Area Festival victors included a New Forest, Lusitano and just-returning competitor.
Nika Vorster, rider at Premier PRE Dressage, was the only rider to take two titles. She won medium bronze on the palomino PRE/Lusitano pony, Palomares D’Oro, and the advanced medium bronze on a Lusitano, Curioso.
Palomares is owned by Michelle Enoch.
“He’s an awesome little horse who lights up when he goes in the arena,” said Nika.
Curioso, owned by Louisa Collins, has been a livery for three years and recently has had some high scores at advanced medium.
“He was a little bit tentative going into the arena, but then relaxed and listened,” added Nika.
Sonia Cutler’s Buckland Orlando scored more than 73% to win section A of the novice bronze. Sonia bought him as a weanling and he is by the Dutchbred New Forest pony, Asterhof ’s Mon Ami. Sonia affiliated with British Dressage in December and has only done five competitions.
“It’s been a big learning curve and my trainer Nicola Buchanan has helped me overcome the tension in his walk,” said Sonia.
In July 2017, Trooper Bridge, winner of the advanced medium silver, was diagnosed with a swollen suspensory ligament and tight sacroiliac area.
“He’s my only competition horse, so I’ve brought him back slowly and this was our first big competition,” said his owner, young rider Charlotte Elliott. “I started working and training with Richard Barrett a month ago and already he’s going so much better.”