Biography

It will be a first Badminton for British amateur rider Sharon Polding (50) who is based near Ashford in Kent. In 2019 with Badminton entry Findon Firecracker she was 18^th at Luhmuhlen and the previous year the pair completed Pau.

Sharon who works as a global account director for a telecommunications company, has ridden all her life and competed in the PC Championships in eventing and showjumping. In 1990, in order to fund her horses, she started working in London. Her first horse Abbygail purchased from the local riding school competed to 2* then became her first broodmare.

In 2013 with six-year-old Findon Firecracker she was individual champion in both show jumping and eventing at the National Riding Club championships and in 2017 the pair was a member of the Rural Riders British team.

After her daughter was born and still working full time, Sharon made the decision to keep just the one competition horse albeit she has still has two broodmares. One of her homebreds, Georgisaurous, is competing at advanced level with William Fox-Pitt.

In 2020 she was short-listed for the H&H amateur rider of the decade award.

In 2021 with Findon Firecracker Sharon was a member of the bronze medal winning team at the Veteran European show jumping championships in Le Mans

Sharon trains with Lizzel Winter, John Bunyon and Sammy Newbury

Sharon is married to Robert and the couple has a 10-year-old daughter.

Findon Firecracker owned by the rider is a British-Bred (SHBGB registered) 15-year-old chestnut mare. Bred by Scott Mclennan she is by Zenturio out of a mare by Mr Todd. She was acquired as a foal. In 2013 she was National Riding Club champion in both show jumping and eventing and in 2017 was a member of the Rural Riders British team. She is described as a ‘the fire-breathing dragon, real chestnut mare that loves to compete’.