LOCAL young equestrian Oakley Laghos-Stamp from Raddington, near Wiveliscombe, is heading to the World Individual Mounted Games Championships to be held in Normandy, France.

Oakley and his home trained pony Flicka palomino Quarter horse x Shetland will be competing against mounted games riders from all over the world in the U12 age group. Oakley is fiercely competitive and although one of the younger riders in the category at 9 years old, he’s feeling confident as he is fresh from a win at the mounted games Spring Championship show with his games team and 2 reserve champion places this season.

Mounted games is a fast pace sport where riders compete over a number of days in different races that involves huge skill, hand eye coordination and athleticism scoring points; this will be narrowed down to a semi final section and those who make the top 8 points scores will head into the final to determine the 2025 U12 World individual Champion.

Oakley’s previous individual competition showed he has great potential to achieve big things this season with missing a final spot last year by a few points; he’s trained hard all winter with his pony improving their technique and speed at the equipment in the hope to give them their best shot at a podium finish.

The bond between horse and rider is a key element in equestrian sports and the connection between Oakley and Flicka is fantastic; they’ve been a partnership that’s grown from such a young age as his parents purchased Flicka even before he was born. They have since gone onto breed a number of part bred quarter horses that they also compete with in mounted games. Equestrian sport has been in the family for many years with both parents representing England in their competitive games careers.