A young equestrian from York has been selected to take part in trials to represent England in dressage.

Ava Fowler, 16, of Archbishop Holgate’s School, has travelled to the British Dressage Home Nations competition at Sparsholt, in Hampshire, to take a series of tests before a panel of judges from July 28 to 30 in a bid to qualify to represent England.

The competition will bring together under 25s from all four nations in the United Kingdom.

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Ava has only been training for dressage for three years and has already been selected to represent the North and East in the youth section for British Dressage.

Dressage is an equestrian sport, where the horses and riders perform a series of movements to judges.

York Press: Ava with Parker, jumping with Pony Club at the Sutton and Huby showAva with Parker, jumping with Pony Club at the Sutton and Huby show (Image: Ava Fowler)

Each movement is marked out of 10 by the panel to give a final score, and the rider with the highest mark wins.

Ava said: “I’ve been very determined over the last three years, and I’m very excited and fortunate to be taking part.

“We will ride in circles and the judges will be looking at the accuracy of the rider, how the rider's position influences the horse, the harmony between the horse and rider, and the elegance of movements.

“I like the perfectionism of dressage, and I really enjoy the special bond you develop with the animals.”

Ava has been riding at the Sinnington Pony Club, in the North York Moors national park, since she was six.

“They helped me to build my knowledge and confidence,” she said, but as she grew older, she kept growing out of the ponies.

York Press: Ava, age 7, on her first ride, with Pete the ponyAva, age 7, on her first ride, with Pete the pony (Image: Ava Fowler)

She went on to ride horses with Lilling Hall farm, in Sheriff Hutton, and she now competes with 13 year old Hanoverian Chestnut Mare, Scarlet Fire, and has began competing with her daughter, Midnight Masquerade, who is six.

Ava said: “Scarlet and Midnight both have kind characters, and I’m the only one who rides them, so we’ve been able to form a close bond.

“When I was 10, Midnight was born and she was the first foal I’ve watched being born, which was really exciting!”

Ava has travelled to Hampshire with her family friend Olwyn Coope, who breeds Hanoverian horses and has been best friends with her grandma for 50 years.