The 13-year-old rider from Lynsted on winter training and his ambitions to qualify for Horse of the Year

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Will Lewis, I’m 13 and I live in Lynsted. I go to The Archbishop’s School in Canterbury, where I am in Year 9. My dad is a farmer and my mum is a health and social care worker. I have one brother, Jack, who is at university and is a hockey player.

Tell us about your showjumping

I first started riding when I was six, riding my brother’s very hairy Shetland pony, and was hooked straightaway.

My Mum is a qualified equestrian coach so she taught me from the beginning and I quickly progressed to joining the pony club, then competing and hunting.

I now specialise in showjumping and we are lucky enough to own Proud Melody, a 148cm grey gelding, and together we are rising through the ranks of BSJA showjumping. I have successfully qualified for the major Blue Chip Championships 2015 to be held at Hartbury Arena Gloucestershire. It is one step closer to achieving my dream of qualifying to ride at Horse of the Year as a Junior Showjumper.

I train every day and in the winter I ride early before school as it is dark when I get home and I have to make do without an arena or floodlights, so it can be hard at this time of year. It is much easier in the summer, but we manage somehow!

What are your future ambitions?

My ambition as a Junior showjumper is to qualify for Horse of the Year with Proud Melody which is a really big ask as so few achieve this, but I believe we can do it if I keep training and working hard.

I have been awarded a training bursary by Swale Youth Development Fund in recognition of my recent successes with Proud Melody and this will help enormously with our future ambitions.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I would love to continue as a senior showjumper and turn professional.

What’s best about living in Kent?

I love the countryside in Kent and with my Dad being a farmer I get to benefit a great deal from the open marshes, wildlife and fresh air every day.

Any other hobbies and interests?

I don’t get much time for other hobbies as my horses take up so much of my time, which can be tough sometimes. But I do really enjoy cooking and when I can spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

The Great British Bake off is a favourite programme of mine.

What was the last book you read?

Walking Home: My Family, and Other Rambles, by Clare Balding n