Grooming college talent

EQUINE students from a Lothians college have been selected to help look after the horses of an Olympic hopeful.

Cara Brodie, 19, and Chloe Lackenby, 17, both students at Oatridge College in West Lothian, will look after Oliver Townend’s horses when he visits the on-campus Scottish National Equestrian Centre this weekend.

The teenagers, who are on the Advanced Certificate in Horse Care course, will shadow Mr Townend’s groom to gain invaluable experience behind the scenes and see what it takes to prepare horses competing at the highest level.

Mr Townend is currently one of the UK’s top-ranked eventing riders and is very much in contention for a place in the British Olympic squad.

The audience at his demonstrations in Saturday will see some of the horses he hopes to be riding at London 2012.