RICHMOND-based law student Emma Gray and her own Grey Garth ended their first dressage season together on a high.

The pair secured the Retraining of Racehorses Prelim Dressage Championship title at Vale View Equestrian Centre, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, with an impressive score of 75.9 per cent.

Emma took on the five-year-old thoroughbred Grey Garth from Middleham- based racehorse trainer James Bethell following the end of his racing career in February 2012.

In a short space of time they have achieved some very encouraging results in both eventing and dressage.

Grey Garth finished second in the Retraining of Racehorses section in his first British Eventing event at Richmond Horse Trials. Stepping up to BE100. he finished in the top twn in both of his subsequent outings.

However, their eventing season was cut short due to bad weather.

They turned their attention to pure dressage and with the help of Catterick-based trainer Melissa Chapman, they went on to gain over 30 BD points and qualify for the Petplan Area Festival Prelim Championship.

Emma said: “I could never have imagined achieving such a lot in such a short space of time.

“Grey Garth has surpassed everyone’s expectations, I was thrilled with our win at Vale View as we had been working hard in preparation for it and I really wanted to finish on a high.

We are looking forward to next season already”.