For many youngsters, the thought of competing against people potentially more than twice your age seems a daunting one - but not so much for Eliza Cooper!

The seven-year-old has already made quite the impression in the showjumping world and received an accolade at last Tuesday’s British Showjumping Awards Ball in Solihull after being the highest-placed member in the KBIS British Equestrian Insurance Club South East Junior 60cm League with her pony Bronheulog Mischief.

Aunt Rachel Wright runs Dover’s Owl House Stables in Station Road, St Margaret’s at Cliffe, alongside Eliza’s mum Beanie Cooper and Eliza’s grandmother, Louise.

Rachel said: “She’s grown up learning to ride at the riding school and recently has got into showjumping.

“Eliza managed to secure a place at the Club National Finals. At the Club Finals Championships, she was placed seventh and that made her the highest-placed junior in the south east for that class.

“We’re really proud of her. She’s done a few Finals this year, including the Sunshine Tour Championship where she was fourth at Hickstead.

“She’s doing really well.

“Eliza’s competing against children up to the ages of 16 so, to be just seven-years-old, coming where she is in the placings and winning awards, that’s an amazing achievement.”

Given her family connections at Owl House Stables, it’s perhaps no surprise Eliza got into riding early on.

Rachel said: “She has been riding since she was 15-months-old. She got her new pony this year and, at her first two shows on her new pony, she came first.

“I’m a coach. I’m a BHSI which is the highest-level qualification you can get in our industry.

“My mum started the riding school more than 30 years ago and my sister helps run it as well so it’s definitely a family business.”

Does pony-mad Eliza ever get overwhelmed when she comes up against much older riders?

“No,” Rachel explained. “A lot of people do suffer with nerves – but Eliza just absolutely loves it.

“She lives and breathes it. It’s her idea of fun so she definitely doesn’t suffer with nerves or find it daunting.

“All the time it’s fun, there’s no pressure and she just keeps going.

“She’s just having fun with her ponies and that’s all she cares about, really. She likes to win.

“Eliza is a competitor and does like to win but, for her, the main thing is she just loves her ponies.

“Everything she does is for them. She works really hard.

“She’ll ride if it’s raining, snowing, she’ll ride in any weather, she does all the jobs herself.

“She’s extremely dedicated.”

Eliza gets plenty of support.

“It’s like a community really,” Rachel said. “Everybody is behind Eliza and rooting for her.

“She has some quite big goals for next year as well. Everyone is really encouraging and supportive.”

Another parent from her riding school, having been there for around two years - with a daughter a similar age to Eliza - is Shantala Carr.

“The whole riding school is just so proud of her,” she said.

“She’s so good and such an inspiration because she’s little. Everyone is super proud of her because she’s achieving things that us adults strive to achieve!”

Eliza will look to progress in her showjumping journey in 2024.

Rachel added: “She’s just joined British Showjumping.

“Now, she’ll be hoping to move into the next league.

“That’s going to be a higher level, a bit more demanding, and against really strong, competitive, kids up to 12.

“We have got big plans for next year.

“We’re really excited and she has got a really nice pony now that can help her get up to the next level.”