Showing highlights: ‘Exceptional’ ponies on display at first post-Covid-19 affiliated show *H&H Plus*
‘Exceptional‘ ponies come forward for the first show back
BSPS Area 1A, Richmond EC, North Yorks
British Show Pony Society (BSPS) Area 1A held the first post-Covid-19 affiliated show. Area chairman Joanne Pybus was impressed by the “exceptional” ponies presented for judging.
“There was a huge amount of planning and extra admin to do so we could adhere to Government and governing body guidelines,” said Joanne. “Each class had a start time with timed working in, and there was a happy atmosphere.”
Team Jinks cleaned up with their lorry load. Joanne’s daughter Ella Pybus rode the 15hh Just Murphy II to win the open show hunter pony title. The seven-year-old gelding by Stanhopes Odwig was Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) finalist last year. Ella also used her experience to steer the five-year-old mare Secret Affair to win the novice equivalent.
“David Jinks bought her out of the field as a three-year-old,” explained co-producer Adam Forster. “We broke her in after HOYS and then Joanne and Ella were looking for a new novice; they came to see her and bought her then and there. She will be campaigned as a novice before running into open ranks in 2021.”
Rhea Shakespere and Shelly Jones’ grey gelding Noble Kings Speech took the intermediate championship, while Charlotte Caulfield rode her 2019 HOYS show pony victor Stretcholt New Dimension to be top of his section.
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Florence Davies and Barkway Alfiemoon finished the run, standing top mini show pony.
Emily Carroll’s six-year-old show riding type Roseberry Moment Of Truth stood reserve in the intermediates before winning the horse class with producer James Knight on board.
In mountain and moorland (M&M) ranks, Lauren Haddlesey was on form with her Fell stallion Sevenvale George, to stand section reserve behind Carrie Pettit’s Craig Elenor-produced Shetland Homer Of Crafton ridden by Cate Kerr. Carrie bought seven-year-old Homer as a stallion from a Facebook post in February.
“We had him gelded so my daughter, Francesca, could ride him as a first ridden,” said Carrie. “He’s now home for the summer so Francesca can practice. He’ll then return to Craig and Sara Parrott to contest some Olympia qualifiers hopefully; he really does it all.”
“He’s even hunted with the Tynedale”
An eight-year-old stallion bought as a yearling has proved it pays to be on the look-out for potential youngsters. Chris Grant’s Highland pony Dunedin Mohawk landed the novice Heritage spoils.
“He’s taken a while to mature under saddle so I’ve given him plenty of time,” said Chris, who rode Mohawk’s granddam Dunedin Finale to much success. “Mohawk was on conservation grazing as a youngster and then I showed him in-hand; his results include standing male breed champion at the Royal Highland in 2007.
“He has the most wonderful temperament. Last autumn we even hunted with the Tynedale; he is so good that I was able to hold the whipper-in’s horse while he recalled the hounds. He works as a stallion at home and he can serve a mare and then immediately be hacked out with another.”
Working rider
Lauren Haddlesey made her 2020 debut with her 14-year-old Fell Severnvale George a winning one. Home-producer Lauren juggles being a mother to her three-year-old daughter and her work as an office administrator around George, who is a former winner of the Royal International (RIHS) M&M supreme.
“We do all our schooling in the field as we don’t have an arena,” said Lauren, who rode at HOYS for the first time last October. “I make it work with a lot of early starts and late nights. We started British Dressage at the beginning of the year, too, and we’ve won two novice classes so far. George is the easiest pony I’ve known. He’s made all my dreams come true.”
Ref Horse & Hound; 16 July 2020
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.