SCOTLAND Muirmill EC, Ayrshire

After ‘bursting out of her skin’ at the Morris regionals, a mare has bounced back for a double victory.

Widespread snow and serious drifting affected the majority of venues in Scotland, forcing cancellations across the country. But, a Herculean effort by the organisers of Muirmill EC allowed competitors a full day of dressage including music and Team Quest.

Alison Newton achieved a brace of wins at novice silver, including achieving a day-high score of 74.42% with Carin II.

The Cantos 11-year-old bay mare was purchased six years ago from local dealer Jack McGeoch, whose wife Isobel now looks after Carin while Alison works full-time in Glasgow.

“I originally bought her to event,” said Alison, who joined British Dressage (BD) 18 months ago after deciding to stop eventing. “She was quite weedy to start with so I left her to grow for some time — she filled out and now she’s 16.3hh.

“I qualified her for the winter regionals last week at Morris at novice and elementary. She was bursting out her skin in the elementary test, although she worked really well in the novice to finish fifth.

“I was pleased with her second test today — she can pretend to work, then shakes her head and knuckles down to it. That’s when she’s best to ride and she’s very rewarding,” added Alison, who trains with Ailsa Gilchrist.

Girvan and District Riding Club training officer Carrie Ross rode her 11-year-old Friesian mare Vixon 372 to top the novice gold music and an elementary silver.