DORSET’S Luli Loveridge has qualified for the 13.2 Championship Final at the prestigious Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead in July.

Loveridge, from Broadwinsor, rode her 13.2 pony, called Arrow Head Quiver, to a triple clear at the Small Pony Premiere last weekend to gain her ticket.

She took a triple on the Saturday but just missed out on qualifying via one of the three spots available, but managed to take one of the two qualifying places the next day with another triple clear.

The first round saw the pony jump 1.15m with the second and third rounds being 1.20m and 1.30m respectively to qualify for the show, where she will compete against 24 others, on their 13.2 ponies, to try and become champion.

Luli’s mother, Jemma Loveridge said: “We are delighted, thrilled. It is quite a tough course, it is quite high and the ponies are quite little and you have to be very technical in your riding.

“The pressure was definitely on and the pony lived up to every expectation. He’s an incredible pony, he is 22 so he’s quite an old boy. He pulled it out of the bag.”

The pair had been hoping to qualify at the event but Loveridge emphasised how competitive it is: “The pressure is ridiculously ice-breaking. There is just silence, no one speaks and it is all rather gripping.”

Despite being a new partnership, the pony had qualified for the event in the past with a previous owner.

Jemma Loveridge said: “It was our first big thing really.

“She works really hard this kid, she just really wants to get there and get up at the top level.”

They are not from a professional family and Loveridge explains it does give them extra satisfaction, as she said: “We are not a professional family, almost every other kid doing it have parents who are trainers.

“There is just Luli and me and so it is extra satisfying.”

The result follows a second place finish in the 13.8 final at the Liverpool Horse International Show over the New Year.

July’s show represents one of the biggest events for 13.2 horses.