In this week’s episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast, H&H’s eventing editor Pippa Roome chatted to Polly Jackson about her tiny skewbald eventing partner Two for Joy, aka Percy

When eventer Polly Jackson first set eyes on the diminutive 14.3hh skewbald Two For Joy (Percy), who would go on to defy those who questioned if he had the size or talent to make it at the highest level, her immediate thought was that she was going to need to buy a smaller saddle.

“It was quite a shock when I saw how little he actually was,” Polly told Pippa Roome in episode four of The Horse & Hound Podcast. “What really struck me was how compact he was – I could put my hand on the front of his chest and also touch his tail. When they put the saddle on him… it was well down his back and I thought ‘gosh, I’m going to have to get a new saddle!’”

Polly was tipped off about the quirky 14.3hh gelding by Julian Trevor-Roper and Mandy Stibbe, a British eventing team selector at the time, who told her: “If you click, you guys could do amazing things.”

Happily Mandy’s belief that the little horse could become a star with the right rider proved correct, but it wasn’t all plain sailing along the way.

“He was a character, that’s for sure,” continued Polly. “Whoever did ride him had to ride him the way he wanted to be ridden – he didn’t get on with every rider.”

He demonstrated this soon after arriving on Polly’s yard when she invited her head girl to have a jump on him and she “literally flew”.

“On landing [from a jump] Percy let her have it. Next thing she was on a floor looking back at me and she said ‘well he can jump because he can buck!’ We soon realised that Percy was going to be one who said ‘you can ride me as long as you understand the rules’.”

He also made at least one top rider reassess his preconceived ideas about coloured horses not having what it takes to be successful in the competition arena.

“At one winter showjumping show Tim Stockdale said to me: ‘That can’t jump – that should be pulling a cart’…” Percy went on to pulled off an incredibly turn to win the Foxhunter class in front of Tim, Michael Whitaker, Billy Twomey and others. “Then Tim walked over and said ‘OK, I take it back, he’s a bit unreal’ and I said ‘yes he’s pretty special’.”

Continued below…

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Polly established a brilliant relationship with the talented skewbald, who was finally put down at the age of 30 earlier this year, which saw them jump around Badminton and represent Britain at the 2005 European Championships.

Polly recalls her great cross-country round at Badminton 2005 with a smile: “It was one of those perfect rounds. He was always a clever thinker and knew where his legs were. The minute you could open that stride up – he had a huge stride so the cross-country always feel easy. He was so adjustable, it was a pleasure to ride. His legs would be up by his ears – you always felt very safe on him. Although he was little, he always had plenty of power and plenty of jump.

“When it’s going your way, there is nothing better than going around Burghley or Badminton.”

• Listen to episode four of The Horse & Hound Podcast in full

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Two For Joy, the 14.3hh event horse who represented Britain at the 2005 European Championships with Polly Jackson-Griffin, was put down on Friday (29 May), aged 30.

The tiny skewbald was a “big little person, who stole so many hearts,” said Polly, who now lives in Ireland with husband Niall Griffin.

The pair finished fourth at both the Athens Olympic test event in 2003 and Blenheim CCI3* (now CCI4*-L) in 2004, as well as completing Badminton 2005.

Two For Joy, by Shaab, was bred by Henrik Wiegersma and started his eventing career with success at pre-novice and novice level with Ian Wills, who also produced him for pony showing classes. After a spell with Italian eventer Susanna Bordone, he was bought by Polly after Julian Trevor-Roper and Mandy Stibbe recommended she try him.

“Quite a few people were adamant he wouldn’t make an event horse and when I went to try him, I couldn’t believe how small he was,” Polly told H&H. “But I sat on him and we just clicked. He had great rideability but was quite cocky – no matter what you put in front of him, he would jump it.

“He always rode like a big horse – he used to take strides out very easily and could take off anywhere. Even at 26, he wouldn’t be caught one day for worming and jumped straight over a gate off a 180º turn onto our gallops.”

As a young horse, “Percy” was quite cheeky and had the biggest buck.

“Because he was so small and short, the power was immense and could send you flying,” remembered Polly. “He was nervous of crowds, but he liked the big occasion. I once took him to Melton Mowbray to do the novice as an easy run before Blair CCI2* [now CCI3*-L] and he tried to do a U-turn because he just couldn’t be bothered, so I got 20 penalties.

