They often say that the most difficult horses are the most rewarding. One dedicated owner who knows this all too well is Vikki Jenkins, who has overcome several challenges and bagged a ticket to the 2019 Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) with her traditional coloured cob Mr Woo, who she has owned for nearly a decade.
“It certainly hasn’t been an easy journey to get here,” said Vikki, who works as a freelance riding coach. “I got him when he was three and he’s now 12. He’s had a good showing career since I started with him, winning or being placed on most occasions, however he is a live wire to say the least.”
Vikki says that Mr Woo is well know at home for his quirky behaviour both in and out of the show ring.
“This is why the big qualifiers have always eluded us,” added Vikki. “In 2012 we had a terrible accident at the yard. He fell on the concrete and it resulted in me having plastic surgery to correct damage to my face from the fall. After this it took us both a while to regain our confidence.
“However, during 2014 he was back in action and we had a spectacular year culminating at the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association championships where we won all our classes in the breed finals and went overall section champion.”
While Vikki was ready to take the following season by storm, Mr Woo then sustained an injury after “incorrect shoeing” and he was required to have 18 months out of the show ring.
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“I had to slowly bring him back into work and then gradually get him back out showing.
“We are totally home produced and I have been having training with Louise Bell who has also convinced us to have a go at dressage; we have also qualified for the British Dressage Area Festivals.”
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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.
