Emma Wilde earned the chance to experience life within the Arena as a HOYS competitor

23-year-old Emma Wilde has worked as a rosette steward at HOYS for the past six years running. This Year, she has earned the chance to experience life within the Arena as a HOYS competitor too! Heres her story…. "For the final day of the show I will be swapping my high heels for my long boots. HOYS is a feature in so many people's calendars, whether as a member of the audience, competitor or official, I am just lucky that this year I will get to combine all three!

For those that have been lucky enough to ever experience the atmosphere of HOYS as either as a competitor, official or spectator you will be able to understand the excitement, shock and sheer determination involved in qualifying for HOYS- especially in the landmark year of the Diamond Jubilee. Exhibitors travel the length and breath of the country in weather that can only be described as the Caribbean sun one minute and monsoons the next in order to have a chance of gaining that illustrious ticket.

This year is the first year I have contested HOYS Intermediate Working Hunters with my horse Johndoe – W, a 158cms bay gelding, having spent the last year few years concentrating on Novice classes after a six year break from a limited WHP career in Show Hunter Pony ranks. After a very successful winter circuit the decision was made to contest some Open WHP tracks during the summer with a limited number of HOYS qualifiers at our more 'local' shows if mother felt brave enough at the time to dare put the entry in. NCPA Staffs couldn't have been more 'local' for me and 'button', in fact it took us longer to queue into the showground than it did to get there, less than a mile from home. I couldn't decide the night before the show which of two elements were the most ridiculous; the decision to get up at silly o'clock for the first class of the show or the decision to walk the course the night before and spend the rest of the night jumping every inch of the course in my head. I didn't know whether it was my six years out of the jumping arena that made the course look huge or just my lack of brave pills but I always feel encouraged when I see the other rider's reactions…..the pale white expressions was not what I was expecting!

Preparation is undoubtedly a team effort and after years of expert training from my mother, an ex international showjumper, and George Harrison, a fantastic producer of young horses, that I decided to do something unheard of and mix business and pleasure. One of my closest friends, Ben Murphy, up until last year was competing internationally as a showjumper however an injury to his knee has now ended his competitive career and I was determined I was not going to let his experience and ambition go to waste therefore we diverted his attentions to providing me with a helping hand at home and at the occasional show. After an early morning course walk and a relaxed warm up, I entered the course with such determination I almost forgot it was a qualifier, with Tina Turner 'Simply The Best' echoing through my mind as I came to the first fence. I have never sat on a horse with such power and elegance over a fence, I am convinced he gave me altitude sickness as I jumped the oxers. I landed over the last fence to hear the applause from the ringside and the realisation I was clear, I can only explain it as a mixture of undulated shock and relief. To hear my number announced at the conclusion of the final phase in first place and in that golden qualifying position was indescribable but more than anything it was as a credit to the whole team behind the scenes as without their positivity and determination I possibly would have questioned whether to attempt the course, let alone dream of qualifying. As a result I now have the opportunity to appear at the show only dreams are made of, not only mine but my whole support team and of course the one I couldn't have done it without, Johndoe-W.