Correct and charismatic broodmare is Cuddy choice
It’s a close judging call between two top-quality ponies for the Cuddy ticket, while two catch rides triumph
A CHARISMATIC broodmare went through the cards to lift the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) Cuddy qualifier.
Judge Tom Best added drama to the waiting crowd, pulling forward five for a final look, before asking the champion Clive and Beverley Abel’s Welsh section A mare Manorlea Maisie May and eventual reserve Jennifer Turner’s So Stylish for a final trot.
The former, a Shoregreen Cracker Jack home-bred sevenyear-old handled by Sarah Tibbey, showed herself with a powerful trot.
“She has her second foal at foot; her first foal has now been gelded and will be a future ridden pony,” said Beverley.
“On the basis of correctness of conformation and movement, surely the basic requirements of all quality show animals, it wasn’t difficult to sort out this championship and, in my opinion, the champion and reserve were in a league of their own,” said Tom.
“Although different in style, both were good movers. However, the little Welsh mountain mare had charisma as well as particularly good limbs with plenty of bone and short cannons. I’m confident that she’ll be a worthy representative of the show at the Cuddy finals in October.”
Jennifer was amazed to stand reserve with the Kilvington Scoundrel three-year-old So Stylish, shown by sister Rebecca.
“We came to the show to try to qualify for the Ottergayle final at the National Pony Society Championships. She won the hunter pony title here and we never expected we’d get anywhere in the Cuddy but thought, as we’re here, we might as well go in. We were amazed to get into the final five,” said Jennifer.
“So Stylish has not been the easiest; as a two-year-old she would bolt while being led and was a challenge to show. We persevered and she’s improved since we started natural horsemanship. She’s now been backed and we’ll aim for hack classes,” added Rebecca.
At home, the sisters have the dam Tiger Lily XVI with a fullbrother colt foal at foot and she has been scanned in foal again to Kilvington Scoundrel.
CATCH RIDES TRIUMPH
WITH plenty of support for the HOYS qualifers, Harriet Dennison enjoyed two catch rides to stand champion of the intermediates with the elegant small riding type Roseberry Super Trooper and Rotherwood Another Peep in the riding ponies.
Sarah Challinor rode Anna Pennell’s Nipna Heather to account for the ridden M&M title and give the stud their second HOYS ticket.
“It’s her first open season and her full-sister Nipna Flora qualified at Midland Counties,” said Anna.
Two Scottish riders celebrated their first HOYS M&M qualifying win — Shona Thomson’s fiveyear-old Shetland stallion Hagrid Of Catchpool, ridden by Lauren Jarvis, topped his small breeds class and Heather Kerr with Jean Carnegie’s Eran Of Croila headed the ridden Highlands.
Shona bought ‘Haggis’ as a three-year-old after looking at pictures from his breeder. He was intended for her grandson, Dylan, who is now three.
“I wanted a skewbald not a grey,” admitted Shona.
Emma Boardman landed the cob championship aboard Randalstown Brannigan and the non-native coloured pony title with Hopgarden Playboy.