Polished performances claim top prizes
A young hack and a seasoned Dartmoor pony are called forward to take the horse and pony supremes, landing the healthy £1,000 prize pots in the process
UNIVERSITY student Phoebe Price continued her in-form run when her family’s stunning hack champion St Giles Devole (Dev) landed the Veronica White £1,000 supreme title, beating off four other determined contenders under the eagle eye of judge Ben Van Praagh.
“This horse was ridden very professionally, and its movement and paces were beautifully exhibited,” said Ben.
The win also made a perfect day-early birthday present for new producer Scott Dixon, who took on the care of Team Price’s animals in January this year.
Six-year-old Dev, who also contests intermediate classes, has been with the Price family for two years, and is being aimed at Windsor.
Despite having had only limited outings due to her studies, Phoebe has already qualified for Hickstead in both intermediate and hack ranks with the elegant gelding. Two of their recent highlights were taking the supreme amateur award at British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Area 15A and the intermediate title at Wiltshire Spring.
“He used to compete as a riding horse, but I thought he might make a beautiful hack,” said Scott.
Another student, Caitlin Hamilton, 20, took a rare break from her studies to snap up a catch ride on the Pennells’ home-bred Dales stallion, Nipna
Midnight Rambler (Rambo), who took the Royal International (RIHS) young rider’s intermediate ticket and stood section champion. The seven-year-old is produced by Sarah Parker.
“This was the first time I’ve ridden Rambo in the ring,” said an overjoyed Caitlin, who is working towards a degree in child development at Chester University.
“Sarah rang me a few days before this show and asked if I’d fancy a ring ride on him, and although I’m in the midst of writing my dissertation and finishing my placements I just couldn’t resist – I really should be on lockdown from shows!”
It was a case of following in family footsteps too, as Caitlin rode Rambo’s sire, Nipna Invictus – whom she owns – to win at Hickstead last year.
“This horse’s movement and paces were beautifully exhibited”
“IT WAS A JOY TO SEE”
A BORROWED first-time jockey on a “boomerang pony” had a magical day, sealed with
the Veronica White £1,000 supreme pony award.
Evie Walsh, eight, was drafted in to partner Sara Hird’s charming Dartmoor Springwater Last Light (LaLa) as usual jockey, Sara’s granddaughter Agatha Miller, six, was starting at a new school on the same day.
Despite never having met before, the pair duly headed a strong RIHS mini section before going on to the ultimate accolade, led by co-producer
Gayle Holder.
“It was a joy to see such a lovely pony encapsulating the manners and temperament of a true lead-rein, and ridden by such a promising young jockey,” said judge Ben Van Praagh, a friend of Veronica’s for more than 40 years.
Sara bought LaLa as a threeyear-old, and subsequently sold him to Oli Burchell for a client. He was later sold on again.
“Nine years after that, I was looking for a Dartmoor for my grandchildren, and saw LaLa advertised for sale,” said cancer survivor Sara. “I recognised the name and bought him back over the phone. When I was diagnosed, I asked Gayle if she could try and get Agatha to HOYS – she did, and they were seventh last year.”
The-now 14-year-old is produced by Team Holder.
“I’ve tried to win this supreme while Veronica was alive but now it means even more – I admit I had a tear in my eye,” said Gayle Holder. “The standard at the show was extremely high and the fact that every penny raised goes to charity makes it stand out from the crowd.”
The triumph came at the end of a stellar week for Team Holder, who stood RIHS section mini champion and supreme at BSPS Area 15A with Jane Lindsay’s Rowfantina Millionaire, and headed both lead-rein and 122cm hunter pony RIHS qualifiers at Area 7 with Vickie Plumer’s partbred Dartmoor Newoak Skyfall. Emma herself was cob champion at Area 16 with Sharon Harris’ Blimey O’Reily.
“It’s been hard work but what an incredible week,” added Gayle. “They don’t come along like that very often!”
BACK IN THE SADDLE
JUST eight weeks after giving birth to son Freddie, Kate BarberLomax (née Marfleet) returned to the show ring to post a winning hat-trick and collect three RIHS tickets – all under different judges.
Partnering the Hoods’ former charge, Judy Byford’s prolificwinning heavyweight cob Master Of The House – now 16 and home-produced – Kate headed her amateur and open cob classes and sealed the day with the overall Senior Showing and Dressage Ltd (SSADL) championship.
This is the partnership’s second season together, and their last outing was at Birmingham.
“We were lucky that ‘supernanny’ Louenna Hood offered to look after Freddie while Kate was riding,” said Kate’s mother Amanda, who helps produce Master Of The House.