At 23-years-old, Essex rider Ben Maher is one of the top show jumpers in the country.听 He is currently ranked 6th by the British Show Jumping Association.听 This week he is competing in the Horse of the Year show听at the NEC in Birmingham. A former Saffron Walden County High school pupil, Ben has been riding since he was seven or eight years old.听 Like many youngsters Ben had a Shetland pony, which he rode at his local Pony Club, where he took part and enjoyed local shows and competitions.听 Ben has been riding at an international level for about three years.听 He has a good team behind him, who help him look after the 18 horses in his yard.听 Like many sportsmen, it's a full-time job for Ben.听 He trains every day, riding about eight different horses, which leaves little time for other hobbies.听 Fortunately, he has an understanding girlfriend who travels with him to shows. Ben competes regularly at all the major international shows throughout Great Britain and Europe, spending about two weeks a month competing. This year he's won various Grand Prix, Speed and Derby classes across Europe on Nikko IV, Give Me Remus and Mercurius.听 At the Hickstead Derby Meet at the beginning of July Ben retained the Speed Derby title winning for the second consecutive year on Mercurius. Ben's signs are now set on the Olympics, and if his past record is anything to go by, he is definitely heading in that direction. | 
