Meet the All Stars

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.

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.

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!

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.

The viral sensation

Kelly Jewell, 36, from Weston Super Mare, Somerset
Kelly competed in affiliated eventing, dressage 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.

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.

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.

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.