Amateur rider Claire Fotheringham has won the opportunity of a lifetime, after being crowned Horse Hero’s sponsored rider for the Blair Castle International Horse Trials.

The competition run in partnership between Horse Hero and Blair Castle International Horse Trials pitted event riders from across the country in a contest to win a place in the CCI 1 Star three day event at Blair Castle International Horse Trials this August. As well as a free entries and stabling, Claire’s prize package includes pre-event training with top riders and sports psychologists as well as mentoring at the event to help her warm-up and course walk. Other prizes include Laura Bechtolsheimer training DVDs and Blair Castle and Horse Hero clothing.

After being shortlisted by the judges, the finalists were pitted against each other in a public vote with Claire emerging as the clear winner.

Claire is a 29 year old sports science lecturer from Sauchentree in Aberdeenshire. Her horse Royal S is a German warmblood and they have climbed up the eventing levels together since making their debut in 2008. Apart from fitting in eventing around a full time job, Claire is also renovating her dream house, which allows her to keep Royal S at home, but currently has no stairs!

She says “I’m really grateful to Horse Hero and Blair Castle International Horse Trials for this opportunity. Roy and I are training hard so we can do our best at the event and look forward to sharing our preparation and three day event experience with the Horse Hero community”.