Dressage Pencoed Area Festival semi-final and highlights
A young horse overcomes a variety of health issues to score a mega mark, while young riders shine and Irish horses enjoy their share of the spoils among the warmbloods
THE highest score of the show went to prelim silver winners Amy Daye and and her six-year-old Prince William MBS, who posted an impressive 75.63%.
“It hasn't been an easy journey as William’s health has suffered at times,” said Amy, who has owned the Wish Upon A Star gelding since he was a three-year-old.
“As we upped his work we discovered he had a low immune system and this was causing health problems such as respiratory issues, which led to sinusitis and brittle feet. We also found out he was allergic to a whole host of things, including carrots, weeds, trees, house flies and black ants,” explained Amy.
“William had to have an operation for his sinusitis. He has to have injections imported from America and I have to keep him barefoot as his feet are too brittle to keep shoes on.
“Now that the vets have found out what’s wrong with him, we are able to successfully manage his conditions, but our competitive career has been very stop-start. This is the first season we’ve been able to keep going. But he proved that he’s worth all the hassle we have been through.”
Hannah Towler hadn’t planned a dressage career for the eightyear-old Irish gelding Rocky
XIII (known as Woody at home), whom she bought three years ago, but they claimed prelim victory in the bronze section.
“I bought him with the intention of hunting and hacking,” said Hannah. “Then, about 10 months ago, my mum persuaded me to try dressage.
“I had a plan to ride forward and uphill in my test. Woody was amazing and it was one of the best tests he’s done.”
UNDER-18S SHINE
SALLY HOWELL, 11, was delighted to take the under-18 prelim aboard the Welsh section B Millcroft Osiris (Ozzy). Sally is trained by her mother, Lynn, and sister Nicola.
“Ozzy owes us nothing and has taught Sally everything,” said Nicola. “Sally rode like a pro and is excited to ride at Hartpury because Charlotte Dujardin — her idol — will be there.”
April Joynson won the under-18 elementary final on partbred Welsh pony Bryntegllwynau Rocky Robin, having also finished second in the novice equivalent.
“We bought him as a four-yearold ex-racing pony three years ago, and he’s turned out to be the ultimate all-rounder,” said April.
“We had never been to Pencoed, so I imagined Robin looking at things, but he put on his dressage shoes and danced his way around. He always tries his heart out, but because he’s not a typical dressage type, we don’t normally get big scores.”
Mollie Sears took the top spot in the medium under-18 riding Zavier Van De Paradijshoeve. Zavier is a 12-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding by Beethoven x Rhodium.
“I was pleased with how Zavier coped with the atmosphere as he can get nervous,” Mollie revealed. “As we have just moved to Gloucestershire, the venues here are new to us.
“It felt amazing to win as we have been working hard with my trainer Sonnar MurrayBrown, and the Hartpury Academy Squad.”
ALL SHAPES AND SIZES
TAM THORNTON rode the 16.2hh Irish sport horse Chess Master (Chester) to novice bronze victory.
“I’ve only been riding Chester since April while his owner is in Australia for a year,” said Tam.
“My coach, Caron Roberts, helped me warm up and her final words were, ‘Don’t change anything’. Chester and I did a great test.”
Debra Fews and Fabizio headed the novice silver line-up with 72.85%. The seven-yearold home-bred gelding is out of Debra’s Negro mare, by Fidertanz.
“Our test was almost the best he can do,” Debra said. “We had one mistake when he changed legs at A, but fortunately it was still good enough. I knew Fabizio could get over 70%.”
The elementary silver went to Eli Lovell riding David and Serena Pincus’ mare Donna Of Sheepcote, who is in her first year of competition.
The nine-year-old 17.1hh mare is by Don Schufro, out of the Bechtolsheimers’ mare Winniza.
“She was hot, but she stayed with me and floated around the arena,” said Eli.
CLOSE CALL
MOTORWAY delays meant Christine Parry and Blues Knight (Baloo) nearly didn’t make the show in time for their medium bronze class.
“I almost didn't make it but, fortunately, the organisers were kind enough to put me in at the end of the class,” said Christine.
“I was pleased with Baloo’s rideability and the quality of the half-passes. This was his best medium so far.”
The 10-year-old Baloo is by His Highness and is owned by Sandra Hassett and Willington Hall Riding Centre, where Christine is head girl.
Hayley Bates and First Kirche (Cherry) were clear winners in the medium silver, with their score of 68.82% more than 2% clear of their nearest rival. Hayley’s mare is a 17hh, 10-year-old by Fidertanz x Externstein.
Judge Sara-Jane Lanning, commented: “Hayley was a clear winner for all three judges. The mare stood out for me as being light on her feet, in a more established medium-level balance than most horses in the class.”
The advanced medium bronze title went to Katie Hills and San Rubiosa (Ruby), an 11-year-old Sandro Hit x Rubinstein mare.
“Everything we have been working on came together, with no major mistakes,” Katie recalled. “It was a struggle teaching Ruby flying changes, so I’m proud to have got to this point. She was my first horse after ponies and I have trained her up from prelim.
“Since I started studying at the Royal Agricultural University I have trained with Emile Faurie, who has helped in our progression towards prix st georges [PSG].”
Sara-Jane Lanning added: “Katie showed an established, consistent test, in a class where lots of marks were lost due to lack of preparation and balance for the movements.”
In the advanced medium silver section, Nancy Rollings rode Melanie Rowley’s Welt Hit II mare Wellbeloved (by Wishful) to victory.
“She felt relaxed and I was especially pleased with her trot work. I’m so grateful to Mel for giving me the opportunity to compete her this season,” said Nancy.
ALSO HEADING TO HARTPURY…
JADE CLARK took the PSG bronze honours with Helen Dolisznyj’s Lusitano stallion Espirito, a horse she started competing only at the end of last year, while the silver section was won by Claire Lewis with the Trakehner gelding Dragonswick Czardas (Van Deyk x Schwadroneur), whom Claire has produced since a youngster.
Lauren Darby and the 13-yearold Mister Samson topped the inter I bronze, having also finished third in the PSG equivalent.
“As he had already done one test we weren’t expecting a lot in the inter I, but he tried his socks off,” said Lauren.