The young horse rider Sloane Coles has been awarded a Bates Caprilli Close Contact saddle as a prize for coming top in the 2006 Bates USA Equitation Rankings.

This years' winning equestrian is just 18, yet has had numerous successes, mostly in the show jumping arena. In 2006, she not only came top in the Bates Equitation Rankings but also won the Kathy Scholl Equitation Championship, the Monarch International North American Equitation Championship and the Winter Equestrian Festival.

The Bates Equitation Rankings are a system that has been devised to give equestrians aged up to 21 a feel for the competitive environment that they will experience if they go on to become adult riders.

Bates, the famous producer of fine leather saddles, has sponsored the event since 2003, supporting the young horse riders who have the potential to become world class.

Ms Coles received her Bates Caprilli Close Contact saddle at an award ceremony at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament on November 4th 2006.