Jo Bates
My Daughter - Holly
A little history
Jo has passed on her talent for producing horses to her daughter, Holly, who rides beautifully and has already seen success in dressage finishing 4th in Elementary National Dressage Championships riding Silver Lining and becoming the 2006 Search For A Star Dressage Champion.
Holly rode Sandrose Silk, owned by Ann Taylor, finishing 4th in the Badminton Young Dressage Horse of the Future in 2007 and winning Best British Bred Mare at the Shearwater International 5-year-old Dressage Championships. She competed for the first time at HOYS in 2007, riding Blue Chip That's Grand, finishing 6th in Large Riding Horse Championship. Holly also rode Clare Blaskey's I'm Blue Chip Too at HOYS in 2008 finishing 8th in the Large Riding Horse Championship.
In January 2008 she was awarded a TASS scholarship, an award of £3,000 from sport England to be spent half on teaching and half on equipment and competition fees. TASS scholarships are awarded in recognition of talent - talented athlete scholarship scheme.
Holly also earned a place on the Blaze Academy. Having been selected by top international dressage judge and team selector, Judy Harvey, during a training day, Holly received a £500 training bursary and clothing from Blaze Equestrian Clothing.
What Holly is doing now
Holly is now working with Jo, producing young dressage horses and has had considerable success with her young horses this season.
Holly receives training from Rhett Bird, international grand prix dressage rider and trainer of junior and young riders. She is hoping to go to Europe to continue her dressage training where she currently has a 3 year old by Sir Donnerhall waiting in the wings.
