The up-and-coming young rider who has taken on Yasmin Ingham’s five-star and championship partner Rehy DJ said there is “nothing not to love about him”.
The 16-year-old with whom Yasmin represented Britain, came third at Luhmühlen twice and won at three-star level has been sold to 20-year-old Elizabeth Barratt, the national young rider champion and current young rider world number one eventer.
Elizabeth told H&H “Piglet” arrived at the end of last week and has settled in to his new home.
“It’s really exciting,” she said. “While I was jumping in Spain, Yas messaged about the possibility of him needing a young rider jockey and we were very lucky that she allowed us to come and try him – and we fell in love with him.”
Elizabeth said she was delighted Yas had thought of her to take on the reins, and she went to try him a couple of weeks ago.
“We went up to Somerford and tried him, and there’s nothing not to love about him,” she said. “He’s just super cool, he settled in really well and seems to like his new home.
“We’ll get to know him for a bit; I’m taking him on quite close to the start of the season, so we’ll see how quickly we gel and get to know each other, but I’d love to have him to campaign for young riders – this is my last year in young riders – alongside my other horse, Chaman Dumountceau; it’ll be really nice to have the two of them campaigning for that.”
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Championship aims
Elizabeth, who was crowned British young rider national champion last year with Big Boss Melo and has won at three-star level, also has the under-25 World Championships next year in her sights with Piglet.
“Hopefully he’ll be great at that,” she said. “I’ve only done a couple of four-stars so I’ve got a lot to learn but hopefully he’ll give me some great mileage at four-star and teach me a lot, and I’ll be very lucky to have him to do that, and to have this opportunity.”
Piglet was the first horse bought for Yasmin by the late Sue Davies, Eddie Davies and their daughter Janette Chin, and together they went from young riders – finishing fourth individually at the 2018 Europeans – to five-star level and senior championships; they represented their country at last year’s Europeans at Blenheim and in the 2022 Aachen Nations Cup, which Britain won.
“A decade of us, but now it’s time for our chapter to close,” Yasmin said. “I am delighted (with some tears!) to share that Piglet (Rehy DJ) will be piloted by the current world number one young rider Elizabeth Barratt.
“I am so grateful to Piglet for being my ultimate stalwart and best buddy over the past 10 years. We have learnt together, grown together, had some incredible results and memories together and now it’s time for a new chapter to begin for him and Elizabeth and I wish them so much luck. Thank you Piglet.”
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
