Scots were a force to be reckoned with at Horse of the Year Show
THE final lead up to Horse of The Year show makes for one of the most exciting few weeks in the show jumping calendar – months of planning, travelling and qualifiers culminate in that spectacular moment when horse and rider walk through the famous curtains into the most atmospheric arena in Britain.
Our Scottish riders were a force to be reckoned with this year, featuring in almost every line up as well as claiming a couple of wins.
Absolutely over the moon and rightly so, was young Aimee Paxton making her first trip to HOYS having qualified three ponies for four classes.
Her two super-consistent 138cm ponies didn’t get the results they deserved, although they headed to HOYS as SHOYS 138cm champion and reserve, but her 148cm, taken over from sister, Sophie, just this year, exceeded all expectations to claim the Pony Foxhunter title, Lucy Simpson’s Las Vegas VII.
Over a substantial track, this entire son of Eurocommerce Berlin out of a Dutch Diamond mare, looked flawless to record one of 11 first round clears.
Three were to go clear again with hot favourite, Tabitha Kyle, sitting in the lead when Aimee entered, last to jump. Under instruction from David Harland, Aimee rode a forward, confident round letting the grey stallion run to the last.
Landing clear and realising they’d done it Aimee was ecstatic hugging Las Vegas and taking in the special moment when the crowd cheer and the enormity of it all sinks in.
Bred by Lucy, Las Vegas – known as Asbo at home – was one of a twin with the other being nipped and Lucy joking they’d nipped the biggest one, resulting in Asbo only making 148cm.A working stallion, with youngstock on the ground, he shows fabulous manners and concentration when under saddle and has really come into his own this year.
This pair warmed up for
AIMEE PAXTON
this win by heading the Scottish Horse of The Year show scurry championship then the previous day just rubbing one pole out in the Newcomers to finish sixth.
Another consistent partnership this year won their chance to steal the spotlight when being crowned seven-year-old champion. James Smith riding his own and Jim Wilmer’s super little gelding, Prince Malko M, must have been placed well in every qualifier they jumped this year and rightly deserved their moment of glory at HOYS.
One pole on the floor in the jump-off of the Talent Seekers may have seen them drop to sixth place but Prince Malko M was the top sevenyear-old forward winning a special prize, rug and lap of honour.
A proud and well-deserved moment for his two owners, this wasn’t the end to his show. A 10th in the Foxhunter final the following evening was then surpassed with the most brilliant jumpoff in the grade C final which saw them finish runner-up to Mark Edwards and Royale Tale.
James also found himself in fourth in the Foxhunter final with Madison Jamieson’s Holly, a mare who shows all the ability and will be one to watch next year. James and his team now head out to sunny Vilamoura for a few weeks.
Based in Colyton, Ayrshire, Fergal Holohan has been having a great season qualifying multiple ponies for HOYS as well as winning plenty of classes on horses too. Little Flexible was his biggest earner at this show starting with a perfect double clear and third in the pony Newcomers.
This was followed by a seventh in the Pony Showjumper where one pole dropped in a class that saw just three go clear over the first round. A fast time saw them move up the leader board in the Foxhunter final but again one pole kept them from winning but in a very creditable fifth place.
Their warm-up for HOYS had begun when they were crowned Scottish Branch South-west junior champion at Muirmill before a successful trip to Arena UK where Fergal finished sixth in a strong under-25 Grand Prix with his mother’s Kan Annie.
Graham Babes rode a cool, calm and foot perfect round in the senior Newcomers to return one of only four double clears to collect third. His ride, Monks I Am Casall, has been with him since a foal so full credit to Graham and his team for producing him so well to look like a real future star at this show.
By Im Special De Muze out of a Casall mare, Monks I Am Casall won a 1.4m at Morris recently before jumping a lovely double clear to take third in the Newcomers final. Beautiful turned out with a lovely technique and good brain he looks to be one to keep an eye on as he and his talented jockey go up the levels.
Emma Crawford was delighted with Juno Rose, owned by Tom Carruthers and Barrie Henderson, who jumped the only other double clear in the Newcomers for fourth place. Originally produced by Abbie and Ben Carruthers, Emma only took on the ride in February so this was their most exciting test to date.
David Harland is one of the most popular coaches in Scotland right now but he can also do as he teaches which he proved when riding Chincoreve into fifth place in the Grade C final with a fast four fault round.
This pair had won the SHOYS 1.25m championship at SNEC just a couple of weeks prior to their Birmingham trip.
Leo Lorimer finished top of the Scots in the Silver League finals when riding his own and wife Shannon’s Liu Jo VLS he jumped double clear to slot into fifth place.
Mischa Irving has just returned from team duty abroad to steer I Sir Marcus into 10th with an unusual four faults.
Erin McGee may have been disappointed with her one pole down in the Bronze League final with Loughehoe Henry, but this was still good enough for seventh when clears were few and far between.
The 128cm class didn’t look good with seven ponies being eliminated but it made reigning SHOYS 128cm champion Rebecca Lawson’s attempt on Riverview Sandy stand out when she too just collected four faults to very deservedly earn fourth with only two from the first round going clear.
Amy Morris was thrown in at the deep end when she received a last minute call up to compete in the senior Foxhunter with Lets Hope. It didn’t quite go to plan but would be a good experience for these two who bravely shared the win in the Two Fence Challenge at SHOYS with Kelly Connor on Glamour Boy at 1.6m.
Kelly then headed to Aintee where she had a good show with Glamour Boy winning a B and C Handicap and a 1.3m then Lacara and First Class also winning.
Pupil Rachel Aitken also accounted for two classes riding her own Harley’s Revenge.
Sandra Low Mitchell was seen in winning form with her team of horses. La-Di-Dah won a 1m but Just Dunnitt stood at the top of the line in a busy Foxhunter, a 1.1m following on from a 1.2m win at SHOYS.
Nick Williams was in blistering form on Darius Des Vignes Du Thiel when he had to turn and kick to beat extra fast times set by Alistair Gatherum on G-Star in the Scottish Branch Indoor Championship at SHOYS held at SNEC. The chestnut gelding answered every question to scorch over the line ahead and earn this talented pair a trophy, rug and title.
Jim Wilmer’s daughter, Cara, has been seen starting to be a threat in the senior classes on their home-bred Khaleesi, but it was on her 148cm Doe Mate she scorched round at SNEC to win a trophy and rug for the SHOYS 1m junior championship.
HOYS finalist, Madelaine Archibald, was pleased with her novice pony LCS Peachy Beachy at Birmingham but it was the ever reliable 20-year-old Bay Friend which gave her a decisive win in the SHOYS leading show jumper class to bring their partnership to a close.
Marni McMyn may not have had a lap of honour at HOYS but she and Eyre Diva Dior are now reigning SHOYS indoor champions.
Mother and daughter, Laura and Lexie Lane, won a class apiece at SHOYS with Electra taking the senior 1m title and Claughaun Casper the 90cm and runner-up on the 128cm championship.
Jessica Brown was crowned 11-and-under champion on My Little Sweetheart and Mark Turnbull left not an inch on the jump-off track unturned leaving a clear lead in the 1.1m with Beseeka Red Hot Chilli Pepper.
Claire Leitch brought the wonderful Warhol Wulfselection Z out of ‘retirement’ to win the 1.05m and 1.1m second round Aintree qualifiers, leaving Susan Robb on Millchens Roly Poly to take the 85cm and Aimee Perratt on Holden the 95cm.