Event Reports

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF POPPY WEBBER

QUALIFIED SADDLE FITTER FOR THE SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS, COVERING CAMBRIDGESHIRE, LINCOLNSHIRE, NORFOLK AND SURROUNDING AREAS, POPPY ALSO WRITES REGULAR ADVICE POSTS ON PEEWEE SADDLERY’S SOCIAL MEDIA.

‘Show condition’, ‘Well covered’, ‘Fatty Boom Boom’. Whatever words you use to describe it, there is no denying that this is the time of year that saddle fitters spend a vast proportion of their lives widening saddles, discussing fat pads, and dealing with saddles that slip and slide.

’Tis the season to be… wobbly. We all know the health risks that are associated with overweight horses, but have you considered the saddle fitting implications? When your horse puts on weight, it will affect how their saddle fits. And this is the time of year that people often complain about saddles slipping from side to side, or forwards/backwards. At this time of year, horses can get quite significant fat ‘pads’ (or indeed pillows in some cases!) on their shoulders and the top of their ribs. These pads can make the saddle perch on their backs, meaning they are less stable; and therefore more likely to slip. It can even affect the length of the saddle on the horse’s back. Chubby shoulders can push the saddle, which previously sat nicely, back and well over the last rib. Or, the pads can cause a saddle to ‘bridge’. This is where there is more contact at the front and the back of the saddle, but a gap in the middle. Pretty much like a little ‘bridge’ over their little chubby backs (hence the name). Again, this can encourage the saddle to move around more, as it doesn’t have as good pressure distribution; which can make it perch and wobble. Bridging saddles are also uncomfortable for the horse. In many fittings, it’s simply a case of your Saddle Fitter widening your existing saddle and/or tweaking the flocking. But it is not always that easy. Sometimes a horse can be just about within the ‘normal’ range and fit into ‘normal’ saddles for the majority of the year, but during the summer months can balloon so much that they fall into the category of ‘needing a specialist saddle’. For example, something designed for the chunky types, the cobbier horses… the barrel shaped equines. So, if your horse is in ‘show condition’, or has developed some rather interesting fat pads… or you’re finding your saddle isn’t fitting so well... call up your local SMS Qualified Saddle Fitter and ask advice. If you’re struggling with their weight (the horse’s, not the fitter’s) then a call to an Equine Nutritionist can be useful too.

www.peeweesaddlery.co.uk

GB WIN JUNIOR EUROPEAN TEAM BRONZE

22nd July

The Junior team representing Great Britain under the title sponsor banner of Team NAF did Great Britain proud when they took Team Bronze in their respective category at the FEI Youth European Championships in Portugal.

The trailblazer for the team was 17-year-old Ava Vernon, from Lincolnshire with the 12-yearold bay mare Jolie Fleur van de Noordheuvel. Second rider in was Amelie Gachoud, aged 16 from Surrey, with The Precious One. Claudia Moore, aged 16 from Brentwood in Essex, with the 9year-old bay mare Hardesther posted solid rounds across all three days. Anchor rider came in the form of 18-year-old Oliver Fletcher from Oxfordshire with the 9-year-old bay gelding Hello William. Oliver posted a spectacular clear to secure Great Britain the Team Bronze.

RARE BREED SHOWCASE AT NORFOLK EQUESTRIAN

SHOW 28th July

An Exmoor pony and a New Forest pony took top honours as the two RBST Rare Breed Supreme Champions at the Norfolk Equestrian Show on Wednesday 28th July.

Exmoor pony Threeshires Edgar, a 9-year-old gelding bred and owned by Liz Barker and shown by Susannah Muir, was awarded the RBST Priority Breeds Supreme Champion title. New Forest pony Marleydenes Miriam, a 4-year-old bay mare owned by K Pitcher and shown by Abigail Staff, was awarded the RBST At Risk Breeds Supreme Champion title. Seven of the rare native equine breeds listed as Priority or At Risk on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) Watchlist were represented among the nineteen rare breed entrants for the first ever RBST Priority Breed and RBST At Risk Breed rosettes as part of the Show. The one-day Show was hosted behind

closed doors at the Norfolk Showground by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) in association with RBST. Susannah Muir, who is based near Colchester in Essex, said: “Threeshires Edgar is so calm and lovely, he wants to please and will try anything. This was only his second big show and he was absolutely perfect. Rare breeds have brought so much to other breeds – even today’s eventers have bloodlines that can be traced back to native ponies like the Exmoor.” Abigail Staff, based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, won at the Horse of the Year Show in 2015 on a New Forest pony and says that she has been gradually converted to the breed and now has three New Forest ponies. She describes them as: “Unique – they are show offs, but extremely loyal and versatile, a lovely breed.”

