‘He loves life, and it shows in his results’: Recently gelded six-year-old scores at British Showjumping Spring Championships
A competitive six-year-old winter championship at the 2022 British Showjumping Spring Championships (24—27 March) went to Leicestershire-based Thomas Dovkants riding one of his four finalists.
His leading man was Carron Nicol’s Gmail, a 16.2hh grey gelding by Cornet Obolensky, who certainly shares his sire’s talent over a fence.
Gmail and Thomas led the 13-head jump off with a time of 30.53.
Carron bought Gmail as a youngster from Belgium and has produced him up the levels. After breaking a vertebrae in her back, Carron asked Thomas to take the ride.
“Carron and her team have done an amazing job with him,” enthused Thomas, who was joined at the 2022 British Showjumping Spring Championships by his mum, who he says is ‘one of the biggest supporters in his life.’
“We’ve had Gmail for about four months, which isn’t a lifetime but long enough to get to know him. He’s a bit of a nightmare at home; you can’t leave anything around or he’ll chew it.”
The decision to geld Gmail was made about eight months ago.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“He’s recently gelded and it was the best choice,” said Thomas. “His quality of life is unbelievable and he can now live like a normal horse. You would never know he had been a stallion for so long. He loves life and it shows in his results.”
“He’s a funny chap, both on the yard and in the ring,” added Thomas, whose team had 10 horses on site at Northcote Stud. “He’s got loads of attitude and character which works in his favour when you put him against the clock. He’s brave and he’s always game.”
“The jump off was a nice, forward course which asked for big canter strides,” commented Thomas. “The quality [in the six-year-old final] was unbelievable; everytime we come to this venue there are a lot of nice horses.
“My tactic for the jump-off was to simply leave the first fence up. Gmail is good at going fast, but he can struggle on the turns; he comes back at you a bit, so all I wanted was for him to not get lost and follow my body around the corners. He made all three turns well and didn’t struggle at all. It was the best jump off I’ve had with him.”
Gmail is now gearing up to appear at the Royal International (RIHS) in July after qualifying earlier in the season.
“I’m so grateful to have such a fantastic team of owners,” Thomas concluded. “We couldn’t do it without them.”
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
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.