‘I thought she could win HOYS, but not this soon’: Young mare is crowned part-bred of the year with 14-year-old rider
A mare in her first open season under saddle trotted to the part-bred pony of the year championship with her 14-year-old rider at the 2021 Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
Ridden by Amelia Lockhart, Absolutely Classic (Connie) looked an absolute picture in the final class of showing on Saturday in the TopSpec Arena.
The bay British riding pony by Whiteleaze Dominion out of Absolutely Glamourous, was bought by her owner Caron Scudamore from her breeders Vicki and John Keen.
She was purchased for Caron’s daughter, Zara, who campaigned her during her novice season before she went to Kirsty and Amelia — a HOYS winner in 2017 on her Dartmoor first ridden pony Newoak Designer Edition — Lockhart, when Zara went off to university.
Amelia and Connie won both of their HOYS tickets, in both the part-breds and 148cm show ponies, on the same day at Midland Counties.
“She wasn’t even worked in before her class today; she’s a dream pony,” said Amelia’s older sister, Kirsty.
Caron bought Connie when she was a five-year-old and she was unbeaten as a novice.
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“When Zara went off to study Connie was going to be a field ornament,” said Caron. “We’d like to breed from her in the future so I rang Kirsty to see if she’d like her for Amelia.
“She’s the easiest pony but she’s been done really slowly and had a proper novice season.
“I just knew when I saw that she would win HOYS one day; though I didn’t expect it to be quite so soon.”
Amelia and Connie were also on show in the 148cm children’s riding pony of the year earlier in the day, where they stood a credible third.
“We’ve got a good team of girls behind us who haven’t rushed her in anyway,” added Caron. “She only went into a double bridle this year.
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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.