigious Pony Foxhunter (1.30) Finals.

Xanthe also came 11th in the Pony Newcomers Finals (1.20m) with Tiffin and very nearly a brilliant performance with Cruz in the 1.35m Leading Pony Showjumper class.

Xanthe performed remarkably well in the spotlight and in such a high-pressured environment with lights, TV cameras and thousands of spectators.