CARA SHARDLOW, from Beckside Livery Stables, near Whitby, has been selected as one of six people across the country to be an ambassador for Horslyx, a lick for horses containing vitamins, minerals and trace elements for a well-balanced diet.

As an ambassador, provisionally Cara will receive clothing, a year’s supply of Horslyx and other promotional goods for two of her horses, along with the support of promoting Cara and horses through advertising their products.

Cara originally started out riding at British Eventing at intermediate and CCI* level, but due to horse injuries and finances she switched to dressage about four years ago, now only doing British Eventing as a hobby.

She first got the bug for dressage after taking four months out from working at event rider Paddy Muir’s yard and went as a working pupil to Olympic dressage rider Laura Fry’s, at Aike, near Beverley.

Cara said: “Laura was very inspiring and allowed me to ride some of her horses and gain a feel for the more-advanced movements.”

Cara has run her own livery yard since 1999 after finishing her HND and BHS AI at Bishop Burton College.

Three years ago Cara took her equine sports massage qualifications with Mary Bromiley, so with teaching, running the yard and competing, life is quite busy for Cara.

The current competition horses that Cara will be running under the Horslyx flag are Detonator II, an eight-year-old gelding by Demonstrator, just starting to compete at advanced medium. He was bought as a newly broken three-year-old and has had some great successes.

For the last three years he has been selected to compete for England and the Northern region at the British Dressage Inter Regionals and home internationals.

In 2012, he was individual champion at the inter regionals and a member of the winning team. Last year he became the medium champion at the Home International and won a trophy for the highest-scoring northern horse.

In 2013 he was reserve champion at the BD winter national championships area festival final and also won the area festival at medium level.

Detonator has a busy year ahead with the BD winter regionals at Bishop Burton College, the BD winter national championships in April and they are busy trying to gain qualification for the summer regionals and for team selection.

Cara is also running Rhythmic Times, a home-bred 15-year-old gelding by Va Tout, competing at advanced level.

For the last two years he has been selected to compete for the northern region at the inter regionals, gaining top 10 placings. He was off injured for most of 2013 but is back competing and will contest the winter regionals as well.

Sandonista is a rising four-year-old gelding by Sarkozy. He was bought as a yearling and is being broken.

Cara is hoping he will follow in Detonator’s footsteps. There are also two homebreds, rising five-yearolds.

Cara said: “I am so excited about 2014 after the success with some lovely horses and the support of Horslyx. One other small thing this year is my marriage to Brian Reed in April.”