Meet The Contestants
The Showjumping Starlet
Phoebe Ashenheim, 22, from Sedlescombe in East Sussex
Former international gymnast Phoebe now runs a livery yard in East Sussex, and is also studying for a BSc in Equine Sports Performance. She competes her six-year-old Warmblood mare Ghost in showjumping up to Discovery level.
* Why did you want to be on the show?
“I wanted to be on the show because of the huge brands that sponsored and endorsed it, plus it was based at an amazing training facility that I knew I would learn a lot from.”
* How did you feel when you found out you’d been selected?
“I was totally shocked that I was chosen as a finalist. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would ever get an opportunity like this. After the overwhelming shock, the excitement with a tinge of nerves kicked in.”
* What was the best aspect about being on the show?
“The best part of being on the show was meeting the other amazing contestants and crew, I have made friends for life there and I wouldn’t have changed my experience for anything. Ghost had the most amazing experience too, and I think it will have really helped her mature and grow.”
* What was your overall verdict on the experience?
“I would describe the experience as an intense and an incredible, once in a lifetime opportunity.”
The Dressage Diva
Issy Nami, 20, from Harwood, Greater Manchester
Our youngest contestant, Issy competes in dressage up to affiliated novice level, and hopes to move up to elementary level this season. She dreams of becoming a professional dressage rider in the future. She brought Gucci, her 13-year-old mare, to the Academy.
* Why did you want to be on the show?
“I thought it would be an incredible opportunity (which it was!) and I knew I would learn so much valuable knowledge, which I could use to really grow and progress as a rider.”
* How did you feel when you found out you’d been selected?
“I was in total shock! When Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes rang me and told me she wanted me to take part in the show I was absolutely ecstatic! Words could not describe the feeling and I was so grateful that I had been chosen.”
* What was the best aspect about being on the show?
“There was so much that I loved about the show I’m not sure I could pick just one thing, but lessons with Pammy and Charlie Hutton have to be my favourite part. I also loved that we had a chance to learn about all the different aspects of having a horse and the fact that we had so much fun filming it.”
* What was your overall verdict on the experience?
“I honestly loved all of it, although it was very tiring it was one of the best experiences of my life. I would definitely recommend anyone wanting to learn more to take part in a show like this, and I most definitely would do it again.”
The Beauty Queen
Stephanie Hill, 21, from Hope Valley, Derbyshire
Stephanie is currently studying for a degree in radiography and oncology, and is also the reigning Miss South Yorkshire 2015. Stephanie brought with her ‘Piggles’, a former showjumper who has gone on to compete in working hunter classes with much success. Together they have also competed in cross-country, arena eventing and dressage to music.
* Why did you want to be on the show?
“The advertisements for the Blue Chip All Star Academy really promoted the amount of training the candidates would receive, and having the chance to train in various disciplines with the help of those at the top of their game was an opportunity too good to miss! I was really keen to share the incredible experience with people who are just as passionate about the equestrian sport and lifestyle as I am!”
* How did you feel when you found out you’d been selected?
“I was watching my e-mails and checking my phone obsessively, although I was not expecting to be chosen until the end of the deadline came I clung on to every scrap of hope I had! From the beginning I acknowledged I was up against riders with much more experience, more versatility and a higher standard of riding than me, but there was no harm in hoping and I had already enjoyed recording my introduction so much! When I got the call through I’m still surprised I managed to somewhat keep my cool, but as soon as I put the phone down the shrieking began! Piggles was beside himself when we went to the field to tell him; he didn’t understand what all the extra pats, hugs and carrots were for but he didn’t object!”
* What was the best aspect about being on the show?
“The experience was so wonderful I can’t really single out any one moment, but highlights certainly included the showing and turnout demonstration from Jayne Ross; I have had the privilege to compete against Jayne in HOYS qualifiers so knowing her tips and tricks was so beneficial, and seeing her demonstrate the ‘perfect show’ (and it was!) was so lovely. Just being surrounded by people who are so passionate about the sport and seeing them grow and develop in the short time we had together was so rewarding.”
* What was your overall verdict on the experience?
“The knowledge and experiences I have come away with from the Academy truly will serve me for the rest of my life, and I believe the bond the riders have even though we are scattered all over the country will certainly remain. I am just so grateful for the experience, and I think Piggles was too! I just wish I could do it all again.”
The Comeback Kid
Rhianydd Lee-Jones, 27, from Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan
Rhi has ridden all her life and competed internationally in the sport of polocrosse. When a hip injury ended her polocrosse career three years ago, it left her doubting whether she would continue riding at all – but then she discovered eventing and found she loved it. When her top horse picked up a foot abscess the day before filming began, Rhi chose to bring her new horse Bob, a former racehorse who had only finished his racing career two weeks previously!
* Why did you want to be on the show?
“Even though I have only been eventing for a few years after a career change from polocrosse, I have big ambitions. The show was a fantastic way for me to gain access to some of the best training in the world as well as meeting likeminded equestrians.”
* How did you feel when you found out you’d been selected?
“I couldn’t believe I had been selected as all the other candidates who submitted video entries were excellent. I told my family and swiftly cracked open the prosecco!”
* What was the best aspect about being on the show?
“I was devastated when my eventing mare Lekker went lame just before filming was due to start so my new horse Bob came with me, despite only being off the race track for two weeks! I was worried that this would hold us back at the Academy, but the bond I formed with Bob as a result was one of the best things about the experience. Also, meeting the other candidates and crew was great fun. We were all different ages and from all over the country, but our common love of horses meant we all became firm friends.”
