Dream comes true for Dawn as Rhiannon hits the big time

The couple are both prison officers and in February Dawn was assaulted while working at New Hall prison. She was off work for nearly six months and is waiting to have an operation on her arm.

Dawn was determined not to let this ruin the summer and showing her home bred Welsh Section C horses, even though she would have to watch from the ringside.

The Great Yorkshire Show was top of their list where Paul and her ex-husband, Ernest, stepped in to lead the mare, Kirkhamgate Lady Rhiannon and her foal to victory in the prestigious Cuddy Supreme Championship.

This qualified them to compete at the Horse of the Year Show which begins on Wednesday.

"I still can't believe we have done it with a home-bred pony that we had to hand rear," said Dawn.

"It's normally the top producers that get to go to the Horse of the Year Show. I was in tears in the stand at the Great Yorkshire when Rhiannon was pulled in first."

Rhiannon, now seven, did not have a very auspicious start in life. After a difficult birth she was rejected by her mother and Dawn had to make the difficult decision to try and hand rear her. She took two weeks leave and then she and Paul worked different shifts for several months so that they could baby sit the foal and feed her every few hours with formula milk.

"Her start in life wasn't good but she has turned out to be a fantastic broodmare herself and she loves people," said Dawn.

Rhiannon has been a prolific winner on the county show circuit but competing at HOYS will be the thrill of a lifetime for Dawn.

She has been breeding and showing Welsh Section C's for 24 years and has won numerous championships at the Great Yorkshire Show. But this year was really special, particularly as the couple had been struggling to look after their horses due to Dawn's injury.

She is now back at work but only able to do light duties. They live in Normanton, near Wakefield, and keep nine horses nearby and have three out on loan.

"Our jobs are stressful and this is a hobby," said Dawn. "

"Getting to the Horse of the Year Show doesn't happen to people like me. We may never get to go again."

She is thrilled about going to HOYS but apprehensive about the competition itself, the Cuddy Supreme In-Hand Championship, because of her injury.

Paul will be leading Rhiannon and Dawn will take the foal, Kirkhamgate Lady Ga Ga who, like her namesake, has a mind of her own, says Dawn.

"Foals can be difficult and unpredictable but I'll have to get into the ring and do my stuff," she added.

Thousands of competitors set out each year to become one of the finalists at the Horse of the Year Show. Amidst all the well-known breeders, producers and riders will be a couple from Normanton who can't quite believe their luck.

The Horse of the Year Show is at the NEC in Birmingham from October 6 to 10.

COMPETITORS in this weekend's horse trials at Bishop Burton College will find a much-altered cross-country course following the staging of the FEI European Pony Championships at the college in July.

New course designer Douglas Weymouth, who has produced courses up to FEI three star level, has changed the start and finish areas and many of the obstacles.

He worked closely with Eric Winter, who designed the championship track in July and is making good use of some of the different tracks.

Spectators are welcome at the event, entry is 4 or 10 per car.