TWO teenagers have been selected to attend a national trial to compete for a place in the England Pony Club Mounted Games team which will compete at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in July.

North Herefordshire Branch Pony Club members Jennifer Arnold and Lucy Lightwood, both aged 14, have been training in mounted games together since they were nine years old. Mounted Games involves a series of relay type races involving four or five riders.

They show their skills by bending through poles, and moving mugs, bottles, flags and boxes between cones and tables, while going through tyres and over stepping stones - all while vaulting on and off ponies at breakneck speed.

"It requires a high level of fitness, skill and teamwork to do well," said Arnold.

"Planning and working on my skills for the trial and the fitness of my pony Fleur has kept me focussed during lockdown."

There will be around 50 to 60 children at the trial, from 250 pony clubs across the country, with only six riders being chosen (plus 2 non-riding reserves).

The two-hour trial will focus on different races that test skills.

"There is always a really high standard of riders and ponies at the trial," added Lightwood. "So to be chosen with my pony Drummer would be amazing."

The North Herefordshire Branch of the Pony Club has around 70 members from across the county, providing regular lessons and training in most equestrian disciplines, such as dressage, show jumping, tetrathlon, and eventing.

The club for children aged four to 25 also teaches horse and pony care along with organising camps and competitions for children from aged 4 up to age 25.

The trial takes place in Warwickshire on 25th April and will lead to the selected team of England riders competing against Ireland, Scotland and Wales at the Home International competition, held at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in July.

For more information about the North Herefordshire club email: hels@hilloak.co.uk or carolinequeen@mac.com.