Part-bred Shire triumphs at inter I
Beacons Equestrian Area Festival, Carmarthenshire
VETERAN Shire/thoroughbred gelding Cumeragh House Mac claimed the inter I bronze title with Samantha Fish, proving that he still has what it takes at 21.
Samantha, who bought Mac as a “sharp and cold-backed” fouryear-old, acknowledges the role of equine vet Andy Bathe with his longevity in the sport.
“Mac just had that movement and power,” she said. “He had a nasty suspensory ligament tear some time ago that we didn’t think he’d come back from – it’s all credit to Andy that he has kept going.
“I have three part-bred Shires and they have such grace about them,” added Samantha, who recently moved from the West Midlands to set up a yard in Carmarthenshire. “They’re so athletic and light on their feet.”
Jordana Hughes headed the novice silver with Ingres (Brodie), the nine-year-old Davino gelding she bought in autumn 2020.
“He’s turning me into a dressage rider,” she said of Brodie. “I had intended to event him, as he has one heck of a pop, but the plan seems to be going out of the window. I’m enjoying the dressage and looking forward to the step up to elementary.
“Brodie was quite tense when we got him, so we’ve done all sorts to help settle his brain – fun rides, cross-country fences and hacking, alongside competing,” she added. “I hit the deck a few times at first, but we’re coming out the other side. Rather than resorting to damage limitation in the second half of the test, as I usually do, this time he was so rideable that I could enjoy the whole thing.”