Ariat Europe

Charlotte was an early starter in equestrianism and at the age of four won her first leading rein class on a pony called Merrylegs, earning herself a debut media appearance in the local paper! From then on the Charlotte has notched up some impressive results including team gold and fourth individually at the Young Rider Europeans, 39th in her first ever four star event at Badminton and 5th place at Blair Castle in the International CCI***.

Charlotte recently graduated from Edinburgh University with a 2:1 in English Literature and is embarking on her first season as a full-time event rider in 2011. With this commitment to the sport she has moved from her base in Scotland to Abingdon in Oxfordshire where she hopes to gain more rides and kick start her future career. In addition to riding, Charlotte can also be spotted as the writer for local equestrian magazines and a reporter for Horse & Hound and Eventing.

With her father a Champion jockey and her mother an international show jumper, you could say that horses were in the blood for Tina! At sixteen years old Tina was already eventing full-time and at twenty she won a Land Rover scholarship to be based at Gatcombe with Captain Mark Phllips where she trained for a year. From then onwards Tina established herself as a regular British team member and produced a number of horses to four star level, including her current ride, Miners Frolic.

Amongst many major achievements spanning her eventing career, her most notable accolades to date include individual bronze medal at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and individual gold at the European Championships in Fontainbleau in 2009. This followed with a successful year in 2010, finished off by being on the gold medal winning British Team at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Having parents who had both completed Badminton and Burghley, meant that William was always destined to be an eventing star! After beginning his equestrian career at the tender age of 15, he represented Great Britain throughout his teenage years and completed his first Badminton at the age of 20.

With a string of accolades behind his name – too many to list – William was the first British rider to become eventing’s World Number 1 in 2002, then subsequently regained that title in 2009 and 2010. In his eventing career, William has been British Number 1 eight times and has played a key role in Great Britain’s eventing successes having been on two medal winning Olympic teams, three medal winning World Equestrian Games teams and six gold medal winning European Championship teams! His individual results include 40 wins at CCI Three Day events, and 20 CIC events including winning Burghley five times, Luhmuhlen twice, Badminton once and Rolex once, making him the only rider in the world to have won four of the five CCI**** three day events.

William is now based at his 28 stable yard in Dorset with his wife Alice Plunkett and their two sons. After one of his best ever seasons in 2010, all eyes are now on the 2011 European Championships and of course London 2012!

Growing up with all things equine certainly set Nicola on the right path to succeed in her chosen career of eventing. In a small space of time Nicola went from a thirteen year old owning her first horse Mr Bumble, to competing for Great Britain at the Young Rider European Championships in 1997 at Pratoni and then being placed 10th in her first ever CCI**** at Burghley in 1998.

Despite her equestrian successes Nicola studied at university and gained a 2:1 degree in Sport Studies and Business Management before focusing on eventing and began to build a loyal band of owners. In 2004 Rosemary Search, who owns Opposition Buzz, asked her to compete him and Nicola produced the 16.1hh gelding by Fleetwater Opposition from Novice level to the horse he is today. Amongst many successes over the years, including a European Team Gold medal at Fontainbleu in 2009, her recent 2010 accolades include winning Barbury CIC***, finishing 8th at Badminton CCI****, retaining the title of Scottish Open Champion at Blair Castle CIC*** and being part of the Gold medal winning team at the Alltech World Equestrian Games.

Emily has been riding from a very young age, progressing up through the pony club through to BE Eventing. She started competing in British Eventing when she was 12 in the National Pony Trials and has since made a huge mark in the sport.

Emily is the only youth rider to have competed on eight consecutive Great Britain Championship Teams competing at European Championships. During those years Emily has won six Team Gold Medals, one Team Silver Medal, two Individual Bronze Medals and then one Individual Gold Medal when she won the Young Rider European Championships in 2008. She is also the only rider to have ever won the British National U16 Championships (2004), U18 Championships (2007), U21 Championships (2007) and the U25 Championships (2009).

Already in 2011 Emily has produced her fourth clear cross country round at Badminton Horse Trials on Pardon Me II. Her future targets and aims are to continue representing Great Britain on Championships teams, winning more medals in young riders. Then winning individual and team medals at senior level at Europeans and WEG. Finally her main goal is to win Olympic Individual Gold.

Following a successful career in young riders, which included victory in the Under 25 Championship at Bramham and an individual silver medal in the European Young Riders Championship in 2002, the daughter of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips really established herself at senior level in 2003 by finishing second at Burghley three day event with Toytown. Following that performance, Zara was long listed for Athens in 2004 but her hopes of competing with the British event team at an Olympic Games were dashed by an injury to Toytown that ruled him out for the rest of the year.

