14 riders to watch in 2022

SHOWING

Alice Homer

THE 19-year-old certainly left her mark in horse ranks in 2021. She not only won at the Royal International (RIHS) in ladies’ show horse ranks aboard Bloomfield Eloquence (James) – whom she rode to second at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in the same class – but she was also crowned intermediate champion on Hickstead turf, on board the five-year-old show riding type Ballinclare (known as Annie).

“James has been sold to a new owner [Liz Prowting] and I’m super-excited that he’s to stay on the yard,” said Alice, who was reserve working hunter champion at Royal Windsor last year with Little Joe and rode Annie to second and fourth placings in respective HOYS intermediate and hack finals.

Alice, who is currently studying geography at Bristol University, has a rising four-year-old riding horse to debut next term as well as two point-to-pointers to run over winter.

“I also have Annie for another year; she’s still such a young horse so what she’s achieved is incredible,” Alice added.

“I’ve started horse classes relatively early in my career, similarly to what my granddad David Tatlow and mum Loraine Homer did. It can be a daunting step up as a young rider, but it’s all about mindset. There is nothing stopping you from competing against the more experienced professionals and doing so with success, especially with a good horse and enough research.”

Izzy Sharifi

IZZY shot into the headlines at the tender age of 11