Young eventer Storm Straker will have a lot to live up to when she saddles up at Aske Horse Trials. The family "stable" includes many prominent equestrians, who have competed at the highest level.

Fortunately, as well as inheriting their riding prowess, Storm has also inherited their courage and determination and is relishing the challenge.

The Zetland Hunt was the original organiser of the trials at Aske Hall, near Richmond, and have helped it to become a firm favourite with local riders including Olympic medallists Karen Dixon, from Wycliffe – Storm's aunt – and North Yorkshire's Nicola Wilson. Over the years the likes of fellow Olympians Caroline Powell, Oliver Townend, Zara Phillips and Clayton Fredericks have all competed there. It's also a well regarded springboard for up and coming talent, as well as providing a great experience for keen amateur riders.

Storm lives near Richmond, so Aske is on local turf, and she will compete in the Under 21 category at the trials. "I will probably ride my two horses, Well Designed and William Wordsworth (owned by Michelle Clough)," says the 16-year-old. "I competed in the Junior Europeans at Bishop Burton last year on Well Designed (Versace). He is 15.2 and a dark bay with the most chilled-out attitude, Dad has always said if I stopped riding we wouldn't sell him because we all love him far too much. I have been riding him for two years now and we have had him since he was four."

Storm's partnership with her other horse is much newer. "William Wordsworth (Yam) came over from Australia in January so I have only been riding him for a couple of months, although we are really becoming a partnership," she says. Not fazed by the height or difficulty of the jumps, Storm's favourite eventing discipline is the cross-country – "you get a great adrenaline rush" – and she also loves show jumping. "Dressage is definitely my weakest element, although I do enjoy learning new tricks. You have to put a lot of time and practice in."

A boarder at Sedbergh, in Cumbria, Storm has a good back-up team to ensure her horses stay in top condition, foremost of whom is groom Rhona. "She worked for granny (Elaine Straker, a well-known figure in the equestrian world) and helped Karen when she was competing at the highest level. I'm away at school most of the time and wouldn't be able to keep up their fitness without her," says Storm.

Father Nick, a successful team chaser and joint organiser of the Aske Horse Trials, is also a big part of Team Storm. "He has also competed at the highest level," she says. "He walks the courses with me and is always there to see me off at the cross-country. Mum is not the most horsey, but she also plays a massive part in my riding. She helps with everything at home on the yard while I'm at school and she is always there to drive me to the competitions, even though she has plenty of other things she could be doing."

But the star in this horsey family, and the one who spurs her on to greater things, is her aunt Karen Dixon. "I use her as a role model for my (hopefully) future success in eventing," says Storm. "She has won two medals at the Olympics and World Championships and I'm very proud to say that I am related to her."

Storm reckons she was about six months old when she first got on a horse. Her first pony was a borrowed black Shetland called Chucky. Now the horses, and the fences, are much bigger, but Storm is not deterred. "I have had nasty falls, although the nastiest was not while I was eventing, but out hunting, cantering along the flat on the outside of the crop field when I hit a bog and ended up with bad concussion," she says. "Other than that I have been fairly lucky with accidents – touch wood – although I seem to be quite prone to accidents when I'm on two feet!"

Although she's getting to an age when, for many teenagers, socialising and "having a good time" begin to take precedence, Storm is adamant about where her priorities lie. "Life is about priorities and I prioritise my riding over my social life," she says. "My ultimate aim with my riding is to top what my aunt has done and get a gold medal at the Olympics."

The other competitors had better look out, then. There's a Storm blowing in...

Aske Horse Trials, July 4 and 5; September 25-27

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