Sculptor Judy Boyt, the Wiltshire woman behind the iconic Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials trophy, talks to David Clensy

I t's the trophy that's held aloft in every little girl's dreams – the Mitsubishi Motors trophy, with its trio of solid silver horses has become emblematic of the great Badminton Horse Trials.

Each year the trophy is the centrepiece of the victors' celebrations, before it goes on its travels to proudly adorn a mantelpiece for the next 12 months.

But the sparkling trophy has a spiritual home, deep in woodland south of Devizes, and each year the award is returned to the tranquil Wiltshire home of its sculptor, Judy Boyt.

"It comes back to me to be polished up for this year's competition, and I get a few weeks to work on any damage that might have taken place over the year," Judy explains.

"Actually, it's hardly ever damaged – as you can imagine, it usually becomes a cherished object for the winners. I originally made it back in 1992, so it's ageing well."

Each year the three silver horses meet the 12 new bronze resin statuettes of themselves, which are lined up in Judy's workshop, waiting to be presented to the winners of each section during this weekend's Badminton horse trials.

Judy was approached to design the trophies when Mitsubishi took over sponsorship of the event 17 years ago.

"I found myself sitting in a boardroom with the Badminton people, and I just started scribbling down some ideas.

"I needed to incorporate the Mitsubishi logo, and I realised I could do it quite subtly by having the three diamonds next to three horses – representing each of the three disciplines in which competitors take part at Badminton – cross country, dressage and show jumping."

Judy is no stranger to depicting horses in her work – over the past 30 years, she has made a name for herself as one of the world's best equestrian sculptors.

Her clients include the Sultan of Brunei, the British royal family, the UAE royal family and the late President of the UAE.

Her largest bronze sculpture, Rebellion, commissioned by Standard Life, is now sited in the City of London and was awarded the RBS medal for Sculpture. Other notable sculptures include Evocation of Speed for Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and Up to the Line for Redrow Developments, at the Centrica Business Park in Windsor. These days the winding driveway that twists and turns beneath the emerald canopy to her house acts just like a CV, with the original models for each of her larger commissions greeting visitors to Judy's home.

Born and raised on her family's Pembrokeshire farm, Judy has always had twin loves – animals and art.

"I wanted to be a vet originally," she recalls, as she settles in her living room, surrounded by many of her life-like bronze creations.

"I liked the idea of working with animals. But I also had this burning artistic streak, and as I progressed through school, it was the artistic side of my personality that gradually started to shine through over the science."

Judy studied ceramics at the University of Wolverhampton in the mid-1970s, before focusing her ambitions by progressing on to a sculpting Masters degree at North Staffordshire Polytechnic.

"When I graduated I spent two years working for a company called Boehm in Malvern – a rival to Royal Worcester.

"I gained valuable experience there, designing numerous animal figures in bone china and porcelain for the collectors' market. After just a couple of years, though, I could see the direction the industry was moving in. I could tell the traditional British porcelain companies were failing to keep up with their Chinese rivals. There were dozens of big companies across the Midlands – from Wedgwood to Royal Crown Derby, and sadly, there are very few of them left these days."

At the beginning of the 1980s, Judy decided to set herself up as a freelance artist.

"It was tough at first, but you gradually start to make a name for yourself with each piece that you have commissioned.

"The first big piece of public art I produced was a half life-sized depiction of Golden Miller, the horse that won the Gold Cup five times.

"I managed to talk Cheltenham racecourse into allowing me to site the piece there, but I knew they wouldn't be paying me for it.

"I worked out that if I produced 20 small models of Golden Miller in bronze, I could sell them to make enough money to cover the cost of producing the big piece. I then gave each of the buyers the opportunity to have their name carved around the base of the finished work."

Since then, Judy has carved out a successful career producing everything from busts of pet dogs to a pile of frogs for Devizes' town centre.

But it's the horse that remains her greatest passion.

"I remember being taken to London as a little girl, and all I wanted to do was to climb on the big statues of horses.

"That's why it was such a proud day for me when I was commissioned to produce Rebellion – the great two-times life-sized horse for the Standard Life building in the City of London.

"It was a real challenge for me, because it was to be mounted on top of the building, which not only adds an element of structural design – you have to be sure it's strong enough to stay up there – but also you have to take into account the visual illusion known as foreshortening – that is, you have to consider the perspective of the viewer on the ground.

"I wanted it to look as if he was bursting out from the top of the building – escaping, to gallop over the London skyline.

"When the piece was finally finished, it was put on display on the spare plinth in Trafalgar Square for a week before being driven through London and lifted up to its new home overlooking Spitalfields. To my great relief, the horse slotted perfectly into place. It was only later that I discovered there were at least two petitions on the go calling for it to be kept in Trafalgar Square.

"I must admit," she adds, glancing out at the miles of rolling Wiltshire countryside visible through the veil of trees, "it was a proud moment for me to see my work in Trafalgar Square.

"It had taken me full circle. I felt like the little girl visiting the city again, and just wanting to climb up on to the horse statue."

You can catch Judy's work at the Quenington Fresh Air exhibition in the Cotswolds village of Quenington from June 14 to July 4. For more information, visit www.freshair2009.com. Or, you can see Judy's work at the Le Fort Gallery in Bath from July 11 to August 15. For more details, visit the website www.gallerylefortfineart.com

For more information on Judy and her creations, visit her website at www.judyboyt.com

This year's Badminton trials conclude tomorrow, May 10, with the show jumping competition. For more information, call 01454 218375 or email boxoffice@badminton-horse.co.uk.