* What was your overall verdict on the experience?
“I absolutely loved the experience and despite Bob being at the initial stages of his reschooling, we learnt so much together. It was such a rollercoaster of a ride and happened so quickly that I’m still in a bit in shock! The wonderful new gear in my tack room that we received from the sponsors is the only evidence that it all actually happened!”
The Late Convert
David Morris, 38, from blyth Northumberland
David works as a barber and lives in Northumberland with his wife and their two children. He came to riding later in life, and started competing a couple of years ago with his gelding Bam Bam. They do lots of unaffiliated dressage together, and have recently started competing in British Dressage competitions.
* Why did you want to be on the show?
“I wanted to be part of the Blue Chip All Star Academy to prove how determined I am to make it in the horse world, and to show the average person no matter where you come from or how much money you have you can make it if you work hard enough.”
* How did you feel when you found out you’d been selected?
“I was so excited – I felt like I couldn’t be any happier if I had won the lottery! I didn’t sleep for two days because I was too busy celebrating, I have never won anything in my life, and if I could have chosen anything to win it would have been to appear on Horse & Country TV with my horse Bam Bam.”
* What was the best aspect about being on the show?
“Everything! Riding a Grand Prix horse, making some fantastic friends, getting to know the lovely crew who looked after us well and especially meeting Pammy Hutton, Charlie Hutton, Jenny Rudall and especially Carl Hester! The massive learning aspect, all the free products, being pushed outside of my comfort zone and coming away feeling like a better and more confident rider, was all really special . Bam Bam, my horse, was amazing, never putting a foot wrong from the moment he left our yard to arriving back home afterwards.”
* What was your overall verdict on the experience?
“It was amazing, and I wish I could do it all again. It was mentally and physically tiring, but I very much enjoyed the challenge.”
The Viral Sensation
Kelly Jewell, 36, from Weston Super Mare, Somerset
Kelly competed in affiliated eventing, dressage and showjumping, until the birth of her son four years ago. She specialises in retraining ex-racehorses, and brought her 10-year-old ex-racer Dave to the camp. Kelly shot to fame earlier this year when she released an equestrian parody video set to Adele’s song Hello.
* Why did you want to be on the show?
“I wanted to be in the show as I saw it as a super opportunity. I like to try to experience different things so when I saw the Academy advertised a week before entries closed, I just had to apply.”
* How did you feel when you found out you’d been selected?
“I was over the moon – there were some excellent entries, and as I’m not usually someone who wins stuff I was also pretty surprised!
* What was the best aspect about being on the show?
“The best aspect for me was the people involved. Everyone had the same goal and did their best to achieve it – there was no bitchiness, no aggro, just a lot of people working together, although it was manic at times.”
* What was your overall verdict on the experience?
“The overall experience was unforgettable – great people, great location and I feel privileged to have been one of the first to be involved – next year, if it happens again, will no doubt be just as fabulous… But we were first and we are all so proud of that.”
The Ambitious Event Rider
Josh Noakes, 22, from Rugeley in Staffordshire
Josh combines his eventing career with a degree in architecture – although he hopes to make a living from working with horses full-time in the future. He has several horses, from young horses that he is producing for eventing up to his top horse, ‘Betty’, who has competed up to two-star level.
* Why did you want to be on the show?
“I wanted to be on the show because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Eventing is a difficult and competitive sport and I thought this would be a fantastic way for me to get my name out there, hopefully in a good way!”
* How did you feel when you found out you’d been selected?
“I was very pleasantly surprised! The fact that I was chosen made me so happy that people liked my video audition and that I gave a good first impression.”
* What was the best aspect about being on the show?
“Definitely having the opportunity to be coached by amazing people like Pammy and Charlie Hutton, as well as Ludwig Svennerstal, and meeting Carl Hester was brilliant.”
* What was your overall verdict on the experience?
“I had a fantastic time at the Blue Chip All Star Academy, It was quite surreal to begin with being filmed all the time, but once I got used to it I felt much more confident on camera and it really inspired me to go on and do more vlogging about my riding and competing. I met some incredible people and made lots of new friends – it was an unforgettable experience.”
The Model Rider
Lucy Robinson, 24, from Maidenhead in Berkshire
Lucy is a graduate of the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, and does some modelling for top rural brands. She brought her horse ‘Bagel’ to camp – they are competing at BE100 level and hope to move up to Novice this season.
*Why did you want to be on the show?
“As our partnership is relatively new, I thought it would be a great chance for me and Bagel to experience something a little different together! I also wanted the chance to challenge myself.”
* How did you feel when you found out you’d been selected?
“In shock! There were so many strong applicants I was in slight disbelief I was chosen – I mainly think I was picked because of handsome Merlin the dog, who starred in my video!”
* What was the best aspect about being on the show?
“There are too many aspects to choose from… Firstly, I really enjoyed the chance to train with Pammy and Charlie Hutton. I also absolutely loved meeting dressage legend Carl Hester, but overall I was really happy to have met seven new good friends.”
* What was your overall verdict on the experience?
“I loved every moment of it. Both me and Bagel had a fantastic time, we learnt lots together. Also, I proved that I was capable of pushing myself to achieve great things, just getting onto the show was the best achievement ever. I wish I could do it all over again!”
