Rehy Strikes gold
Nurturing showjumping talent pays off, while a local rider is disqualified before turning her luck around and going on to land the amateur championship
AT the beginning of a 10-day journey to take in four shows, Scottish rider Amy Ogilvie clinched a Royal International (RIHS) ticket when Rehy Striker won the open working hunter.
Owner Emma Bryson bought her Malt Striker 13-year-old four years ago to do dressage.
“I don’t jump, but when Amy tried him over a fence he loved it, so we decided to try showjumping and this is his third working hunter,” said Emma.
“He’s well suited to workers as he throws a big scopey jump and he can really gallop on,” added Amy, who also jumped clear with her own, already RIHSqualified L A Diamond.
After competing at Hambleton the previous day, the Scottish party were moving on to the Yorkshire Sport Horse (report, p82) and Midland Counties.
It proved a rollercoaster of a day for Kimberley Stanworth, who was disqualified for wearing stud earrings while riding her middleweight hunter Greenwich Park in the open class.
The local rider returned to win her middleweight/ heavyweight amateur division with her Benetton Dream eight-year-old, before taking the amateur championship.
“This was our last chance to qualify for the open Royal International final, so I’m gutted. I know the rules state no jewellery, but I do think we should be given the option to remove them in the ring,” lamented Kimberley.
Kimberley’s upstanding Hanoverian has hunted all season with the Cheshire and is just starting out in novice workers.
Robert Walker brought a mixture of youth and experience to his local show. Our Kingsman gained a third novice win and middleweight Caesars Palace took the open hunter championship, before the baby of the team, County Down, made a winning debut in the novice riding horse class.
Jill Day bought the Emperor Augustus four-year-old from his breeder Dessie Gibson in Ireland last year.
“He’s full of quality and looks a lighter type, so we’ll start him in riding horse classes. He has the most unflappable brain and the aim is to give him a couple more outings and finish off at the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) National Championships,” said Robert.
Taking the open hunter reserve was Sam Housley riding her winning lightweight Temple Mill.
After making the jump from competing mountain and moorland (M&M) workers to open hunters last season, Sam had just a few outings and this was only the combination’s second outing this year.
It was a chance telephone call between former rider Michaela Wood and producer Jack Moore that led Sam to try Temple Mill.
“Riding horses is a different kettle of fish and this is a new level, but he knows his job and how to look after me,” said Sam.
‘A FABULOUS RIDE’
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Cathrin Roberts topped the small division riding her North of England amateur champion Carnsdale Huntsman.
“We have done some spring dressage classes as preparation for showing.He’s a real showman with great movement and he always gives a fabulous ride,” said Cathrin.
With usual intermediate rider Isabella Mears studying for exams, producer Danielle Heath had a productive outing with Graceful Monarch (Rose), who won her small division before taking the hack title.
“Rose is a lovely, sensible mare who has a great way of going and she has given Izzy loads of confidence. They won and qualified first time out at Onley,” said Danielle of the Relief Pitcher 10-year-old.
With her mother and regular box driver Cathy Yates having to work, John Cookson stepped in to get Amy Yates and Lisette (Lizzie) to the show, and it was smiles all round when Amy came away with a win and the riding horse tricolour.
The pair have enjoyed a successful seven-year partnership in intermediate classes and after a recent run of seconds in her first adult season, Amy was delighted to record a win.
“Lizzie loves beach rides to get her fit, but I am considering trying some dressage now,” said Amy.
Warrington-born Vicky Hesford came back to her roots to take the cob championship with Claire Twiston-Davies’ winning heavyweight Randalstown Musketeer (Cobby), who was cob of the year in Birmingham in 2015.
“He always goes back to nature in winter and this is only his second show this season,” said Vicky.
“He loves the big occasions and has a great record at Hickstead and Birmingham.
“He also loves to jump and previously hunted in Ireland; judging by his reaction when he saw the hounds parading here, he’d like to do that again.
“For his size, Cobby is so light and responsive and he rides like the Ferrari of the cob world,”
Vicky concluded.
After winning five qualifiers last year, show pony champions Haynevalley Secret Charm (Freddie) and Georgie Moore are again bound for Hickstead.
“Freddie qualified early on this year, but we thought we would give him another run as this was a local show,” said Georgie’s mother Nikki. “He’s very much a showman and a big mover in the ring.”
Nikki has produced the Whitehorn Charm-sired 138cm pony for the past two seasons after his breeder Monica Manning became ill.
The working hunter ring again saw plenty of entries, and Georgia Price and Carnsdale Beltane Poppy produced one of the best clears of the day to top their 153cm class before taking the working hunter pony (WHP) championship.
After concentrating on Optimist II in her last 143cm season, Georgia had just a few 2016 outings with Poppy, but they have landed running this season, taking an early RIHS ticket at Area 4A.
“Poppy has a great attitude, and loves showing and jumping. The course proved tricky with light poles, but she was spot on everywhere,” said Georgia.