To Millie and her pony
Rider, 10, qualifies for national championships in July
An inspirational Whins of Milton youngster is heading to the largest disabled horse riding event in the world.
Ten-year-old Millie Smith has qualified for the National Championships at Hartpury in Gloucestershire next month after taking part in the Riding for the Disabled Regional Qualifiers recently at Sandyflats in Glasgow.
Millie qualified in an impressive first place with a score of 74.41 per cent. As well as being first in her class, she was also named best junior and was second in the countryside challenge.
The young rider completed a complex dressage routine on her pony Ozzy and will compete in three events in the championships - her dressage routine, countryside challenge and best turned out rider and pony.
In addition to this, Millie also competed in a championship test through Dressage Anywhere, a worldwide online dressage competiton, scoring 70.43 per cent to finish in second place and securing a silver medal which will also be presented to her at Hartpury.
Dad Steven said: “Millie was born 14 weeks premature in October 2006 weighing just 1lb 12ozs and amazingly pulled through an operation carried out at Yorkhill Hospital at just four weeks old to close a valve in her heart.
She has cerebral palsy and severe hearing loss but this does not stop her enjoying her passion for horse riding and in particular dressage.
“Building on from her success in what was her first year competing in 2016 she has made us so proud and will be representing Forth Valley RDA and Riverside Stables where she trains up to three times a week.
“My wife Michelle and I are very proud of Millie, Ozzy and her coach Brian Mills Thompson.”
Millie began horse riding at Bannockburn RDA in October 2013, initially just for therapy, but then to help with her cerebral palsy, core strength and balance.
After the facilities closed in August 2014 she, and other RDA riders, were able to continue riding from Riverside Riding School in Carronshore.
She has made us so proud and will be representing Forth Valley RDA