Annabel is the daughter of Heather Rusden, who herself has been a keen event and showjumping rider. As a result, Annabel has ridden and been around horses for as long as she can remember. Heather owns and runs a livery yard near Kingsteignton.
Annabel’s first love was for showing and she has qualified and ridden show ponies at the the Royal International Show and had success at the BSPS Championships, NPS Championships and Devon County Show.
In 2014 Annabel progressed to plaited working hunter classes on her home produced horse Seaford Top Cat, Story. Annabel and Story had great success together, including qualifying for the Royal International and Horse of the Year Show for the three years they were eligible, winning at the BSPS Summer Championship and taking third place at Royal Windsor. They also had success at Bath & West, Three Counties, Royal Cornwall and BSPS area shows.
When Annabel outgrew Story she decided that her future was in British Showjumping. On her 14.2hh pony, a Rathsallagh Royale named Jack, she has progressed from jumping British Novices to wins at Foxhunter and jumping at international shows. This year Annabel is hoping to jump in some HOYS qualifiers with Jack as well as competing in the Irish Home Pony International and Welsh Home Pony International. She is also lucky to have a 14.2hh Connemara, a Carbury Lass named Daisy, who she hopes to produce and compete in BS alongside Jack.
In October 2017 Annabel purchased her first horse Lord Pepper (Louie), with whom she hopes to get on to a two-year sporting excellence course which would allow her to develop her riding skills with top coaches while remaining in education.
In the future Annabel aspires to earning her living through horses and aims to have her own competition yard and to jump at major showjumping shows in England and abroad.