Saunders' SOS call answered

A competitor gets the shock of her life as she's crowned rider of the year for the first time, while a former HOYS in-hand star books his return under saddle

- ALEX ROBINSON

PERSEVERANCE paid off for a 25-year-old rider who experienced a dream finish to her run at the Side Saddle Association’s (SSA’s) 50th anniversary national show.

Emily Saunders nabbed her first-ever side-saddle rider of the year accolade as well as the adult equitation spoils.

Emily’s week at Addington didn’t get off to the most promising start, though, as her 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse Cavaliers Laid Back Luca was unsettled during his first class.

“We finished ninth, but Luca was not himself,” Emily said. “I was upset as I knew he wasn’t happy. Thankfully, I was able to get an on-site saddle check from Laura Dempsey and help from Clare Barnett and Anne Dawson. Laura checked my saddle, got it flocked and the next day I had my horse back.”

Emily has owned Luca for 10 months, but has known him since he was imported from Ireland as a four-year-old. She rode him for his former owner as a five- and six-year-old, and jumped at the chance to buy him when it arose last year.

Emily said: “He’s only carried a side-saddle for eight months, his first show being last November, and he’s just got better and better.”

The championship for rider of the year has a unique format: the four finalists perform on each other’s horses in front of the judges, with the final scores tallied to find a champion.

Emily added: “I’m still speechless that I won it; things like this don’t happen to people like me. I’ve only been riding side-saddle since 2019, and I had a major case of imposter syndrome this week, though I’m so honoured to have won it.”

Emily’s good friend Morgan Nicholson secured both the intermediate equitation spoils and intermediate rider of the year honours with 17-year- old part-bred Irish Draught Back Seat Driver.