Scarlett hopes for the perfect send-off to Barney partnership
A 10-year-old schoolgirl has become a horse riding champion by winning at the Royal Lancashire Regional Championships.
Scarlett O’Brien from Churchtown and her pony Barney have worked together for four years and are now taking on the Supreme Finals at The Veterans Horse Society National Championships in Grantham, Lincolnshire, this Saturday.
Sadly, it will be the last time that they compete together as Scarlett has outgrown Barney and will be moving onto a bigger pony after the nationals.
Scarlett said: “I am very excited and can’t wait, as it is the biggest show I have ever been to.”
Her Grandma, Toni Howard, will be joining Scarlett’s family on the big day to support both Scarlett and Barney, whose registered name is Greenbarrow Grasshopper, in the finals.
Toni, 62, said: “Barney is amazing and she has done so well with him.
“He’s been in the family for five years and is such a fabulous pony.
“It’s fantastic that Scarlett has got through to the nationals – I think I’m more excited about it than she is!
“We’re all going to watch her compete so she’ll have a lot of people cheering her on.”
Scarlett has attended many local shows and qualified at the Simmonswood Riding Academy where she won the championship.