Newmarket dressage rider has high hopes for 2016

It’s been a busy time for Hole over the last year with the youngster competing internationally as well as maintaining her school grades.

And in the next few months the 16-year-old will be spending a lot of her time with new stallion who won the British Dressage Winter Regional Championship at Novice Freestyle earlier this year.

“In recent years I’ve been reserve for three European Championships – in under-16 level twice and under-18 level once - and I’ve been top four in three internationals, which is good,” she said.

“This season has gone quite well. I was competing two horses abroad this year so it’s been very busy along with my GCSEs. But I managed to achieve grade seven in violin, GCSEs at A and A* and compete two horses internationally, so it’s been really busy but it’s gone well."

“Looking forward I’ve just been given another ride that’s from Scotland so hopefully I can bring him on and compete with him early next year.”

Hole’s talent was recognised earlier in the year after she was named as one of 50 athletes selected for the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport.

The initiative is a world class mentoring programme which also provides bursaries to some of the country’s most talented young athletes.

Hole recently attended a workshop hosted by Rugby Union World Cup winner Lewis Moody and also included guests lectures from the likes of Sharon Davies and Maggie Alphonsi.

Hole added: “Going to these events are brilliant because when I am at home, I don’t really see any other athletes at this sort of level so just talking to everyone and seeing all the things that they struggle with are actually the same things that I struggle with, so you’re not alone.”

Ruth Hole attended the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport workshop, mentored by ambassadors Lewis Moody and Maggie Alphonsi and SportsAid patrons Danny Crates, Bryan Steel and Kerri-Ann Payne. For more information visit sportsaid.org.uk