Adversities can only act as a setback if we let them. This is a lesson that any athlete, including equestrian athletes, has to learn from a young age. Tremendously, this 7-year-old equestrian from Grangemouth has this ideology down pat. Recently, Emily Rose O’Donnell achieved a major feat in the world of equestrian sports even after facing heartbreaking adversity.
O’Donnell has made her mother and all her loved ones proud by performing at a top-notch level in equestrian competitions. While she might be miniature in stature and age, O’Donnell is winning hearts left, right, and center with her prowess in horse riding and horse racing.
7-year-old equestrian defeats obstacles to become a star
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Emily Rose O’Donnell has paved the way for herself to be a contestant for the Horse of the Year qualifier at the prestigious Royal Highland Show next month in Edinburgh. The mini-equestrian achieved the feat on her pony Newoak Bamalan. O’Donnell has only been training with her current pony, for a mere month. Before she met her equine companion, a tragedy befell the young star, one that no horse-lover wants to go through.
Emily’s mother, Chantelle, told Falkirk Herald, “Emily actually lost her best pony at the tail end of last year. She got a bad injury and required surgery on Christmas Day so we haven’t had her available since then.” Parting with her best friend was not an easy task, but with the support of her family, O’Donnell persevered. After traveling up to 20 hours, Emily’s mother finally got the horse the little equestrian would be competing on next- Newoak Bamalan.
O’Donnell’s equestrian prowess needs to be celebrated. The 7-year-old has only done four shows, but in those, she has qualified for the nationals, an achievement her mother is very proud of her. Chantelle was even more proud of the fact that her daughter has done it without any backing or sponsors; just the mother and daughter pair against the world. Chantelle explained, “It isn’t just a case of things being handed to her in life. She has had to work her socks off to get to this point. She is sharing all of the responsibility.” With a zeal like this, there is no doubt that O’Donnell will succeed at the Royal Highland Show.
The historic Royal Highland Show
The Royal Highland Show, 2023 will be the 181st of its kind to be held in Scotland at the Ingliston showground from 22nd to 25th June 2023. The occasion is the best one to showcase the food, farming, and rural life of Scotland. The Show has everything that a person can find entertaining, from livestock displays to showcasing technical innovations related to agriculture and even various equestrian competitions.
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The Royal Highland Show is a common destination for royals, with Queen Elizabeth II herself visiting the show three times, in 1960, 1984, and 2009. Even before the official establishment of the Ingliston showground, the Show was organized in various places in the 1800s. As its popularity increased, it was realized that it needs a permanent place of its own. Hence, leading to the construction of the Ingliston site.
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Safe to say, the Grangemouth community will be keen to see their 7-year-old equestrian star stepping into big shoes.
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