Your Veterans in Localrider April May 2018

Localrider Magazine

DRESSAGE • SHOWJUMPING • ENDURANCE • PONY CLUB www.localrider.co.uk

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April/May 2018

Interview with Top Trainer & Dressage Rider

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April/May 2018 • VOLUME XVIII NUMBER 3

Andrew Gould

SHOW REPORTS & NEWS from Across the Region www.localrider.co.uk

We visit the new Sussex Equine Hospital

COVERING KENT, SUSSEX, SURREY, HAMPSHIRE, BERKSHIRE & THE ISLE of WIGHT

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VETERANS FEATURE Liberty

Hannah Chapman has owned her Fell mare, Liberty for three years. During this time, they have done lots of different things together and particularly enjoy attending the annual St Michaels Hospice Riding Club Show, where they take part in showing, fancy dress and gymkhanas.

Last year the won the Rare Breeds class for which she received a huge trophy and the Fancy Dress.

Hannah said: “We take part in the Fancy Dress each year and Liberty stands patiently while she is dressed in her costume and has glitter applied.”

The combination enjoy schooling, hacking and taking part in pleasure rides. Hannah added: “We are beginning to do more pole work and jumping, but our main goal for 2018 is to go to a local venue to compete in our favourite discipline, dressage. I would also love to attend a clinic and have some lessons to help us to reach our potential.”

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years old

Fabulous Veterans In Part III of our veteran feature we share the stories of seven horses, who are all out competing and enjoying life in their twilight years.

Yasmin and NikNak competing at their first Premier League show

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years old

NikNak

23

years old

Yasmin Dadkhah bought NikNak from a friend at the end of 2016 after the sad loss of her homebred horse.

Tanya Creaye-Griffin’s veteran, 25-year-old tom has previously featured in Localrider Magazine when he won his veteran class at the Sunshine Tour Championships.

Tanya said: “He is still competing and winning regularly in veteran showing classes. We also jump 80cm show jumping and cross-country courses and he loves it! He also does sponsored/fun rides, which are his favourite.”

Now at the age of 23, Nik is still ready for more, and is working all the Grand Prix movements, and ready for the next step. Unbelievably, we’ve not needed to have him medicated, living out, lots of galloping and good farriery has kept him sound and strong!”

Pic by Tammy Lovell

Tom

Yasmin said: “Originally, NikNak was meant as a schoolmaster for lessons, but he started getting fitter, stronger and cheeky, so we decided to take him out. We began out at Advanced Medium, but

by March 2017, Nik was ready for more, so we began our small tour career. We had the best year, an incredible season with scores of up to 67+% at Inter I. He’s also taken me to some of the biggest shows in the country, either competing or as part of the BD Young Professionals Quadrille.

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Ronnie

years old

Twenty-year-old Ronnie bounced back from injury to an amazingly successful year in the show ring, which culminated in fourth place in the SSADL Ridden final at Olympia.

He has been owned by Millie Bowles, 14, for the last three years. Millie describes him as a show-off, who definitely doesn’t act his age. Talking of his accident Millie said: “Last winter Ronnie chipped his tarsal bone in three places after an accident in the field. His future looked uncertain, however, after hard work and month of box rest, Ronnie made a full recovery and we both had a fantastic summer on the showing circuit competing in show hunter pony classes including being Champions at NPS Summer Champs and Equifest.

The highlight of our summer though was qualifying for the SSADL Championship final. At Olympia we came an impressive fourth, a huge achievement from the thousand people who tried to qualify.

20

years old

Zara Schroter has loaned from a close friend 19-year-old Ramera since May 2017. The mare was returning to work after having her first foal. Age is just a number to Ramera, who is as competitive as ever. She is fast against the clock and likes to be the leader out hacking.

Pic by Spidge Photography

Ramera had last competed at Cholmondeley Castle in 2015, but it only took Zara a few months to get her fit enough to go eventing again and she was delighted when they jumped double clear to finish ninth in the BE90cm at Rackham.

Pic by Real Time Imaging

Ramera

Ronnie is the pony of a lifetime and has taught me so much. He is such a show off and definitely doesn’t look or act his age. Most people do not believe us when we tell them he is 20. Ronnie has given the many children who have owned him, so many happy memories over his life.

He is quite a quirky pony, sometimes acting about four-years-old rather than 20, but he has a special place in our hearts, and everyone remembers him, especially judges with his presence and character. Ronnie may be 20, but he isn’t showing any signs of slowing down!”

Millie is looking forward to competing at the Royal Windsor Horse Show this year.

Nelson

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The pair went on to finish the season with five double clears, winning Borde Hill Unaffiliated and Firle Place International within a week of each other, qualifying for a Badminton Grassroots Regional Final in 2018.

years old

Zara said: “Ramera has no thoughts of giving up on her eventing career just quite yet, and as long as she’s enjoying it, she’ll keep going.”

Pics by LRG Photography

Nelson & Ransom

Petplan Equine Brand Ambassador Laura Gordon is currently competing two veteran horses, 27-year-old Nelson and 21-year-old Ransom.

The family have owned Nelson since he was four-years-old and he has proved the perfect family pony. The combination did all the normal Pony Club activities with the Petersfield branch, attending the National Championships in 2007.

Laura said: “Last year Nelson took part in some arena eventing competition, where he consistently came in the top two. He had his first competition on 2018 in January, where he finished seventh out of 30 starters at the Pyecombe Arena Show In July last year I decided to enter him into our first veteran showing competition (our first time in the show ring for 10 years). We took part in the Veteran Plus class at the Horsham and District Summer Show where we won our section. We went on to stand Reserve Champions.

This qualified us for the Sunshine Tour, as well as an Olympia qualification ticket. I plan to continue to do some showing with him this year, as well as more arena eventing, which he absolutely loves!”

Laura bought Ransom as a just backed three-year-old from the late Adele Schardt of Somerley Park. It is suspected that the imposing gelding broke his pelvis in the field as a four-year-old, which has required remedial treatment ever since. Despite this set-back Laura and Ransom had great success competing in all disciplines, eventing up to Novice level. Following a rotational fall in 2012 they have focused on dressage.

Laura said: “Ransom continues to develop in dressage and most definitely does not act his age! His main achievements for 2017 include top three placings in all Advanced Medium, Advanced and PSG outings.

In May 2017, he was first in his first ever Prix St Georges, in June he won the Advanced Medium Area Festival, ending the season with more good placings at PSG. He is aiming for Petplan finals again this year as well as his first Inter II.”

Ransom

21

years old

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