Holly Clift has checked off another equestrian achievement from her list with a state award.
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Clift's Revelwood Rhapsodie was named Dressage NSW 2020-21 Amateur Owner Rider horse of the year.
The Amateur Owner Rider category is for non-professional riders, meaning training horses isn't their full-time job.
Of winning the award, Clift was thrilled.
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"I'm really proud of what me and my mare have achieved, I am so excited for the future with Rhapsodie," she said.
"Our aim is to make it to Grand Prix and I definitely feel like we can if all of our stars align."
Clift, an Armidale local before relocating to Spring Ridge, is a high school agriculture teacher at Quirindi and has spent hours upon hours training her mare, who she bought as a two-year-old.
She still comes back to Armidale to compete at official competitions hosted by the local riding club as well as travelling to Tamworth and further afield to Sydney to take on the state's best dressage riders and horses.
They've also made the trip to the south coast to compete at one of the biggest dressage events in the country - Dressage by the Sea at Willinga Park.
"Owning horses comes with lots of time and consistency," Clift said.
"I've taken her to some large competitions over the last few years and with that comes lots of preparation and time.
"I try and ride five days a week, normally first thing in the morning before I teach at school 35 minutes away.
"I have to be really organised. But am lucky to have my husband who helps with little things like feeding and stabling.
Robyne Smith, my instructor has been a really good at giving me feedback with our training who I travel to scone with when I have time. And my mum [Mandy Sozou] who comes everywhere to support and help me at competitions.
Fitting in riding and training is about to get tougher with Clift expecting her first child in early 2021.
"I am due to have a baby in February so look forward to embracing motherhood whilst trying to keep riding when I can," she said.
But whatever challenge comes their way, Clift is hoping the firm partnership her and 'Rhaps' have formed over the last eight years will hold them in good stead.
"Anything I ask she normally just tries her hardest to please. She is just easy which makes training her a joy and I can rely on her 99 per cent of the time," she said.
"She can definitely have her cheeky moments but I think we have a really special partnership where we kind of just get one another."