A Brecon carriage driver is celebrating a great start to the 2024 competition season, with a win of the Cones Cup at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Para-Equestrian Emily Ham, 33, competed with her sporty veteran chestnut Welsh Section D cob, Alfie.

The pair took part in their first Royal Windsor Horse Show in May in the driving class for para equestrians. Despite the wet weather, Emily was delighted to win and to be presented with her awards by Her Royal Highness, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.

On May 19 the pair went back to Windsor Park to take part in the National Gateway Allcomers qualifier and, after a good dressage and a double clear in the cones driving, completed four fast obstacles to take the class win and Best Score of the Day. They can now compete at the National Championships in September.

Pony Alfie, at 23 years old, shows no sign of slowing down. Last summer they were Certius National Driving Champions and won a Bronze medal at the World Para Driving Championships.

Emily is training hard to further improve her skills and is aiming for Team GBR for the next World Championships in August 2025 in Germany. The team is made up of three members and Emily made history last year by being the first Welsh para driver to be selected.

Emily said. "I've been able to have additional training this season with Team GBR coach Robert Buck, using schoolmaster FEI ponies, and have been working on skills for driving the advanced dressage test. I still find this an immense challenge but am getting much more confident and making progress that I could not have imagined this time last year.

“I am incredibly grateful to the Douglas Bader Foundation for their support. Their training grant is making a real difference in my development as a driver with disabilities competing on the national circuit. This is a wonderful organisation and I hope to do their generosity justice in the coming national events."

Emily has a GoFundMe to help support her journey.