Now in its sixth year, the National Veteran championships, hosted by the Veteran Horse Society, saw strong class entries across the board. Competitors from around the country came in floods to celebrate their very own ‘golden oldies’.
The Veteran Horse Society was founded by Julianne Aston more than 20 years ago and is dedicated to all horses and ponies aged 15 and over.
The championship fixture has become the highlight of the veteran calendar, bringing together the hundreds of veteran horse owners and carers, for one weekend of the year.
Check out these highlights from the 2019 fixture…
1. Congratulations!
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The overall champion veteran horse of the year 2019 was 22-year-old Cottrell Riverdance, ridden by Millie Bowles, crowned in the grand supreme final after taking the supreme ridden title.
2. Crowd favourite
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Gary Snaith and his beautiful 19-year-old Shetland mare Schivas Victoria were crowned mountain and moorland in-hand supreme champions.
3. Young talent
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The equitation class for riders 15 years and under was won by Isobel Kinvig and Mrs Kinvig’s 19-year-old gelding Glengoole Lad. This was Lad’s third show back after a seven-year break from the show ring.
4. A special guest
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Team GB member and Veteran Horse Society member Lindsay Hancock delighted the crowds with a dressage to music performance with her team horse Barachiel. Lindsay’s student Blythe Senior joined her riding No Limit D, who is aged 24.
5. Dressed to the nines
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The popular costume class saw the Fell pony Clarmount Bengeman, aged 21, and his owner Rebecca Rawlinson land the in-hand title.
Rose Sinclair-James and 17-year-old Half Irish were crowned regional ridden champions after winning the regional ridden pre-veteran class for horses aged 15 to 19.
7. Team work
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Laura Kenyon-Brodie and 22-year-old Maysong and Beth Hutchinson with 19-year-old Tamiros took victory in the pairs class.
8. A for effort
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Strictly fancy dress-age winner was Claire Hazeldine and her 20-year-old Taking the Biscuit, while the best costume award went to Amelia Stevens and Glenives Princess Sylvia (above).
For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday. Check out the full 2019 Horse of the Year Show report in this week’s issue, on sale Thursday 10 October.
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
