Millfield student selected for 2021 British Eventing Pony Development Squad

Millfield Year 11 student Tara Kay has begun a campaign towards national and international competition after being selected for the 2021 British Eventing Pony Development Squad.

The British Eventing Pony Programme is designed to produce a team that will represent Great Britain at the European Championships in Poland later this year, as well as supporting riders as they work towards the National Pony Championships later in 2021.

Fifteen-year-old Tara from Brackley in Buckinghamshire joined Millfield in Year 9, where she undertakes a full academic programme alongside her riding commitments. Her dream is to become a professional rider and compete to the very highest level for Great Britain at an Olympics or at Badminton Horse Trials.

Millfield’s Equestrian programme is one of the best combined equestrian and academic school environments in Britain. The Equestrian Centre is certified to train to Fellowship level in the British Horse Society "Where to Train" register and offers training for the British Horse Society Equine Excellence Pathway in Complete Horsemanship as part of the school curriculum.

Millfield’s Livery Yard is BHS Approved and one of very few British schools with equestrian facilities on campus. The school’s facilities include stabling for 53 horses, an indoor and outdoor arena, two sets of BSJA standard show jumps and portable X-C jumps, cross-country schooling fences, an off road canter track and access to gallops, a polo field, an all-weather horse walker and round pen and resident yard staff.

Leading the programme is Chief Coach Danny Anholt and accomplished event rider Mel Wilder (Equestrian Sports Programme Manager). Danny is a Fellow of the British Horse Society and a British Eventing accredited Coach, as well as a Centre 10 Elite Coach, and originally competed in eventing. International event rider Mel reached international success over 30 years to CCI5 including competing at the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials. Mel has also produced several horses to compete at the highest level with notable success at Blenheim and Bramham Horse Trials.