From Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF)

Polly Serpell is the first equestrian to represent the Cayman Islands at the Youth Olympics this month in Nanjing, China. Polly’s progress can be followed on CIEF’s Facebook page.

Here follows an interview with Polly before she left for the games:

1 What first attracted you to horse riding as a sport when you began riding at 6?

After after Hurricane Ivan my family and I lived in the UK for a little while and my Mum introduced me and my sister to a small riding school in her village, to distract us from being away from home. I have loved riding ever since.

2 What do you enjoy most about your sport?

I enjoy the close teamwork involved in riding. Unlike many sports it involves two minds and two bodies, if you and your horse are in sync, nothing can beat that feeling.

3 What does a typical training day look like for you?

I usually wake up at 6:15 AM and head to the barn for lessons and riding until 11am. Afterwards, I either head to the gym or relax for a few hours before returning the the barn at 4 PM, when it is cooler, for a lesson or to ride more horses.

4 Which famous athlete inspires you most?

Reed Kessler- she was the youngest equestrian ever to compete in the Olympic Games at the age of 18.

5 Where have you been training in preparation for YOG?

I have been training quite intensively since my GCSE exams with my coach, Mary Alberga, at the Cayman Equestrian Centre. Many of my friends have lent their horses for me to gain as much borrowed horse experience as possible.

I have also had the opportunity to travel to the US on various occasions to gain competition experience.

6 How did you qualify for YOG?

To qualify for YOG I travelled to Puerto Rico to compete in the FEI Category A competition. In order to qualify I had to complete my first round of the competition at 1.20M with 8 faults or less.

7 Will your horse be flying to China with you?

No. The event in China is a borrowed horse competition. All riders will draw a horse to ride, so there is also an element of luck in the event. I am excited to meet the horse who will be competing with me.

8 What is the form of the competition in the equestrian section at YOG?

At YOG I will have 3 days training on the horse I draw before competing in the two day individual event. There is a second event where I will be teamed up with 4 other riders and we will all compete to obtain a team score. The team with the fewest penalties (faults) and the fastest time will win.

We will be jumping a course of jumps set at between 1.20M and 1.30M

9 What are you looking forward to most about YOG?

I am very exited to meet the other athletes competing at YOG and watch other sporting events. China will be a very different experience and I am looking forward to it, for a special sporting and a cultural experience.

10 What advice would you give to anyone interested in getting involved in equestrian sports?

Be prepared to work hard and be very committed for many hours a week, but also be prepared to have a very rewarding experience and make life long human and animal friends.

IMAGES: CIEF