Who was crowned from these four riders who do not make their living from riding, training or competing horses, yet dedicate themselves to their passion?
Amy Dixon is the Spillers Horse Feeds Amateur Rider of the Year 2023.
Amy and Goodluck II (Ronnie) won this year’s grassroots championships at Badminton and the Scottish grassroots championships at Blair, both at BE90. She looks after the admin for her family’s two cafes in the Lake District, helps on the floor in busy periods and oversees the family’s Airbnbs and shop.
Alongside Ronnie, Amy has a Welsh section D, a mule and two miniature Shetlands. She rides in the early mornings, which fits with work and is best for her physically – she manages back pain after some serious issues and surgery. As well as eventing, Amy hopes to compete the dressage-bred Ronnie, whom she describes as “a real worrier”, at prix st georges one day.
Her advice to other amateurs is to trust yourself, do what is right for you and your horse, and be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses. She adds: “The most important thing is to enjoy the journey.”
The other individuals shortlisted for the Spillers Horse Feeds Amateur Rider of the Year 2023 are:
Amy George
Amy is an amateur event rider-turned-Trec national champion, who combines her riding with managing Whipley Manor Farm feed store. Having evented her home-bred A Touch Optimistik until 2019, to intermediate level, she and “Smarty” then changed disciplines. This year they were crowned Trec national champions at the highest level (four), and they are aiming to represent Britain at next year’s World Championships.
“I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet,” Amy says. “It’s a niche sport, we all know each other, but it’s a much bigger deal in Europe, so it’s sinking in what a big deal it would be. Smarty’s just been amazing. He’s like a lamb with my elderly sharer but when I get on, he’s all fired up to compete. Everyone who’s met him, loves him.”
Amy and Smarty also came third in the advanced medium dressage at the British Riding Clubs national championships this year.
Tracy Thirlwall
Tracy is from a non-horsey family, and juggles her job as a full-time hairdresser with competing her ex-racehorse Tapaidh Frankie up to inter I level dressage. Tracy and Frankie have racked up plenty of impressive dressage achievements since teaming up in 2015, including British Dressage Associated Championships titles and Area Festivals.
“My best memory is winning our first Area Festival at advanced medium in 2021,” says Tracy. “It’s difficult sometimes to fit everything in but as I run my own business I am able to start later, giving me time to get to the yard for 6am, muck out then travel to use an arena at 7.30am four times a week.
“I already feel like I am living a fairy-tale riding at the levels this horse has taken me to. I never even dreamed that one day I’d be competing in a tailcoat, let alone being nominated for an H&H Award.”
Megan Champney
Isle of Wight-based Megan, 26, has been showing since she was five years old and she’s been involved with a variety of breeds and types, from working hunter ponies to mountain and moorlands. “But my heart has always been with the coloured ponies,” says Megan, who works full-time for the emergency services.
Megan first garnered attention with her superstar part-Shetland Harry XI, who retired from the ring aged 39. Her most recent gem is coloured mare Penrock Perfect Puzzle (Portia) who first hit the headlines after standing champion at Royal Windsor in 2022.
This season she landed supreme accolades at CHAPS South West regional and the Royal Isle of Wight. She also qualified for HOYS and finished fourth at the final. Megan fits in horses and showing between shift work.
“I have a close-knit ‘showing family’ with whom I meet up most weekends at various showgrounds,” Megan says. “We all support each other and are genuinely really happy for each other’s success. My ponies mean everything to me and I enjoy reaping the rewards of the preparation that goes on in the background.
“I do my ponies completely by myself on the Isle of Wight. We don’t receive any financial support; the ferry costs can be astronomical. It’s nice to be flying the flag for the amateurs.”
Previous Amateur of the Year Award winners
Previous winners of this award include:
- 2022: amateur five-star event rider who works full-time in the medical devices industry Lauren Innes
- 2021: accountant and an amateur four-star event rider Lauren Innes
- 2020: Inspirational para showjumper and disability campaigner Evie Toombes was crowned amateur rider of the decade (2011-2020)
- 2019: amateur event rider Adam Harvey
- 2018: amateur event rider Katie Preston
- 2017: amateur event rider Alice Goring
- 2016: amateur dressage rider Claire Abel
About the Horse & Hound Awards 2023
The Horse & Hound Awards returned for the eighth year in a row, running again in partnership with NAF.
As ever, the H&H Awards winners were nominated and voted for by you. We recognised both the big names who have made 2023 special and the unsung heroes who make it possible for all of us to enjoy equestrian sport and our horses, at whatever level.
This year, we hosted a glittering ceremony at Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire where some 300 people, including Olympic and Paralympic superstars, enjoyed a glamorous evening of champagne, winner reveals, Oscar-style speeches and dancing.
