Hello, my name is Abigail Smith and I have been horse riding since the age of six, and there's nothing that I am more passionate about. None of my family have any experience in the equestrian community, so all the knowledge I have, I had to learn myself. I always grab at any given opportunity and will do everything in my ability to succeed in my goals. My biggest long term ambition is to compete at badminton horse trials, one of the world's most elite and prestigious eventing competitions. It would also be a dream come true to represent the Great British eventing team at the Olympics.

Ever since I started horse riding, I have always dreamt of getting there. More short term though, my goal is to grow and learn together with a young horse I am taking on. He is called Hugo, he is only 4 years old and very inexperienced, so a lot of time and commitment will have to be put into his training, but I am prepared to do this because I can see the potential that he has shown. I am hoping that in the next few years I will be able to do some affiliated competitions with him (showjumping or eventing) and start to step up the heights and I think we have the potential to get to badminton grassroots (an international horse trial). I am devoted to this cause, and I will do everything I possibly can to get there.

I have never been in the situation to have my own horse, but in a way it has made be even more ambitious and given me more opportunities to experience lots of different horses. I have part-loaned horses (which means I take full responsibility for their care and I ride them a certain amount of times every week). Not having access to a horse of my own means that I am determined to achieve my dreams, even though I haven't got the same circumstances as many young riders in the industry.