“He was lazy at home too – he was that professional horse, who would turn it on at events. At home he’d feel like he didn’t want to jump today or even at arena hire he wouldn’t care much, but he knew it was special at events.”

Polly’s favourite memories of Percy are from Badminton 2005, when he did a superb dressage test.

“Someone asked if there was anything we could have improved on afterwards, but for the first and probably last time in my life, it was perfect,” said Polly. “Carl Hester said it was the best test but that the judges wouldn’t mark him up because he was a pony and coloured.”

Percy attracted a lot of attention at Badminton after Lucinda Green wrote a piece about him for The Daily Telegraph.

“We couldn’t even graze him in front of the house because people would literally circle round him and we needed a police escort to get to and from the arena because the attention was starting to freak him out,” she said.

Across country, Polly was given a controversial 20 penalties at a drop fence early on course.

Polly explained: “A kid came from under the wire and ran out just before I got to the step and Percy saw her at the last minute and just for a second, hesitated and moved left. He was so nimble and he didn’t step back.”

Aside from this, the pair had an incredible round.

“It felt huge on my other horse, Limestone Rise – when I also had to contend with a flapping camera, which I was wearing for TV, but which came loose. I thought it’d be too big for Percy, but he made it feel easy, like a Pony Club course,” said Polly. “It was one of those dream rides where you don’t miss a beat.”

Polly and Percy were members of the British squad for the European Championships at Blenheim that autumn, but the horse suffered a fly bite on his back and was not quite at his best, though he did complete the event.

“Limestone Rise was doing well at four-star and we were British squad reserves, but I couldn’t break onto the team, so Percy was the one who brought me to the forefront,” said Polly. “He was different and you couldn’t miss him so he won everybody’s hearts – he was the horse I received sponsorship and recognition with. Everybody said he wasn’t good enough and wouldn’t be an event horse, but every step of the way, he always did it.

“He taught me not to interfere – I let him do the job and he could do it – and I still do that with my horses now. They will do everything and anything if they are confident.”

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After he retired, Percy did a little lower level competing with other riders, before returning to live out his life in a big field with Polly’s other old horses.

“He’d lost a lot of weight in the past four weeks and wasn’t himself,” said Polly. “I could see he was deteriorating quickly and wasn’t his normal self, so I made the decision to have him put down, though it was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. It was a beautiful sunny day and he was put to sleep in his field shelter. He is buried at home.

“He was with me 22 years and gave me the best times of my life, so he’s left a hole in my heart.”

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Eventer Polly Jackson will receive £72,000 after settling out of court with the owners of one of her top horses.

Miss Jackson launched court action against Bournston Highland Charm’s owners Paul and Christine Kilmister, claiming they broke a verbal agreement that she could compete him until after the Olympics.

The case was settled on 23 January, the day before it was due to be heard at the High Court in Birmingham.

Miss Jackson said: “This dispute has been ongoing since 2009, so to have it settled is a relief. It saddens me but I had no choice, as they refused to settle the claim without the intervention of the courts.”

Miss Jackson, now based in Co Wexford, found “Henry” in 2006 and he was bought for 132,000 Australian dollars ( £77,172) by Bournston Equestrian for her to ride, with a view to 2012 qualification.

According to court papers, the Kilmisters paid the livery bills until May 2008, when it was verbally agreed Miss Jackson would pay all expenses.

The rider claims this was in return for a share in ownership.

Later, Miss Jackson claims, the Kilmisters asked her to find a buyer, but promised she would keep the ride. But new owners were found in September 2009 and planned to move him.

She refused to return Henry and launched court action. He has been on her parents’ yard during the dispute but she was unable to compete him.

Their last outing was in August 2009, when they were second in the CCI*** at Blair Castle.

Miss Jackson also receives “full and sole ownership” of Bournston Highland Charm and two others she was training for the Kilmisters. Mr Kilmister declined to comment.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (23 February 2012)

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Event rider Polly Jackson is suing the owners of the horse she hoped would take her to the 2012 Olympics after they decided to sell it.

