A former Dalbeattie woman will head for France next month as part of the Great Britain squad in the World Championships for Working Equitation.
Lynne Macleod, who has lived and worked in Cheltenham for 20 years, qualified for the team with her Spanish Lusitano horse Hermes.
The 41-year-old is currently chef d’equipe at the Withington Manor equestrian centre where she runs a successful livery business.
Lynne’s father Murdo, who managed the Baron’s Craig Hotel at Rockcliffe for 15 years, is proud of his daughter’s achievement.
He told the News: “I think it’s outstanding – she has worked very hard for it and has done really well. I’m thrilled to bits.
“Over the years Lynne goes on to something better and better – she never ceases to astound.”
Ex-Dalbeattie High School pupil Lynne first earned her horse riding spurs with Stewartry Pony Club.
Now she’s off to the world championships at Le Parc Equestre du Bocage in the Loire valley.
The July 20-23 event will bring together teams from 18 countries who will compete in four disciplines – dressage, ease of handling, speed obstacles and cattle sorting.
The GB team has been trained by Paulo Santos and chef d’equipe Georgia Shone.
Murdo, 82, from Colvend, added: “Lynne has four horses of her own and bought Hermes from Spain as a three-year-old.
“She is the current British working equestrian champion at the most advanced level and can do a figure-of-eight backwards on a horse.
“That is an incredible skill.”
The posture boasts both a military and ranching heritage and harks back to times when cavalrymen rode ready to draw a sabre or pistol and Spanish cattle herders carried a pole to separate a cow from the herd.
