Amelia Moncrieff, also known as Milly is a 13 year old FEI pony dressage rider based in North Yorkshire, riding my first international for Team GB at Hickstead in July 2015 and a member of BYRDS since 2011. She has produced her pony DST Don’t Panic (an 8 year old German Reitpony by FS Don’t Worry) from a green 4 year old to a high scoring International FEI pony with the help from her trainer and mum Karen Moncrieff. Milly also trains 6 weekly with Sonia Webster-Baines trainer to a number of European riders including the 2014 European FEI pony individual bronze medalist. Her wider support team includes her dad as lorry driver, groom and photographer; her fantastic sponsors and family. Milly is very fortunate to have such a willing support team that are always helping her achieve the next step in her journey.
Her first pony was a 12hh lead rein pony called Major Mouse, a show pony with a little attitude, she enjoyed pony club activities and started to take an interest in dressage, unaffiliated at local riding club competitions, in 2011 the pair joined BYRDS and their adventure in dressage began representing the Northern region at the BYRDS Inter-Regionals and qualifying for the Pet Plans at Prelim. The following year they were part of the winning BYRDS Inter Regional team and became the BD Northern Region Fledgling Champion, in addition to qualifying for both the Prelim and Novice Pet Plans. Sadly though this year was the year Amelia said goodbye to Major Mouse, after four fabulous years together, going onto a new family at the end of the year. Taking him from lead rein to affiliated elementary dressage in less than 3 years, schooling him herself.
DST Don’t Panic aka Ollie began his dressage career when he joined Team Moncrieff as a four year old in November 2012. By the famous German Reitpony FS Don’t Worry and Welsh dam Balfour Blodwin, a pony with huge potential but no experience.
She has trained Ollie, from a green inexperienced pony that had never competed in a dressage arena to an international FEI pony herself. Whilst a huge challenge as Carl Hester says ‘Your only a true rider when you’ve ridden and produced a horse/pony through all the levels’.
In their first year together they represented the Northern region at the BYRDS Keysoe Inter-Regionals becoming Fledgling Champions; the Sheepgate U25’s Championships becoming the U25 Bailey Haylage Preliminary National Champions; Keysoe U25 Prelim Champions, a fantastic first year together.
In the following years Milly continued to develop their partnership and in 2014 they were awarded a place on the GB Pony Progress Squad, as one of the youngest rider/ pony combinations.
In 2015, they made their Premier League debut at FEI Pony, at Myerscough finishing 4th on 67.67%; Keysoe 3rd on 68.27%. In July she was awarded with her first Team GB call up for the Hickstead CDI, a fantastic experience for both pony and rider.
In 2016, the pair won a wild card selection to the BD Winter Championships at Elementary Open Music Freestyle finishing on a score of 68.33% in a very closely fought class. The first Premier League of the year saw the pair finish 4th in the Pony Team Test with 67.67% and 2nd in the Pony Individual Test with 68.90%. Throughout the rest of year they have been improving and posting consistent mid-high 60’s results and have gained many top ten placings, like in the Medium championship class at Sheepgate that was sponsored by Wolds Exclusive Bling where they achieved 68.3% to come 7th, placed above many big names .
They now continue to work towards competing in the Premier Leagues next season and further Team GB selections.
What Milly says about WEB
The revelation headpiece has been a real success for Ollie & I. He is taking the contact much more forward and getting less comments from the judges about his poll being too low. I also love the revelation head piece because I think it distributes the pressure over the poll a lot more evenly so it is much more comfortable for Ollie to work with. Not only does it work amazingly but it looks amazing on Ollie, with its technical and elegant shape. Overall the revelation head piece has been a total success for Ollie & I and we can’t thank you enough for sending it to us!.
Milly Moncrieff