Kyle makes her mark at HOYS
TEENAGE equestrian star Tabitha Kyle had a busy schedule at at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in Birmingham having qualified eight rides with her ponies and horse.
She was aiming to defend her 138cc title and set the pace with the first of her three ponies, Another Barney, going clear in 34.02, but got pushed down to second place when Tilly Bamford went clear in the jump off in a time of 33.32 with Dizzy Rascal.
Kyle was last to go with Playboy Van de Zoetewei and secured a faster time of 31.32 but with four faults it meant she had to be satisfied with final placings of second, fourth and eighth.
Perhaps the greatest achievement of the week for the 14-year-old from Wymeswold was stepping up to one of the most coveted horse classes at the show, the senior Foxhunter title.
The last class of Thursday evening Kyle jumped clear and into the jump off with her horse Desterly 1, owned by Su & Gordon Hall.
She was the youngest in the class of International riders at only 14 years old and in the jump off posted a time of 40.94 but with eight faults had to settle for seventh place, with the title won by Lucy Townley on Billy Nikon.
Kyle said: “I have only had Desterly for around a year and to qualify for the senior Foxhunter final at the Horse of the Year Show is an amazing feeling, yet to finish seventh is even better. She is a super horse and I would love to win that title so we are looking forward to next year.”