Meet hard-working rising star showjumper Charlotte Ash

Horse & Hound is all the time eager to champion the rising stars of the game and 25-year-old showjumper Charlotte Ash is unquestionably a rider we wish to shine a lightweight on.

Based mostly simply north of Newcastle, Charlotte is proof of what can include arduous work and willpower, in addition to her pure expertise and aptitude within the saddle, as she begins to get pleasure from some wealthy rewards from her home-produced and home-bred horses.

Charlotte had beforehand loved loads of success on her home-produced ponies, however 2024 has been an actual breakthrough 12 months within the senior ranks as she contested her first 1.60m competitors and made her worldwide debut at Horse of the Yr Present, leaping clear and ending seventh within the Main Showjumper of the Yr using her tremendous home-produced mare Irma Riende.

“I couldn’t have requested for a greater HOYS, I used to be over the moon,” she says. “Irma and I do know one another inside out and it’s probably the most superb feeling when your team-mate desires it much more than you do nearly; each time she goes within the ring she says ‘Proper, sport on’ and she or he retains stepping up.

“HOYS was our first 1.60m and I wasn’t actually planning on doing the grand prix as a result of I simply didn’t know what to anticipate on a stage like that, despite the fact that I knew she was succesful. However she simply had the final fence down within the top notch and I got here out of the ring and stated ‘Proper Mum, we’re leaping the grand prix!’ Then she was clear in it, she simply stormed spherical. She’s my horse of a lifetime.”

Showjumper Charlotte Ash seals a breakthrough 2024 on the London Worldwide

Charlotte sealed an thrilling 2024 by qualifying for the distinguished under-25 British Championship on the London Worldwide Horse Present for the second 12 months operating.

“We’ve had a hell of a 12 months truly, with the youthful horses and my older horse Irma, so I’ve simply taken it because it comes,” says Charlotte. “We’ve been there or thereabouts with Irma, so it’s actually pretty to see all of it coming collectively and hopefully promising issues for 2025.”

Charlotte has produced Irma Riende from a five-year-old, qualifying the Dutch-bred Baltic VDL x Indoctro mare for the six-year-old world championships at Lanaken.

“We’ve come up by way of the senior ranks collectively,” she says. “So it’s most likely been an extended course of but it surely’s been so rewarding as a result of her first occasions are additionally my first occasions, so we’ve learnt collectively.”

“Mum is the genius behind the breeding!”

Charlotte has additionally been having fun with nice success with a few of her mom’s home-breds.

“Mum is the genius behind the breeding!” says Charlotte proudly. “We intention to breed two or three a 12 months as a result of it’s solely me who rides at residence and it might simply get out of hand! However I’m actually pleased with the string of horses we’re increase, so hopefully there might be large issues to return from them. My mum began breeding them once I was on ponies and I keep in mind pondering ‘Why have you ever purchased these two yearlings, I would like a 138cm, Mum!’ however that’s what began all of it off and it’s a beautiful factor. I wouldn’t wish to do it with anybody else – I’m so proud and happy I can do that with my mum. My dad and mom have supported me a lot. Sure, it’s arduous doing it this fashion, but it surely’s beginning to come collectively now.”

Charlotte, who has obtained some coaching alongside the best way from Richard Howley however is essentially self-taught, at the moment has eight horses in work from home, all bar two of whom are home-breds, and round 18 horses in whole.

“It’s lots of arduous work however I’m actually having fun with it and the reward you get from it,” she says.

Setting future objectives in the direction of the Olympics: “I’m residing the dream”

Seeking to the longer term, gifted younger showjumper Charlotte Ash has set her sights excessive, with the Olympics the last word objective.

“I break it down into steps, so subsequent 12 months I’d wish to hopefully be picked for a senior Nations Cup group with Irma then go from there,” she says. “For a very long time we relied solely on her however now we’ve some actually thrilling younger ones coming by way of to hopefully associate with her.

“She’s some horse to have performed that for therefore lengthy although; she’s been so constant and all the pieces I’ve requested of her she’s taken on. It’s been arduous at occasions attempting to stability the younger horse exhibits with the large exhibits, however we’ve picked some good ones this 12 months which have catered for each, so it’s labored nicely.

“After all it’s a lot extra rewarding to do nicely with a horse you’ve labored arduous with than a ready-made one. I’m residing the dream for the time being. This 12 months has had so many highlights, it’s pretty that it’s lastly all coming collectively.”

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H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her position as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her all over the world reporting from exhibits and interviewing riders, connections and people concerned behind the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on each topic throughout the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to steady administration — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand expertise of working within the equestrian business as a using teacher and yard supervisor.