Ria Bejko-Cowlbeck

This months rider of the month is seventeen-year-old Ria Bejko-Cowlbeck, who triumphed at her very first affiliated dressage competition at Norton Heath Equestrian Centre on the 23rd September.

Riding her five-year-old gelding Argantimes, the pair made their affiliated debut in style. Following a second place in the prelim eighteen, she went on to take the top spot in the novice thirty-eight – not bad for their first ever affiliated show!

Ria has been riding since she was ‘chucked on’ a shetland pony by her mum at just eighteen-months old! Since then, she has had around four ponies who are now all at her yard in Orsett, and now has her current ride Argantimes – stable name ‘Ziggy.’

She brought him in October 2008 as an unbacked three-year-old; and in March 2009, sent him away to be backed. Since then he has come on leaps and bounds, even qualifying for the Trailblazers Dressage Final earlier on in the year.

“We went up to Stoneleigh for the experience more than anything, and were thrilled to get placed in all our classes!” said Ria, adding that they even got through to the prelim championships.

Ria hasn’t always focused on dressage, and did ‘a bit of everything’ with her previous pony, Charlie including pony club activities.
“Mum told me to concentrate on my flatwork and that’s what I did,” said Ria, who works as a groom for dressage rider Simone Ward. After she left school, she went to college but didn’t enjoy it, realising that she wanted to work full time with horses. Since leaving Ria applied for a position on Simone’s yard – and got the job, she has now worked for the dressage rider for six months and ‘absolutely loves it!’

Ria is currently competing Ziggy at prelim and novice level, and working up to elementary level at home. Ria, who lives in Little Thurrock, is hoping to qualify for the Novice Winter Regionals with Ziggy, and is in fact already half-way there following her win.
Good luck for the rest of the season Ria!