Zara will take the reins at top show
Balfron High pupil’s star stint
A talented youngster from Kippen will join forces with her beloved pony at a world famous horse show this autumn.
Zara Mailer (11) and Milton Pageboy make a fearsome team and they will compete in the Kathleen Wood 128cm Children’s Riding Pony of the Year at the 70th Horse of the Year Show.
The youngster, who will be attending Balfron High after the summer, has been riding since the age of four.
She started off riding lead rein, a pony ridden by a small child and led by an adult, before moving on to first ridden for young riders.
She then moved on to open class in recent times
And a stand-out success in the Scottish Horse Show at Ingliston earlier this summer secured Zara one of 21 muchcoveted spots in the upcoming Horse of the Year showpiece – being held at the NEC in Birmingham.
Proud mum Victoria Taylor explained that Zara came out on top in the 128cm class before also emerging overall winner of the 128cm, 138cm and 148cm classes.
And she said that the whole family are now looking forward to the national show, which takes place from October 3 to 7.
Victoria said: “They will be assessed in two different parts. The first is manners and way of going, which is an individual show, before the confirmation where they stand the pony up and the child is on foot.
“In the show part they will need to walk, trot, canter and gallop.
“They could have to do figure-eights or 20-metre circles.
“Zara loves it, and she’s very excited, but she’s just taking it step by step at the moment.
“We’re all really proud of what she has done.”
Victoria, who used to show ponies herself, explained that the family have a special bond with their beloved Milton Pageboy as he lives and is looked after at their own home near Kippen – while most show ponies are taken away, trained and looked after by professionals.
She added: “Most are professionally produced by we don’t do that.
“He’s looked after by us which I think makes it particularly special for us.
“Between now and the show we are really just trying to keep the pony fit and ready.
“He needs a bit of rest, but then we will start some work to make sure he is in prime condition.”
The show, which has been running since 1949, regularly welcomes 1600 horses and ponies, 1500 competitors and 65,000 spectators. PICTURE: MILTON PHOTOGRAPHY