Abigail Staff with RBST At Risk

Breed Supreme Champion Marleydenes Miriam Susannah Muir with RBST Priority Breed Supreme Champion Threeshires Edgar

ESSEX SISTERS WIN WINTER CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES AT THE ROYAL INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW, HICKSTEAD

21st July

On Day Two of The Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead, and under blue skies, ponies and their riders came together to contest three of the British Showjumping Winter Championship titles.

First up was the Winter JC Pony Final, where a competitive starting line-up of twenty-five combinations delivered some great showjumping. The pressure of the occasion must certainly have been felt by many of the young riders that came forward but eight managed to put this behind them and deliver a clear round for a place in second round. Using her first draw in the jump-off to her advantage, 13-year-old Izabella Rogers from Chelmsford, Essex skilfully posted the winning double clear in what proved to be an unbeatable time of 38.08 seconds, on board the 9-year-old bay gelding Neil 55 owned by Nicola Rogers. Inspired by her sister’s earlier winning way, it was 11-year-old Sophia Rogers from Chelmsford, Essex who scooped first place in the Winter 128cm Pony Final. From a strong starting field just two combinations were left to go head-to-head in the jump off. Sophia rode Whinney Lass, an 18-year-old grey mare owned by Nicole Rogers, with speed and accuracy to deliver the winning double clear in just 34.46 seconds.

CAMBS’ ROSIE WALKER AND GREY LAD V WIN

4th August

Rosie Walker and Grey Lad V were crowned the winners of the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Masters in the final class of the day at the British Showjumping National & Academy Championships 2021. Only eight out of the thirty-three starters managed to battle their way to the jump- off, of which just three achieved a double clear.

The combination, who started their career together in May 2020, took the win with an impressively fast time on the clock. Rosie commented: “When we did the first qualifier, I had only ever jumped up to 1.10m, this was my first big competition. I didn’t expect much, so to qualify for HOYS is amazing!” Having travelled all the way from Norfolk, Rosie’s mum went on to share: “No matter what class he is in he will always try his hardest, he loves his job!”

IZABELLA ROGERS TAKES THE PONY FOXHUNTER MASTERS TITLE

5th August

Thirteen-year-old Izabella Rogers from Chelmsford riding Neil 55, known as Neil at home, were the well-deserved winners of the Pony Foxhunter Masters at the British Showjumping National & Academy Championships being run at the NAEC, Stoneleigh. The combination displayed true showmanship navigating their way around the course achieving the fastest time of 37.84 seconds out of the five competitors who made it through to the jump off.

Commenting on Neil, proud Izabella said: “He [Neil] is a very energetic character and can be horse shy but he loves his job and once he gets into the arena, he knows his job and wants to win!” After her success, Izabella went on to explain that she is now concentrating on preparing for Horse of the Year Show 2021 for the rest of her season. Next year, she has big plans to aim for selection on to a Pony Nations Cup team and also to focus on the Leading Pony Showjumping qualifiers. Izabella also achieved second place in the Pony Foxhunter Masters with pony Queen Star with a jump off time of 39.67 seconds. Following closely behind were Isabelle Doyle and Ross Culleens Lad in third place.

ESSEX’S RONNIE JONES WINS THE PRESTIGE ITALIA BIG STAR NATIONAL 6YEAR-OLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

8th August

Ronnie Jones riding Kaleche takes home the title for the Prestige Italia Big Star Championship, this was the ultimate test for the country’s best 6-year-olds who had to face two rounds at 1.30m to qualify for the jump off. With twenty-nine starters ready to take on the challenging course, twenty secured their place in the first jump-off, with nine through to the final jump off. Incredibly, six riders secured a triple clear with Ronnie and Kaleche coming out on top with a finishing time of 45.79 seconds.

