Showing Highlights
“Exceptional” ponies come forward for the first show back
BSPS Area 1A, Richmond EC, North Yorks
BRITISH SHOW PONY SOCIETY (BSPS) Area 1A held the first post-Covid-19 affiliated show. Area chairman Joanne Pybus was impressed by the “exceptional” ponies presented for judging.
“There was a huge amount of planning and extra admin to do so we could adhere to Government and governing body guidelines,” said Joanne. “Each class had a start time with timed working in, and there was a happy atmosphere.”
Team Jinks cleaned up with their lorry load. Joanne’s daughter Ella Pybus rode the 15hh Just Murphy II to win the open show hunter pony title. The seven-yearold gelding by Stanhopes Odwig was Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) finalist last year. Ella also used her experience to steer the five-year-old mare Secret Affair to win the novice equivalent.
“David Jinks bought her out of the field as a three-year-old,” explained co-producer Adam Forster. “We broke her in after HOYS and then Joanne and Ella were looking for a new novice; they came to see her and bought her then and there. She will be campaigned as a novice before running into open ranks in 2021.”
Rhea Shakespere and Shelly Jones’ grey gelding Noble Kings Speech took the intermediate championship, while Charlotte Caulfield rode her 2019 HOYS show pony victor Stretcholt New Dimension to be top of his section.
Florence Davies and Barkway Alfiemoon finished the run, standing top mini show pony.
Emily Carroll’s six-year-old show riding type Roseberry Moment Of Truth stood reserve in the intermediates before winning the horse class with producer James Knight on board.
In mountain and moorland (M&M) ranks, Lauren Haddlesey was on form with her Fell stallion Sevenvale George (see box, below), to stand section reserve behind Carrie Pettit’s Craig Elenor-produced Shetland Homer Of Crafton ridden by Cate Kerr. Carrie bought seven-yearold Homer as a stallion from a Facebook post in February.
“We had him gelded so my daughter, Francesca, could ride him as a first ridden,” said Carrie. “He’s now home for the summer so Francesca can practice. He’ll then return to Craig and Sara Parrott to contest some Olympia qualifiers hopefully; he really does it all.” H&H