SWINDON eventer Anna Horton is pleasantly surprised after being announced in the provisional long list for the FEI Young Rider European Championships.

The 19-year-old rider, from Coate Water, has been chosen as one of the nine eventers by the selectors for the British Young Rider squad along with her horse Barones II.

The championships will take place in Strzegom, Poland, at the end of August and the Hartpury College student is pleased with the recognition.

“It was a pleasant surprise, but it had been an aim of ours,” said Horton.

“I would say I am an amateur (eventer), but I would love to make a full-time career of - it is a passion of mine.

“It is such an honour for them to believe that I could be on the team because, from my point of view, most of the squad are doing it full time, whereas I am still going to university and doing a degree and I am working at a school so there is a lot going on.”

Horton is currently at Hartpury College, in Gloucester, studying for a foundation degree in Sports Coaching, where she is getting coaching in fitness, nutrition and all aspects of the sport.

She got into the sport at a young age through her grandad, racehorse trainer John Horton, and believes her horse, Barones, who was produced by Neil Spratt, has a big future.

However, her season got off to a bad start when the pair had a fall at an event at Aldan, Dorset.

The horse recovered well and they secured an impressive fourth place at the Bicton Arena international and a fifth place at the South of England Open Intermediate under 21 in April to put her in contention for a call up.

Now Horton, who went to school at St John’s in Marlborough, has her sights on progressing in the sport.

“I fell off my good horse Barones but she came back from the fall well and I hadn’t lost too much confidence. The results then started picking up again,” she said.

“I would say she hasn’t really got a weak phase, which is why I say she is quite a good team horse because she is reliable in everything.

“I would love to be selected for the team but whether we will go this year or not it is out of our control.

“I would love to go and complete my first three star on her but it all depends if she goes to the Europeans or not.

“If she doesn’t then I would love to go to Blenheim eight and nine-year-olds, that would be my aim with her and get a few more qualifications under my belt and move up the levels.

“It is quite rewarding that the hard work and getting up at silly hours to get everything done is paying off and my team at home have been really helpful.”