After a highly professional ride, Ronnie admitted “Her [Kaleche] first round wasn’t her best, she was a bit spooky. I wasn’t sure how it would pan out, but she’s been really good this year and won HOYS qualifiers and Windsor’s 6-year-olds, she’s been so reliable!”

ESSEX’S JADE MEEKINGS TAKES THE TOP SPOT

1st August

Keysoe Equestrian Centre played host the NAF Five Star Silver Semi Final recently, and it was Jade Meekings from Felsted, Essex who took the top spot with her 15-year-old grey mare, Pauls Lass.

Jade was one of eighteen keen competitors to secure their place in the final jump off from a starting field of thirty-one. With a tough jump off track designed by David Cole, Jade rode a fast and precise round to finish in just 36.85 seconds to take the win with a triple clear.

SUFFOLK RIDER EXCELS: SEARCH FOR A STAR AND RACEHORSE TO RIDING HORSE QUALIFIER 9th August

West Wilts Equestrian Centre provided a great new Search for a Star venue for the qualifier on the 9th August. Judges, Richard Ramsay, Jordan Cook, Hannah Horton and Louise Gaunt were assisted by stewards, Helen Dunwell, John Foster and Craig McLelland. Entries were not as plentiful as at some of the earlier Search for a Star qualifiers, but the Judges were impressed with the standard of horses coming forward to try for tickets to the prestigious Search for a Star Horse of the Year Show and Your Horse Live championships. The classes at West Wilts were all held in the outside arena, which was generally a popular choice with competitors, although it meant several competitors went home a bit damp!

Riding Horse runners up, Jessica Lockwood and Dazzler’s Joker had a long trip from Suffolk to West Wilts. Jessica said: “I have wanted to go to HOYS since I was 3-years-old – so for about the last thirty years or so! We travelled from Suffolk last night and I am so glad we did.” Jessica and Dazzler’s Joker attended the Stoneleigh Search for a Star qualifier and took third place in the hunter class and then third in the riding horse hack class. She continued: “This is his first show season. I bought him out of the field two years ago. He had done nothing except be out in the field. When I got him he was very nervous and in poor condition. We have taken things really slowly. I used to do working hunter classes and coloured horse classes with my old horse that is now a veteran.” Jessica works for her family aggregate supply business, JT Few and Eco Concrete Ltd. She added: “At Stoneleigh, my heart was in my mouth at the prospect of a ride Judge riding him, but he has gone beautifully for the ride Judge both there and here today at West Wilts.” SEIB’s Marketing Manager, Nicolina MacKenzie said: “What a lovely day we had at West Wilts with super competitors who have been a joy to be around and given such lovely feedback, very different from some of the comments that we receive on social from those sitting in armchairs! Numbers are down this year but that appears to be across the board and something that is affecting most competitions across the UK. We understand how difficult it is to get back on the road after the pandemic and are so proud of the competitors that have been able to attend and the standards that they have managed to achieve. I believe the quality has been exceptional this year and every ticket has been hard fought, with so many competitors travelling from venue to venue to make their dreams come true. We delight every time we see someone who has taken the Judges’ comments on board, kept trying, practicing and training, then have come back to finally quality.”

www.seib.co.uk/competitions

ESSEX’S IZABELLA ROGERS TAKES THE BLUE CHIP PONY NEWCOMERS SECOND ROUND AT WALES AND WEST SHOW

25th July

Thirteen year-old Izabella Rogers from Chelmsford, Essex jumped straight in to first place in the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Rounds which took place at Wales and West Show riding the 8-year-old iron grey mare, Queen Star.

Against a starting field of sixty talented combinations, Izabella rode two clear rounds for a spot in the final jump off along with fourteen other strong combinations. With a triple clear proving hard to come by, Izabella kept a cool head to produce another faultless round in just 40.00 seconds for first place.

ESSEX’S NELLIE LOCK WINS NAF PONY 2* STYLE & PERFORMANCE FINAL

8th August

The British Showjumping National & Academy Championships 2021 at NAEC Stoneleigh saw Nellie Lock and River De La Courance, known as River at home, take first place in the NAF Pony 2* Style & Performance Final.

After travelling from Essex, it was well worth the journey for winning pair Nellie and River, who have only been a combination for the last five months. Nellie commented “River is a joy to ride! The course rode really nicely, and I set him up well to the fences!” Photo: 1st Class Images https://www.1stclassimages.com/

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