Tales from Hickstead: when your Royal International journey includes a ferry and 767-mile drive…

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Jorgi Craigie qualified for the Royal International on her first attempt with Rhencullen Rockette
Jorgi Craigie qualified for the Royal International on her first attempt with Rhencullen Rockette.
(Image credit: Adrian Sinclair)

TEN-year-old Jorgi Craigie and eight-year-old Welsh sec A mare Rhencullen Rockette qualified for their first Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) on their first attempt at the NPS show at Strathallan Castle in June. They will be competing in the 122cm M&M WHP class at Hickstead.

“It was their first ever RIHS qualifier, and Jorgi was over the moon to get the ticket,” said Jorgi’s mother Caroline Casey. “Covid robbed us of a season, so they were delighted to get out this year. They grow out of their ponies so fast so it was sad to see a year lost, but we made the most of it and did a lot of hacking and went to the beaches and just kept going because we couldn’t do much else.”

Stephanie Bateman
Stephanie Bateman
Freelance journalist

Stephanie Bateman began her career working for Horse & Hound’s sister title HORSE magazine in 2009 after studying a BSc Equine Science degree at Hartpury university. After a few years working in-house for a national equestrian title, she went freelance in 2011, and now writes for a variety of print and online platforms, editing sections of national monthly magazines and contributing regular features and event reports to Horse & Hound. She juggles working with being a mummy and wife, and riding her coloured mare Matilda.