Sophia Kelly is an 18 year old International Show Jumper originally from Scotland. However Sophia wasn’t based in the UK her whole life and from 2014-2020 she lived in both Finland and Sweden. Sophia purchased her ALX 21 s in July 2021 and was one of our first valued customers of our new 2021 range! Not being from a horse family background, it was in Finland she got her first horse in 2016, Königs Kapris. 

 

“She was the most wonderful mare to learn from and we progressed quite rapidly, going from competing at 70cm to 120cm in just 6 months”

 

By September 2017 Sophia had her first big result winning bronze in the Finnish Children Horse Championships which was followed by a gold medal in the indoor championships in November of the same year. In 2018 Sophia moved to Sweden where she found the circuit to be tougher and more competitive, this allowed her to step her game up and grow as a rider.

 

“ I had decided to take a gap year from June 2020 before going to University and focus on competing my horses in Europe. Due to Covid that didn’t quite go to plan but I did manage to compete at the Vilamoura Champions tour before moving back to the UK in November 2020”

 

Sophia currently has a string that comprises of 3 horses. She has Rio Bravo Z ( Rio) whom they purchased in April of 2020 when he was just 7. Since moving to the UK, the partnership have continued to grow together and progress all the way to 2* GP. He is one of those ‘once in a lifetime horses’ Sophia says. Whilst at the Vilamoura Champions Tour at the end of 2020  Sophia added another to her string, this was a more experienced horse to help teach her the ropes of bigger classes. Newton Pacific (Rocky) is now out competing in 3* and 4* classes. More recently the latest addition is a 5yo mare, Ashdale Allstar (Amira) who joined the team in July! 

 

In September Sophia will start at the University of Warwick to study History & Politics. We wish her the best of luck with her studies and competitions.

​

“Many say that it can be a challenge to balance studies and horses, especially whilst striving to continuously improve and aim high. I believe that if you are truly committed you can achieve anything”

​

Show jumping is such a great inclusive sport where you get the chance to compete against your idols. I am incredibly lucky to have 3 horses which allow me to do this and look forward to exploring different venues all around the UK and abroad in our super ALX horse truck!

 

• 12th 2* 1.40m Grand Prix at Chepstow 2021

• Clear 2* 1.40m at Bolesworth 2020

• 9th National 1.30m Championship at Stoneleigh 2021

• 5th 1* 1.35m at Bolesworth 2021

• 2nd 1.30m at Onley

• 1st 1.35m at Onley

• Placed in 3* 130 accumulator in Vilamoura 2020

• Qualified for 7yo championship at Falsterbo 2020 

• Placed in Sweden’s 7-star tour 2019 

• Gold medallist Finnish Children Indoor Champion 2017 

• Bronze medallist Finnish Children Outdoors 2017