Grace Debney

SINCE British-born Grace Debney first started accumulating rosettes in short-stirrup classes (the appropriately named under-12 hunter-jumper division in America), she has been channelling a strong competitive spirit and natural flair in the saddle which is now bearing rich fruit on the international jumping circuit.

When H&H catches up with her, the teenager is enjoying an incredible purple patch at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Florida, and her latest haul of silverware includes victory in her first CSI5* class. It marks a rapid ascent into the top tiers of the sport, which was previously only hampered by the fact she was too young to contest the higher-level grands prix for which she regularly qualified. But since turning 18 in February – which she celebrated by winning a 1.45m CSI3* class and an under-25 grand prix at WEF – Grace is finally on the path to realising some big ambitions.

“It’s been an unbelievable season, ” she says