Holly Smith, British team showjumper
Holly Smith was born in Leicestershire, into a very sporting family. Her mother, a keen horsewoman, led Holly to pursue her lifelong passion with horses.
She spent her early days as a member of the South Trent Pony Club where she had endless success in Show Jumping and Eventing. She produced many ponies who went on to be sold to fund her ever increasing love for competing.
Holly’s love for riding at speed stemmed from many hours in the hunting field as a child. When not competing, Holly likes to take her daughter Rosie to local shows and to this day, she can be seen out with her family supporting ‘The Readyfield Bloodhounds’.
After school, Holly took a gap year where she pursued her dream to ride full time. This was the start of her passion for producing top quality competition horses and where her career began.
It was when Holly and her husband Graham found Dougie Douglas at Goresbridge sales, when Holly was 20-years-old, that her career really started to take off. She hit the world stage at the age of 25, with Dougie Douglas. They represented Great Britain in their first senior Nations Cup Teams together and today, many years later, Holly is a regular and well-respected member of Team GB.
Now a mother herself, Holly juggles family life with her busy schedule away competing. Her daughter Rosie is a keen competitor and looks to be following in her mother’s footsteps.
Watch this space…