H&C would like to congratulate blogger Alice Oppenheimer and her home-bred Headmore Delegate, who have just been selected to join an elite programme backed by Team GBR, designed to help promising horses to compete and challenge for medals at future Olympic Games and World Equestrian Championships. Alice, who is based at the family's stud in Four Marks, Hampshire, is already a successful young rider and has recorded excellent results at national level.

The Equine Pathway was set up in 2006 to work with riders to help maximise their horse' potential; development is monitored against a pre-determined, but flexible pathway. The chosen horse must have the ability to become 'World Class'. The programme varies from training sessions to competition planning, from veterinary advice to sports science.

Seven year-old Headmore Delegate is by the Grand Prix sire Dimaggio, and in 2008 and in 2009 was awarded the best British-bred five-year-old and six-year-old respectively by the British Equestrian Federation.

Alice, 20, comments: “It is every rider's dream to be able to compete at an Olympics or World Games. Delegate will be reaching his dressage prime for the Rio Olympics in 2016 and that is a major target for me. Meanwhile, the support of the Equine Pathway and other potential sponsors will be invaluable to us both. It's an honour to be chosen."