MEET PORTIA HOWARD

I live with my parents Samantha and Tim, who are both hairdressers, and have a younger sister Miretta who is 18 and a brother Doulton who is 17.

We live in Norfolk in a thatched farmhouse in the village of Cantley.

We have six dogs, they roam around and cause chaos, they are Whizza, a Papillion x Jack Russell, Herbie – a whippet, Sadie, Rolly and Razz are jack Russell’s and Willow is a Labrador.

All the horses live here at home and we have 10 boxes in total. I look after them myself with mums help and also Steph who is our fantastic groom.

When I am not riding I enjoy going out with friends to the cinema and occasionally if I get a chance going to the pub.

My day consists of starting on the yard at 7.30 feeding, mucking out etc. The horses go on the walker whilst we finish the yard so that they can stretch their muscles and relax before they are worked. After breakfast I start exercising them and normally finish at about 1pm. During lunch I chat with sponsors and show secretaries and after lunch I often help people with their own horses and then finish the yard. My working day usually ends at about 8pm.

THE ROAD TO THE TOP

Portia was first introduced to riding at the age of 8yrs when she began lessons at a local riding school. “I went along because my friends did and just got hooked,” said Portia.

A year later Portia had progressed so quickly that her Grandparents bought her first pony, “Cobweb” on whom she attended Pony Club and jumped in unaffiliated 12.2hh classes.

At the age of 10 she had also acquired “Duffy’s Dancer” who had never jumped in an affiliated class. Together they where introduced to affiliated competition and a career in showjumping began.

The next stage was an experienced JA pony, “Tom Cobbley” on whom Portia competed in 138cm national classes. At 15 years of age and ridden previously by leading junior jockeys, Ben Maher and Paul Barker the pony helped Portia gain a place in the British Junior team. With a string of novices in the wings Portia was also gaining experience at home training and producing youngsters.

At 14yrs Portia qualified for her first appearance at the “Horse of the Year Show” aboard the 148cm “Dusty Boy”. “Prize Lady” soon joined Dusty and a regular place in the National Pony Team competing on the continent was gained.

The transition from jumping ponies to horses can be difficult and often sets the seal on a career but Portia was lucky to secure the grade A Toytime. Portia remembers, “Toytime had a huge jump for such a small mare and her stride lengths where not dissimilar to the 148cm ponies, she really helped me in the transition to senior classes and more technical courses.”

Together they jumped at international shows and represented Great Britain in the Young Rider Squad.

Now at 21 years of age Portia’s determination has seen her win the Young Showjumper of the year title at Olympia in 2005, Portia came second in the Young Rider Championship of Great Britain in at HOYS in 2006, and then she achieved her career hightlight by being part of the 2006 European Team Silver Medal winning squad in the Olympia stadium in Athens.