Zara Dobson from Durham is the latest NAF Shining Star
Friday 31 October 2025
Zara Dobson, from Marwood, Durham, has been awarded the latest NAF Shining Star accolade. Zara, a member of the British Showjumping Yorkshire Academy, was nominated for the award by her coaches, Karen Farnsworth and Alice Clennan.
Over the moon to find out she had been nominated for the NAF Shining Star Award, Zara said: “I was absolutely stunned when I received the email! I am so excited to have won the NAF Shining Star Award, it means so much to me.”
Eighteen-year-old Zara currently has one horse that she competes: “My horses stable name is Coolio but his registered name is Ballylennon Coolio and he is an eight-year-old Irish gelding. I have had him for eight months now and a fun fact about him is that he likes to grab the broom and help sweep up when I am mucking out his stable.”
Talking fondly about Coolie, Zara said: “This season I have enjoyed jumping Coolio at various venues across the country but especially when we jumped three clears at the Arena UK Major Showjumping Championships, qualifying for two Grand Prix’s. I jumped my first 1.10m track with Coolio as a part of the Yorkshire Academy team in the summer. The fences went up to 1.15m over the weekend at the British Showjumping Academy Championships and I felt so supported throughout the whole competition by my teammates and coach.”
Looking towards the rest of the 2025 season, Zara said: “I am aiming to continue our success and progress at our next events, and I am particularly looking forward to the Amateur Championships at Aintree in November.”
Karen Farnsworth, one of the Yorkshire Academy Coaches, said: “Zara and her horse, Ballylennon Coolio, were a new partnership when they first joined Yorkshire Academy. They have made great progress at the training sessions, stepping up to the open horse class at the Academy Show this year. Zara is a delight to coach; she always gives 100% in the training sessions and is continually striving to improve her riding skills and be the best version of herself. She has also been diligent in working on her NAF booklet and takes pride in achieving the levels. We feel that Zara is deserving of this award as she has shown commitment, diligence and perseverance.”
Talking about what she most enjoys about being a part of the Yorkshire Academy, Zara said; “The best thing about my Academy has to be the atmosphere in the team. My coaches and all the members are such friendly people, and I love training and competing with them.”
Lisa Field from NAF added: “Congratulations to Zara on being named this month’s NAF Shining Star. It’s fantastic to see how your hard work, perseverance, and commitment to learning have helped your partnership with Ballylennon Coolio to go from strength to strength. You clearly takes pride in your progress and demonstrate exactly the dedication and attitude that the Academies aim to inspire. Well done, Zara!”
The NAF Shining Star Award was introduced when NAF became a British Showjumping Business Partner. The award is for members of a Junior Academy who have shown a great deal of commitment, progression, and outstanding behaviour, along with their riding ability and much more. Riders are nominated by their lead coach and then judged and awarded by NAF to one person each month.
For further information on NAF follow them on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates and rider stories or visit the NAF website at naf-equine.eu/uk
Further information on the British Showjumping Academies can be found here: britishshowjumping.co.uk/training/Academies-1
