A HASLEMERE junior showjumper is riding high after coming sixth in the 2016 Horse of the Year Show on her Connemara stallion Kilcurry Dawn. Serena Kullich was already celebrating being selected for the England Under 16 team, in July, and winning a silver medal for her country, when she became one of only 30 out of more than 20,000 hopefuls to have made to the Horse of the Year Show, which attracted an audience of 60,000 at Birmingham’s Indoor Arena, in the first week of October. She as thrilled by her success against stiff opposition in the Squibb Group Pony Foxhunter Championship class. “What an incredible experience,” she said. “I can't believe I came sixth. It’s a dream come true. “My dream was to compete at the Horse of the Year Show and showjump for England, I never thought either would happen and they have both come true. “I think it’s a mixture of hard work and never giving up. I have learned you can achieve more than you think you are capable of if you just keep on going. My partnership with my pony is vital, if he has confidence in me then he will jump anything for me.” Serena will now be focussed on her GSCEs until next summer, after which she will move into competing on horses seriously and is aiming to be selected for the GB Junior Team.