Posted: 18th March 2021 | Back to news feed
Jamaican Event Rider Lydia Heywood to Showcase Her Skills at HorseFest
Jamaican event rider, Lydia Heywood is well known for her determination to succeed in the sport of eventing but is also highly regarded for the mentoring and time she brings to Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, London.
One of the chosen charities for HorseFest, the new summer festival for horse lovers to be held at held at Weston Park in Shropshire, July 23 to 25, Lydia will be joining a group of young people from the club while also showcasing her skills as a trainer and rider at the event.
Photo: Lydia Heywood in action. Photograph courtesy ofIain B Images
Lydia will be taking part in the interactive rider problem solving workshops, hold a talk in the main talks venue about creating a career with horses, while also providing advice on producing the young horse ready for eventing.
Proud to wear the Jamaican colours, Lydia is the only Caribbean representing her country in the sport and also works hard to promote diversity and inclusion in the equestrian world.
Lydia has been a mentor at Ebony Horse Club for three years and visits as regularly as she can to teach members. Her work with mentees at the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, has allowed her message of diversity in equestrian sports to have a positive impact in an urban environment.
Based near Cheltenham, Lydia competes at Intermediate and 2* level on self-produced horses and is determined to reach the top of her chosen sport while helping others along the way.
Said Lydia: “I am really excited to be attending HorseFest to talk about my career so far, being a mentor at Ebony Horse Club and passing on the knowledge I have gained producing young event horses.”
Without doubt Lydia has the determination to ride for Jamaica at Olympic level, if funds and the right horse power can be found, but she is also constantly mindful of giving back to a sport and an industry that has given her so much already.
At age 11, Lydia followed in her mother's footsteps and started riding at her local riding school. Lydia’s passion for adrenaline ignited her love of cross-country and she has grown to enjoy the complexity of dressage but lives for jumping. She hasn’t looked back after starting eventing in 2012.
Diversity in equestrian sport has always excited Lydia, and her aim is to compete at the Olympics herself whilst also encouraging other developing nations to follow in her footsteps.
Lydia’s missions led her to establish the Cool Ridings Foundation which ensures that committed young riders looking to represent developing nations have support via a relatable point of contact in the industry. Cool Ridings champion underrepresented equestrians and extend exciting opportunities from employment to aligning with partner brands.
To book your tickets visit www.horsefest.org
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