Walters’ winning ways
A working rider celebrates her first win, while a sixtime Olympian showcases her up-and-coming equine talent
Port Eliot, Cornwall
A HOME-BRED, overgrown Connemara trounced the opposition to land the top spot – and give his rider her first-ever win – in BE90 section A.
Charlotte Walters and Holnest Macalla, who was bred by Charlotte’s parents, completed on their dressage score of 29.8.
“Breeding is a family passion rather than a business. We only have one foal every year, but it’s really satisfying to produce the youngsters,” said Charlotte, who divides her time between Dorset and London, where she works in insurance.
The 15hh “Mac” is by Glencarrig Marble out of Holnest Coolnaha.
“He’s such a character. His party trick is to ‘help’ with the mucking out by picking up the wheelbarrow and fork,” she added. “Connemaras are the perfect breed to have if you’re trying to combine work and horses. Mac is very low maintenance – I can hop on a train from London at the end of the week and take him out eventing at the weekend.”
Charlotte’s dream is to qualify for next year’s Grassroots Championship at Badminton.
Another Charlotte occupied three of the first four spots in the BE90open.
Charlotte Rowe won with Femme Fatale Sijgje, finished third with Langaller Blue Moon and took fourth with Earl Grey. Only Mary King prevented a one-two-three, squeezing into second place with her home-bred King Louis, by Upsilon.
Mary also topped the BE100open with King Seamus.
The three educational and beautifully presented courses ran over new ground this year as changes to the estate management during Covid ruled out the previous route through the park.
“It actually made for much better viewing for spectators and we had a lot of really positive feedback from riders,” said organiser Tamsyn Hutchins, who took to social media in the month preceding the event to ensure the event had sufficient entries to run (see box, overleaf ).