CHARLOTTE LEE
COMPETITION RIDER
& Serving Police Officer
Charlotte Lee has spent many years quietly chipping away at perfecting herself and her horses, with an unwavering work ethic and attention to detail. Born in West Dorset to Sandra and David Lee on 25th August 1991, Charlotte grew up riding ponies, spending as many days on the hunting field as possible and taking part in Pony Club activities.
Charlotte started riding at the age of 3 years old. An 11.2h, Dartmoor pony, named Smutty arrived on the doorstep on her 3rd birthday after continual pleads to her parents about wanting a pony of her own. It was from that day onwards that her parents knew that horses were going to be a permanent fixture in her life.
Charlotte started riding at the age of 3 years old. An 11.2h, Dartmoor pony, named Smutty arrived on the doorstep on her 3rd birthday after continual pleads to her parents about wanting a pony of her own. It was from that day onwards that her parents knew that horses were going to be a permanent fixture in her life.
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Charlotte represented the Seavington Pony Club at area level in dressage, showjumping and eventing. At the age of 13 she became more competitive and took up the sport of Eventing, registering with British Eventing on her 15.2h mare named Rosie. In order to progress and become more competitive Charlotte trained with Prix St George Dressage rider Tony Lomas which assisted in producing numerous top ten places up to Novice level eventing.
In 2004 Charlotte took a turn away from Eventing due to increasing costs and registered with British Showjumping. This is where her successes truly began and the eventers were sold to make way for horses specifically bred for the jumping arena. Initially Charlotte trained with International Showjumper and Young Rider Chef d’equipe Tony Newbery in order to develop the knowledge and skill required to be successful in the showjumping ring. This was then followed by working with Andy Austin for a summer in 2005, riding numerous different horses and competing on a regular basis.
Charlotte combined her competing with ensuring she completed a education with good grades. Leaving school with 11 GCSE’s and 4 A levels she progressed on to studying BSc Hons Equine Science at Hartpury University. Whilst at Hartpury Charlotte was selected to be part of the Equine Academy which provided her regular training with Nick Burton a former International 3 day eventer and now an FEI International Judge and Corrine Bracken who has had many key roles within British Showjumping and the BEF. Charlotte’s confidence and knowledge evolved immensely over the 3 years at Hartpury and set off her partnership with her newly purchased 7 year old mare Zarina. Zarina had recently been imported from Holland after having 2 foals and was just beginning her jumping career.
Whilst at university Charlotte completed her British Showjumping NAP 5-star performance award which provided a solid knowledge base and ignited Charlotte’s passion for coaching and helping others to achieve their goals and ambitions.
In 2012 Charlotte left university and a short while later in 2014 joined the emergency services working for Dorset Police. The idea was to have a full time job which would support her competitive hobby financially and allow time in the day to exercise and compete the horses. Charlotte’s career has flourished and has resulted in promotion up through the ranks. The horses remain a priority outside of work which also involves the running of the family livery yard Horsehill Farm; a property which was purchased by Charlotte’s parents in 2016.
Charlotte and Zarina’s relationship grew from strength to strength and they had countless successes together. In 2016 they were part of a select few on the International Experience Programme who were given the opportunity to compete at Bonheiden, Belgium with the support of both Corrine Bracken and Matt Lanni. In 2018 they were winners of numerous 1.20m/1.30m classes on the local county circuit before being formally invited to compete at the Longines Global Championship Tour (GCT) in London where they were the winners of the 2* speed class. GCT provided many fond memories for the pair, competing in uniform in the country’s capital was an extremely special occasion and one that provided the basis for a number of their current sponsorship opportunities. In 2019 Charlotte and Zarina took on the famous Hickstead Speed Derby, jumping a fantastic clear round, finishing just outside of the placings.
Charlotte has produced numerous horses from 3 year olds up to 1.40m+. She specialises in young horses and has an affinity for getting the best out of them. She is also competitive on owners horses; a highlight of 2021 was winning the London International Horse Show Services Jumping Championship on a horse she had only been riding for that year.
Charlotte credits her parents relentless hard work behind the scenes at home, my small team of horses and my supporters for her continued success.
In Charlottes own words “You have to be prepared to put into life what you expect to get out of it. Hard work and determination will forever be key to achieving my next goals and so long as I adhere to that then the results will follow. The horses are my number one priority and with both my job and my hobby working side by side I can safely say I love what I do”
In 2004 Charlotte took a turn away from Eventing due to increasing costs and registered with British Showjumping. This is where her successes truly began and the eventers were sold to make way for horses specifically bred for the jumping arena. Initially Charlotte trained with International Showjumper and Young Rider Chef d’equipe Tony Newbery in order to develop the knowledge and skill required to be successful in the showjumping ring. This was then followed by working with Andy Austin for a summer in 2005, riding numerous different horses and competing on a regular basis.
Charlotte combined her competing with ensuring she completed a education with good grades. Leaving school with 11 GCSE’s and 4 A levels she progressed on to studying BSc Hons Equine Science at Hartpury University. Whilst at Hartpury Charlotte was selected to be part of the Equine Academy which provided her regular training with Nick Burton a former International 3 day eventer and now an FEI International Judge and Corrine Bracken who has had many key roles within British Showjumping and the BEF. Charlotte’s confidence and knowledge evolved immensely over the 3 years at Hartpury and set off her partnership with her newly purchased 7 year old mare Zarina. Zarina had recently been imported from Holland after having 2 foals and was just beginning her jumping career.
Whilst at university Charlotte completed her British Showjumping NAP 5-star performance award which provided a solid knowledge base and ignited Charlotte’s passion for coaching and helping others to achieve their goals and ambitions.
In 2012 Charlotte left university and a short while later in 2014 joined the emergency services working for Dorset Police. The idea was to have a full time job which would support her competitive hobby financially and allow time in the day to exercise and compete the horses. Charlotte’s career has flourished and has resulted in promotion up through the ranks. The horses remain a priority outside of work which also involves the running of the family livery yard Horsehill Farm; a property which was purchased by Charlotte’s parents in 2016.
Charlotte and Zarina’s relationship grew from strength to strength and they had countless successes together. In 2016 they were part of a select few on the International Experience Programme who were given the opportunity to compete at Bonheiden, Belgium with the support of both Corrine Bracken and Matt Lanni. In 2018 they were winners of numerous 1.20m/1.30m classes on the local county circuit before being formally invited to compete at the Longines Global Championship Tour (GCT) in London where they were the winners of the 2* speed class. GCT provided many fond memories for the pair, competing in uniform in the country’s capital was an extremely special occasion and one that provided the basis for a number of their current sponsorship opportunities. In 2019 Charlotte and Zarina took on the famous Hickstead Speed Derby, jumping a fantastic clear round, finishing just outside of the placings.
Charlotte has produced numerous horses from 3 year olds up to 1.40m+. She specialises in young horses and has an affinity for getting the best out of them. She is also competitive on owners horses; a highlight of 2021 was winning the London International Horse Show Services Jumping Championship on a horse she had only been riding for that year.
Charlotte credits her parents relentless hard work behind the scenes at home, my small team of horses and my supporters for her continued success.
In Charlottes own words “You have to be prepared to put into life what you expect to get out of it. Hard work and determination will forever be key to achieving my next goals and so long as I adhere to that then the results will follow. The horses are my number one priority and with both my job and my hobby working side by side I can safely say I love what I do”
