Young Showjumper Amy McDougall Wins NAF Shining Star Award

Fourteen year-old Amy McDougall from Yardley Wood, Birmingham was delighted to learn that she has won the NAF Shining Star Award for March 2015, which recognises those British Showjumping members that have shown good development within their Junior Academy.

Amy is a member of the Hereford & Worcester Junior Academy and she was nominated for the award by Lead Coach Hannah Jackson “Amy is a valuable member of the Junior Academy. She always attends the training sessions with great enthusiasm and her attitude to the sessions means that she is always eager to learn and improve.

“Amy is a lovely person to work with and is a great part of the academy team. During the past year, her riding and training has come on so much and she is always striving to do better.”

Since joining British Showjumping back in 2010, Amy has enjoyed riding a number of different ponies. One of her current rides is Barr Na Ruby and with this pony, she has qualified for both the Pony British Novice and Pony Discovery Second Rounds. Her other pony, West End Boy, is also showing great progression, something that Amy puts down to the support and training that she has received  as part of being within a Junior Academy.

“I joined the Junior Academy because of the fantastic training opportunities available to me and the sessions have really helped me”, said Amy. “I am also working through the NAF Pony Five Star Performance Awards Programme and am currently working towards my 2*.

“I am really happy to have won the NAF Shining Star Award and was shocked to hear that I’d not only been nominated, but was a winner! I really enjoy being a part of the Junior Academy and I’ve made lots of lovely friends.”

As part of her winner’s prize, Amy will receive some NAF equine supplements to use alongside the products she currently uses which include Biotin Plus for the maintenance of healthy hooves, Respirator for the nutritional support of the respiratory system and Superflex for her ponies’ joints.

Griselda Handy, Brand Manager for NAF, commented “Amy has proven to be a valuable member of her academy by delivering enthusiasm in each training session and performing with such determination during her competitions. To NAF, this sounds like a great combination and a real recipe for success and a super Shining Star!”