She thinks quicker than I do!’ speedy British combination take young-horse title
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The young horse classes at the Royal International Horse Show concluded in super style with a win for a British rider on a British-bred horse.
Sally Goding took the seven- and eight-year-old final in the International Arena on her homebred eight-year-old mare Spring Willow.
The combination were last to go, of three from each age group in the jump-off, and the game little chestnut showed her class to finish 0.04 of a second ahead of Cortizo Goncalves de Azevedo Filho on Sierra Du Piedroux Z.
“I’m really happy,” Sally said. “She’s home-bred too, so it’s extra special.
“She’s very feisty and she absolutely loves it; the bell goes and she’s off. She likes to do things her own way — she doesn’t always listen to me but she’s usually right!”
Sally and Spring Willow had won the first qualifier for this final, then Sally used the second as a schooling round, finishing fourth.
“There was no pressure today and it was a big track for her,” she said. “Luckily I got a good draw so was able to watch a few. She’s so springy, and you can change your mind at the last minute; she thinks quicker than I do!”
“She’s lovely,” Sally added. “So easy, always excited, always happy and up for doing something, thrives on exercise — and she’s very greedy, she’ll do anything for a treat!”
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