Local competitor, Jo Clarke, and her horse, Frankly, have been identified as having Olympic potential and are on the British Eventing Equine Pathway. This programme aims to identify horses with medal-winning potential and to work with and support the riders and horses.
It has taken five years of dedicated hard work and perseverance for Jo to transform an unknown and gangly two-year-old colt into a potential champion of the future.
After buying Frankly, he was turned out for a year before Jo started backing the wilful and headstrong young horse. This was a slow process, as to begin with, Frankly would even buck off just a rug on his back. Gradually, however, Frankly and Jo began to build a relationship and as a four-year-old, Jo began to enter him at local horse shows.
Since those early days, Frankly has steadily qualified for more and more competitions and this year, started competing at international level. At Gatcombe Park CIC International, Jo and Frankly were presented with a trophy by Princess Anne after finishing ninth and at Osberton International CC1, they were placed second with a score of 41.5.
"Competing at internationals has been a dream come true," said Jo. "Although the first time I rode out into the arena with my top hat and tails, I was so nervous and overwhelmed, it was only the knowledge that Frankly was more than capable at this level that kept me together. To be placed in his first season at this level demonstrates his potential and as a seven-year-old, he's still a young horse with the ability to learn and develop much more over the 2014 season."
However, whether Jo can continue next season to compete Frankly at international level is in the balance. Like many other eventers, Jo funds her competing by breeding, backing and producing horses to sell on, but with the horse market at an all-time low, this has become increasingly difficult.
Due to this, Jo and Frankly are, on January 25th, launching the club, 'Friends of Frankly', where for a small yearly subscription, people can share in Frankly's developing potential and his adventures and successes over the next season. The club will launch with an Open Day at Tunley Equestrian Centre and will include a dressage display from Jo and Frankly.