A young local girl will compete in a national horse riding competition after qualifying at a regional assessment.
Sixteen-year-old Kyla Mantilla-Ross from Brodie entered in the Riding for the Disabled Regional Championships at Cranloch, Elgin, in May – and, with an impressive 67.9%, qualified for the National Championships in Gloucestershire in July.
Sonia Howell, Chair of the Forres, Nairn and District Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), said: “We are very proud. Kyla attended our weekly term-time riding sessions some 5/6 years ago, and subsequently got her own pony. Under the Independent rider agreement, we are even more delighted that Kyla has chosen to represent our group in RDA affiliated competitions.”
Kyla’s mother Lorna added: “Kyla’s love of riding and ponies was solidified by the excellent instruction received at the riding sessions run by the Forres, Nairn & District RDA group. Additionally, her confidence, balance and co-ordination improved immensely. With her pony Wizard, she has gone from strength to strength, and is a far more competent rider than we would ever have imagined back when she was only nine. It is only fitting that she is representing the Forres, Nairn and District RDA group not just at the regional qualifiers in Scotland, but now at the National Championships in England later this year.”
Sonia Howell added: “Kyla is a shining example of how much can be achieved through these riding sessions. It is not just about the intricacies of riding and the practicalities of caring for your own pony. All the feedback we receive from parents/carers and teachers shows that the children become more confident, improve their communications and ability to build relationships, as well as physical improvement – and of course, having fun!”
