There was an emotional victory for Amelia Stevens and her remarkable 25-year-old pony Glenives Princess Sylvia, who claimed the in-hand supreme championship at the SEIB Search for a Star Championships at Your Horse Live today (6 November).

For Amelia, the result was particularly special because it gave her the opportunity to showcase a much-loved pony who continues to thrive well into her veteran years.

“I’m extremely proud of her for going so well at 25,” said Amelia, who took the in-hand veteran championship earlier in the day. “It’s incredible, and to let everyone else see it and for her to just keep going at this age is really, really enjoyable.”

The pair had arrived at the championships with no expectations of winning, particularly given the quality of the opposition in the veteran section.

Amelia admitted she had anticipated a competitive class and was delighted to come away with the in-hand veteran title. To then progress through the championships and take the in-hand supreme was beyond anything she had imagined.

“Not at all,” she said when asked whether she had dared to dream of such success. “I knew there were going to be some lovely veterans in our class, so to win that and then come in and take overall in-hand was something quite magical.”

Asked what ‘Sylvie’ means to her, Amelia said: “The absolute world. She owes me nothing. She’s brought me countless amazing memories, and she’s done so much with me that I can never repay.”

The Warwickshire-based rider has owned Sylvie for 10 years, having bought her following a series of nasty falls and a deterioration in her health owing to juvenile arthritis.  

“We bought her as a confidence-giver,” said Amelia. “She brought my confidence back. She’s a once-in-a-lifetime pony and I feel very lucky to have her.” 

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