‘He tries his socks off ’

The Cabin Equestrian RC, Aberdeenshire

AFTER a tough winter north of the border, riders emerged on form for a competitive day at

The Cabin.

“We laid our horses off in the snow and freezing wind, as the weather was a constant let-down,” said Nicky Heale, who headed both advanced mediums with Verity Jenner’s Fürstenball mare Furstinclaire. “I was quite nervous about competing again, which is not like me, but the horses seem to have come back feeling refreshed.”

Furstinclaire, an embryo twin known as “Bandage”, has benefited from remote training with Nicola Buchanan, made possible with a Pixio “robot cameraman” that follows Nicky as she rides.

“Bandage is secure in her changes now and scored two nines for her centre lines,” said Nicky, who was also second in the PSG with her Welsh section D gelding Retanach Request. “Both can be quite hot, but I’m learning to ride the hotness.”

Victoria Gladwyn rushed home after a morning’s judging to collect her Oldenburg gelding Sonnersted to win the PSG.

The multi-talented 11-year-old is also eventing at BE100 and showjumping at newcomers level.

“He tries his socks off,” said Victoria of “Sonny”, whom she bought as a weanling from the Romanno Stud. “He was so grown up about things; I was absolutely beaming.”