A pony who was destined for the meat man is proving his worth between the whiteboards at his first ever dressage festival.
Charlotte Cooper bought the now 10-year-old registered Connemara gelding Kildromin Sir five years ago from a dealer after seeing an advert for him.
“I liked the pictures of him so went to see him, but he was nothing like what they put in the advert,” said Charlotte.
“They told me he was great to hack but I rode him up the road and he started rearing and spinning. He’d never had a rug on before and hadn’t been in a trailer. He was also covered in cuts because he’d been turned out with about 100 others.
“They told me that if he wasn’t sold he’d go to the meat man, so I bought him.”
“Finley” had been brought over from Ireland having been used as a hunt hireling and had lost confidence, but with patience and perseverance, he’s turned into a super pony.
Article continues below…
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
You might also be interested in:
(Image credit: Graham Gannon/www.hoofprintsphotos.co.uk)
Find out how Angela Bishop brought her ex-racehorse, Lucy Minaj, back to fitness following a freak accident in the stable
“When I put my foot in the stirrup to get on him, he’d panic and try and run off, so I had to spend ages getting him happy being mounted, and although he still has his moments, he’s much better now,” added Charlotte who works in a chip shop and grooms for dressage rider Anna Bostrand-Daly.
“He’s a fantastic hunter and we do working hunter classes when we’re not hunting with the West Norfolk Foxhounds. He was reserve champion working hunter pony at Equifest last year and will jump gates and ditches all day out hunting, but as soon as he sees a coloured pole or filler, his world falls apart. He can be quirky like that.
“I don’t normally do dressage, only at work when I’m riding Anna’s horses because I don’t have any facilities at home, but as this was so close and had music classes, I thought I’d give it a go.”
The pair is competing in the novice championship and freestyle to music classes at the Horse & Hound Festival of Dressage.
“The festival is really awesome and there’s a super feel to it,” smiled Charlotte. “Everyone is so friendly and chilled out and everything is easy to find. It’s very different to showing!”
Don’t miss the latest news and updates on the H&H Festival of Dressage on the Horse & Hound website and social media channels, plus a full report in the 3 August issue of the magazine.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
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.