In a writ, lodged at the High Court last month, Miss Jackson alleges that Paul and Christine Kilmister, of Bournston Equestrian, breached an agreement regarding the ownership of Bournston Highland Charm.

The Australian thoroughbred is one of Miss Jackson’s top rides, coming second in the CCI*** at Blair Castle last year.

But she has not been able to compete him this season because of the legal wrangle.

Neither party wanted to comment, but according to the writ, Miss Jackson is claiming between £50,000-£100,000.

Miss Jackson found the horse in 2006 and he was bought for Aus$132,000 (£77,172) by Bournston Equestrian for her to ride.

The writ reads: “The claimant and first defendant came to a verbal agreement whereby the defendants agreed to pay the claimant to keep the horse at her premises.

“[They] agreed the claimant would be the sole rider of the horse and he would not be transferred, given or sold to any other rider or owner prior to the 2012 Olympic Games.”

According to the writ, the Kilmisters paid the livery bills until May 2008, when it was agreed that Miss Jackson would pay all expenses in return for an owner’s share.

Later, Miss Jackson claims, the Kilmisters asked her to find a buyer, but promised she would keep the ride.

But last September new owners were found who wanted to move the horse.

Miss Jackson refused and the ownership of the horse, who is still at her yard, is now a matter for the courts.

Mr Kilmister told H&H that he refutes Miss Jackson’s version of events and has launched a counterclaim.

No hearing date has been set.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (9 September, ’10)

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Oliver Townend (pictured right) and Lucy Wiegersma are among a line-up of potential Olympic event riders hosting a masterclass at Belton Horse Trials (31 March 7:30pm).

The class will offer advice on training for dressage, show jumping and cross-country, using up-and-coming riders as guinea pigs.

Piggy French, Tristram Owers, Nick Gauntlett and Polly Jackson will be teaching alongside Townend and Wiegersma. The class, which is run in conjunction with Belton Horse Trials (31 March – 1 April), is being held in support of the Event Riders’ Association.

Tickets are available priced at £20 for adults and £17 for children under 16. Pony Club members £15. Attendees to the masterclass can also benefit from a preferential entry rate of £5 to Belton Horse Trials.

Ticket application details and further information can be found at www.hoylandevent.co.uk or by contacting Hoyland Event & Marketing Services (tel: 01777 872298) or email: info@hoylandevent.co.uk

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Former Olympic rider Chris Hunnable is being sued for damages after being accused of selling a £60,000 horse he knew was unable to compete.

Chris Hunnable and co-owner Anne Bolingbroke sold Red Quest for £60,000, despite having a vet’s report showing he had medical conditions making him unfit for competitions, it is alleged.

Now the purchasers, Stephen and Jacqueline West and Paul Jackson, are suing Mrs Bolingbroke and Mr Hunnable for damages totalling £97,505.63.

They paid £60,000 for the 16.1hh bay gelding in April 2003, then aged 12, for a professional rider to compete him at advanced level in eventing, according to a writ issued in London’s High Court.

According to British Eventing’s records, Red Quest was competed by Chris Hunnable until March 2003. The pair were placed and won at intermediate and advanced level, including at Gatcombe Park and Burnham Market.

Polly Jackson first competed the horse in May 2003, and continued to do so until May 2005. They were placed 12th at Bramham in 2003 and fifth in an open intermediate at Bicton in April 2005. Red Quest last competed at Chatsworth in May 2005, where he retired on the cross-country.

But now the plaintiffs say the horse, by Accordian, cannot even be ridden, let alone competed, because he is suffering from kissing spines — where part of his spine rubs together painfully. He also has osteoarthritis of the back, and ligament problems in one leg.

They accuse Mr Hunnable and Mrs Bolingbroke of knowing about these problems before selling the horse, saying they had a veterinary surgeon’s report confirming this in June 2001. They claim that the pair should have disclosed the problems, but failed to do so when selling the horse.

Mr Hunnable, of Great Maplestead, Halstead, Essex, is a well-known face on the eventing circuit, and has ridden many different horses successfully. In 1996 he competed as an individual at the Atlanta Olympics, riding Mr Bootsie.

• This news report was first published in Horse & Hound (9 November, ’06)

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