New pair rise above the rest
A new partnership book their first ticket to HOYS together, Welsh section As dominate in native mini and worker ranks, while a side-saddle judge is left disappointed with the overall standard
A CONNEMARA stallion proved on form to land the Horse of the Year Show’s (HOYS) mountain and moorland (M&M) ridden championship — the first major win for this new partnership.
Fear An Ti did enough to get the winning nod for the title after topping the Connemara class with new owner/rider Eiry Bonner.
The pair scored 47 out of 50 for their show and 45 from a possible 50 for conformation marks, giving them a total score of 92. Fear An Ti had previously been ridden by showing saddler Fiona Cork,
but was bought by Eiry before Christmas last year.
“He’s really good to do and we’re hoping to use him for stud work next year,” said Eiry, who is based in Aberystwyth. The striking nine-year-old dun stallion, by Gwennic De Goariva, has foals on the ground this year.
“Our champion was true to type, free moving and gave the correct performance in the championship,” said judge
Mark Sheen.
The reserve spot went to
Rebecca Penny on Greenholme Hairy Harry, the winner of the Fells, Dales, New Forest and Highland qualifier. The eightyear-old Fell stallion, owned by Danielle Garner, scored 93 out of 100.
“I literally just meet him at shows and go,” said Rebecca, who has ridden Hairy Harry on and off for the past three years.
Strong entries in all breed classes saw a busy ring from
8am to 5pm, with 29 forward in the Welsh section D qualifier. Taffechan Miss Moneypenny and Georgia Rhodes headed the class after gaining 48 for their show and 47 for conformation, giving them a total score of 95. The 11-year-old mare, who is produced by Lauren Beaumont, has been owned by Georgia since she was six months old.
“We won at Royal Windsor last year and stood champion at Great Yorkshire in 2015,” said Georgia.
Co-judge Lizzie Briant commented: “We loved the section D because she’s so feminine and has a lot of presence about her.”
Entries were so high in the HOYS M&M lead-rein division that the class was split into two sections. Pumphill Mr Theodore and five-year-old Scarlett Whitehurst clinched the qualifying ticket, led by producer Terry Clynes.
The nine-year-old Dartmoor pony was bought by Nikki Ashcroft a year ago and finished 10th at HOYS last year, as well as winning the Blue Riband final at the British Show Pony Society Heritage championships.
However, Mr Theodore was selected for reserve spot with Hayley Reynolds’ Thistledown Special VIP taking the overall mini title. Partnered by Harrison Fewings, this was the section A’s debut attempt at a first ridden qualifier this year, having already qualified on the lead-rein with Hayley’s son, Lewis.
“Our champions each gave an excellent show and did everything I asked of them,” said judge Brian Williams. “The pony [Thistledown Special VIP] has a really nice rhythm, its transitions were uphill and it’s very balanced,” he said.
“The ground is not quite level so we were able to see which ponies are naturally balanced as it makes a big difference with little jockeys,” said co-judge Vanessa Clark. “The lead-rein pony was a real goer and went beautifully all day long. They probably weren’t our instant winners but throughout the course of the day they became our final champions.”
GOLDEN DAY FOR RAINBOWS
AN amateur partnership lifted the overall hunter title. Chasing Rainbows (Sara Neachell), a
17hh dark brown gelding, won the HOYS middleweight hunter division and the championship under judges Mathew Lawrence and Shelley Perham.
“I bought him in June last year and we did a few novice classes,” said Sara. “We’ve qualified for the Royal International in the amateur final, but we can’t contest the open as we have lessons with Jo Bates, who is judging there this year.”
Reserve went to the heavyweight winners — Malcolm Rosser and Paxford Venture, a nine-year-old chestnut gelding by Touch Of Pride.
“We’ve seen some very strong classes with some good-quality horses today,” said Mathew. “I could quite easily sit on my champion all day. You just put the leg on and off it went.”
Zara Owen landed a double win riding her own Red Letter Day. The nine-year-old chestnut gelding headed the HOYS lightweight hunter qualifier and the HOYS ladies’ sidesaddle class.
“This is only his third outing this term,” said Zara, who bought the son of Washington Postman as an unbroken three-year-old.
“He’s a proper sweetheart who is our yard pet — he loves fuss and attention,” added Zara, who runs a schooling and breaking yard in mid Wales.
“This is an elegant, quality horse,” said ride-judge Shelley Perham. “It is beautiful to ride and even better that it’s dual purpose and can do both jobs. This is the type of horse we have been missing from this class in the past few years.”
Shelley confessed her concern about falling standards in ladies’ classes across the showing calendar in general, and admitted that few were up to scratch today (see box, below).
Lacey Aldo and Aliya Khan took the HOYS M&M working hunter pony championship. The section A won the 122cm division, adding to their win at Three Counties show last month.
“Our champion jumped a super round and had the highest mark for both the ride and conformation,” said judge Peter Boustead.