In June 2005, Zara put that disappointment behind her with a great performance at the newly upgraded four star event in Luhmuhlen. At the European Championships at Blenheim in September Zara rode into the history books by taking two gold medals on her senior debut, exceeding achievement of her mother, who won the individual title at the European Championships in 1971.
2006 brought the prospect of the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany – Zara’s first four star Championship after a fantastic performance the gold was hers and silver for the British team.

In a career spanning over 20 years Mary King has become one of British Eventing’s icons and a regular member of the British team. The risks of riding were brought home to her in 2001 when she broke her neck in a fall, from which she fortunately fully recovered and fought her way back to fitness and back into the British squad for the World Championships in 2002. Mary earned her a place as a reserve in the squad for Athens in 2004 and, due to another member’s withdrawal from the team, got the call she’d been waiting for and even better, the Olympic medal she’d dreamed of for years.

2006 continued the run of success when Mary was part of the silver medal winning team at the World Championships, Aachen and 2007 brought both individual and team success in Pratoni when Mary won well earned individual silver and team gold medals at the European Championships with Call Again Cavalier. Her glittering career has brought six team gold medals at World and European Championships and the title of British Champion a record four times. She has also represented Britain at the last five Olympic Games, in 2008 Mary won team bronze at the Beijing Olympics.

2011 has been an amazing year so far for Mary. A successful third placing at Badminton CCI**** riding Imperial Cavalier proved to be just a warm up for the talented rider after she she jetted off to Rolex Kentucky and secured first and second place riding Kings Temptress and Fernhill Urco in the prestigious American CCI**** event. Mary is aiming for a successful season before hoping to secure her place on team GB in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

At the age of 21 Laura is now in her sixth year of professional eventing and has already shown to be one of the most exciting talents in the sport to date. A team gold medal winner for Great Britain at the age of 15 in the Pony European Championships, Laura has represented her country on 5 Championship teams and has won 7 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medals. Laura's ultimate ambition is to win Gold at Olympic, World and European Championships.

In 2006 Laura won the CCI** at Tweseldown riding Fernhill Sox and in doing so became the youngest rider ever to win an International Two-Star Three-Day Event. Laura represented Great Britain at the Junior European Championships held at Necarne Castle, Northern Ireland, winning individual Gold and team Silver. In 2007 Laura won her first Advanced class at Belton Park on Fernhil Sox, in addition she also successfully defended her Junior European Title in Switzerland and won Gold on Rayef and led the GB team to win Gold as well. Laura is the first British rider ever to win consecutive Junior European Titles.

2009 saw Laura achieve both Individual and Team Gold at the Young Rider European Championships as well as wins at CCI* and CCI** level . In 2010 Laura won Team Gold at the Young Rider Europeans with Fernhill Cristal and then went on to jump double clear in his first CIC*** at Blenheim, whilst Ginger May Killinghurst gave her the best 21st birthday present when she jumped clear round her first CCI**** at Burghley.

2011 has started in fine form for Laura with an 8th placing at her first ever Badminton CCI**** riding Rayef and to top it off she was awarded a prize for best under 25, best British first timer and best local rider, whilst Rayef was given an accolade for being the youngest British owned and ridden horse in the top 12.

Sharon’s passion for horses and riding was ignited at an early age following a holiday with her grandparents and a donkey ride on along the beach. This enthusiasm was quickly followed by her first pony and her passion for eventing began on board Parkmore Bal when they successfully completed their first Pre-Novice.

In 1996, an ambitious Sharon went to train with Ruth McMullen in Norfolk, taking along four Intermediate level horses. It was from here that Sharon’s professional career and talent was developed and the purchase of Good Sport II saw them win the Burghley Young Event Horse 5 year old Championships the following year. A string of successes saw Sharon make her debut in the British Eventing team as an individual at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen. In 2008, Sharon and Tankers Town were an influential combination in Team GB during the Beijing Olympic Games and their impressive performance helped secure the teams bronze medals.

2010 was filled with incredible highs and lows, Sharon and Tankers Town secured another major win at Chatsworth and two weeks later the combination also won HSBC FEI Classics Luhmuhlen. However later that year at Pau, Tankers Town suffered an injury and has had to take time off to recover. Sharon is confident that Jaspers rehabilitation is going well and hopes to have him fit again soon.

Currently based in the South East, Sharon is enjoying 2011 with a busy competition schedule and full yard. Her string of horses range from Novice through to Advanced and she feels lucky that potential stars of the future are shining through. Wining at Barocca CCI ** with Azeb and coming fifth with Red Amber have been an encouraging way to start the season.

Sharon also travels throughout the UK and beyond delivering keynote speeches, teaching and giving mounted demonstrations at a variety of equestrian and corporate events.