A SHOWJUMPER from Humberston will compete at a prestigious national festival alongside the best the country has to offer – despite only four months of practice in the discipline.
Roxanne Hennebery has qualified for Scope – the annual British Showjumping Festival which has over 70 classes.
NOSE TO NOSE: Roxanne Hennebery, who has qualified for Scope, the annual British showjumping festival in Stafford. She is pictured with her horse. Picture: Abby Ruston
Hennebery, 23, has been jumping on her horse – Brighton Boy – for just four months, having previously performed dressage with him during their year together.
Her achievement is all the more remarkable considering Brighton Boy was deemed "unrideable" when she first started training with him.
After qualifying for the 1.05 Adventure Scope level at a show in Yorkshire, they will be competing alongside 200 others in her class at Scope which takes place at the Staffordshire County Showground next month.
"Scope is the thing that showjumpers aim for once a year," said Hennebery.
"It is a big event that lasts for a week with around 1,500 competitors there all doing different levels.
"When I got my horse the aim was simply to sit on him because he had really bad anxiety problems and wouldn't let anyone on his back.
"He was just in a field doing nothing because nobody would go on him.
"A lot of professionals told me to get rid of him because they felt he was dangerous but I could see his potential.
"Every night I went down to see him and I spent hours with him, gradually bringing him on and now there are no problems.
"To be taking him to competitions is a huge bonus. To qualify for Scope is unbelievable.
"I've taken him to dressage competitions and wasn't intending to jump. A friend offered to take me to a competition, I thought I'd give it a go – and realised he could jump.
"My aim was to try and qualify for Scope but we thought it would be more like next year – we didn't think we would be able to this year so it feels fantastic and I really can't wait – my horse is so special."
She spent five years at Grimsby's Weelsby Road Riding School until she was 18, and says winning at Scope would be beyond her expectations.
"It is a dream come true just to be sat on my horse, and fantastic to be taking him to an event that will be a great experience. I'm not looking to win or even place – to do that would be amazing.
"I really hope that this year it will be a good experience for us and hopefully we can do the same again next year when we might have a chance – my horse has so much potential.
"I would also like to thank my friend Brenda Johnson who takes me all over the country, without her I couldn't have done it."
