under the hot summer sun start to pay off this equestrian season.

For 13-year-old Tiffany has been collecting a bunch of blue ribbons -- especially at the recently staged Bermuda Horse and Pony Association's Fall Show held at Vesey Street.

Tiffany and her 16-hand horse got together in the spring of this year and while many of her other friends were out playing on the beach this summer, the rising equestrian star was working hard with her coach Abby Tavares at Spicelands Riding Centre in Warwick.

Heart of Gold arrived in Bermuda a few of years ago and after being owned by a couple of people, became Tiffany's horse. But it has taken quite of bit of work to get Heart of Gold (stable name Pushkin after the great Russian writer) into the thick of things at the various competitions. "He is quite strong,'' said Tiffany. Her coach, Abby, said: "We really did a lot of work this summer. I set out a tough programme of just flat work to begin with and now we are working on the jumping. They both have made a lot of progress.'' Last Sunday Tiffany was the youngest competitor in the horse show jumping at the BHPA show. The previous week she won a number of divisions and was named overall top Junior Equitation Champion in the 12-14 Year Old Division. Reserve Champion was another of Bermuda young rising stars -- Natasha Tucker.

BEST FRIENDS -- Tiffany Thorne and her horse Heart of Gold