Having successfully competed in dressage, showjumping, cross country and polo (for which her team won the National Schools and Universities Polo Association finals!), Inèz Schilbach then set herself the challenge of military riding!
The 13 year old, who was introduced to riding as a toddler, recently competed with the Army Cadet’s Chobham Detachment in a Military Equitation Competition held at Royal Windsor.
Military Equitation involves riding with one hand and sitting in the correct military position while managing formation with horses, in military tack. The cadets were competing under the instruction of a former Lt Colonel of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment while the Judge, formerly from the Kings Troop, assessed them for their military bearing.
Inèz was granted special dispensation to compete at such a young age, and was up against the Army Cadet Force, Combined Cadet Force and Royal Air Force Cadets from military detachments in Portsmouth, Dover and across the South of England. The horses, which are also used to escort the Lord and Lady Mayoress at the Lord Mayors Show in London each year, were randomly drawn for each rider.
In spite of being one of the youngest competitors and having only been military riding for seven months, she was awarded third place!
“We had five minutes to familiarise ourselves with the horses and warm up, meet the other cadets we would be riding alongside and then we started the competition” explained Inèz, adding that the judges were looking for the cadet's affinity with their horse and the control and effectiveness of their riding - which included cantering within formation.
Inèz is very keen to continue with military equitation, and has future ambitions – “What I really want to do, maybe when I am a bit older, is the Lord Mayor’s Parade on horseback” and looking further to the future, she declared: “It’s definitely a military career for me!”
.png)
