Rescue stars shine at Pony of the Year Show

Two rescue ponies proved you don’t have to spend a fortune to be in the ribbons at Pony of the Year Show (POYS).

Foxy Lady VI, bought from travellers for £50, and Hole In One II (pictured), rescued from a meat market, finished second and third in the POYS introductory classic at Bury Farm Equestrian Village (29 March-1 April).

Foxy Lady, a 13-year-old Welsh section D, was bought by a friend of current owner Cristy Sermon as an emaciated four-year-old.

The mare has been on loan to 14-year-old Meg Morren-Jeffs, from Farnham, for the past year.

“Cristy’s friend couldn’t bear to watch Lady starving, so she offered the travellers £50 for her,” said Meg’s mother Kerry. “Her face was so ulcerated, it looked like a football.

“She still suffers from inflammatory bowel disease, which the vets think is because she had such bad worms,” she added. “But when she’s in the ring, people stop to watch — she’s electric.”

Hole In One II, named after the hole in her ear from the meat market tag, was rescued as a four-year-old.

She came to 15-year-old Gaby Struel, from Cardiff, through the Pony Club.

“She has scarring on both sides, but I don’t know how she ended up at market,” said Gaby’s mother Sian.

“She has taken Gaby from jumping 2ft to being placed at POYS two years running.”

The pair were only beaten by Phoebe Locke — who has represented England on 128cm and 138cm showjumping teams — and Dakota IV.

“It goes to show, you don’t need to spend mega bucks on a pony to excel,” added Sian.

See this week’s magazine (11 April) for the full report from POYS (p48)

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (11 April 2013)

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