Pebbles W, a Strathallan pupil who has been riding since she was just 3 months old, was recently named Scotland Eventing 90cm Captain. She secured her place at Badminton for the second time after an outstanding performance at the last annual Blair Horse Trials with her horse Tino.
"It means a lot to me to qualify again," said Pebbles. "I wasn’t expecting to qualify this year, but we managed to do it at the last Blair Trials, and I’m really happy. It was a tricky course, but we went clear after Cross Country, moving up to second place. I was thrilled with that result."
Pebbles and Tino going clear
In addition to her qualification, being named Captain of Scotland's 90cm section team is a milestone Pebbles is particularly proud of. "Getting selected for Chillington and being named Captain is a huge moment for me. After Badminton, I want to keep working with horses and continue my journey in eventing."
Joining Pebbles at Badminton is her Physical Education teacher, Mrs. Louise Waugh, a seasoned rider with a decade of experience competing for the British Modern Pentathlon team. Mrs. Waugh, who began her riding career with the Angus Pony Club competing in all disciplines before transitioning to Modern Pentathlon at age 16, qualified for Badminton with her young horse, Jack, after a string of consistent performances leading up to the regional championships.
"I wasn’t aiming to qualify at the start of the year, but Jack has been so consistent in his first year competing at this level that I went into the regional championships with qualification in mind," Mrs. Waugh shared. "It’s an incredible achievement, especially with only two qualifiers in all of Scotland. Competing on the famous grounds of Badminton is a dream come true."
Mrs Waugh and Jack flying through jumps
Mrs. Waugh expressed her excitement about sharing the experience with Pebbles, praising her student's talent and focus. "It will be a privilege to compete alongside Pebbles. She is such a talented young rider with a bright future ahead of her. I’m also quite competitive myself, so it’s fun to be in friendly competition with one of my students!"
The Voltaire Design Grassroots Championships, set to take place from 7th to 11th May 2025, offers amateur riders the opportunity to compete at Badminton Horse Trials, one of the most renowned equestrian events in the world.
