TALENTED young dressage competitor Lilly Hatwell of Milton has capped off a hugely successful 2009 by taking out the Shoalhaven Dressage Association 'Dressage Pony of the Year' and 'Veteran Dressage Horse of the Year' at the Horse of the Year Awards held in Bomaderry on January 16.

Lilly's partner was the divine pony 'Cherrywood Pixie' and together they consistently achieved high percentages at the dressage competitions they attended throughout 2009.

Lilly has been training and competing at open level dressage for two years and these awards are a huge achievement for the young rider who is only 11 years old and was competing against adults for the Horse Of The Year awards.

These achievements follow the recent success at the Young Rider Dressage Championships where Lilly was awarded Reserve Champion Junior Dressage Rider Under 12.

Lilly is hoping to continue her success in 2010 and is planning to campaign two horses this year for Bonnie Doon Performance Horses and Coaching.

Lilly would like to thank Shoalhaven Dressage Club for fostering young rider dressage, the Carter family for the ride on such a special pony and her mother, head groom and dressage coach, Marion Hatwell.