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February 2018
London New Year’s Parade Spectacle!
February 2018 • VOLUME XVIII NUMBER 1
& All The Queen’s Horses
Your Veterans 15 PAGES
02
Localrider Magazine
SHOWING • SHOWJUMPING • VETERANS • CROSS COUNTRY
www.localrider.co.uk
OF READERS’ VETERANS & THEIR STORIES COVERING KENT, SUSSEX, SURREY, HAMPSHIRE, BERKSHIRE & THE ISLE of WIGHT
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VETERANS FEATURE Monty
It’s new beginnings for 17-year-old Monty, as he heads into his veteran years. His owner, Abigail Johnson, has just joined British Showjumping and the combination are competing at junior shows. This is Abigail’s last year in juniors, but hopefully it will be a good one, as they have already qualified for the Blue Chip and British Novice second rounds.
17
years old
Abigail has owned Monty for seven years. They are members of the Southdown East Pony Club and have represented them in a number of team competitions over the years. Abigail and Monty also plan to do some eventing in 2018.
Valiant Veterans
In this issue we celebrate readers’ veteran horses and ponies. Ranging in age from 16 to the oldest, Blondee, at 38, they have all led full and active lives. Some are relatively famous like this month’s cover star, Jana, who led the London New Year’s Day Parade or Sir Percival III, who regularly competed at Badminton and Burghley and had his own fan club. While others have taken on the role of schoolmaster, such as Nuffields Sir Peter Pan, who at the age of 29 has just taken on another new little jockey. Each has a different story to tell and we hope you enjoy reading about them, as much as we have.
Sir Percival III
21
Perhaps the most famous horse included in our veteran feature, is 21-year-old Sir Percival III, who is best known for his power and endurance across country when partnered with his former rider, Francis Whittington. From 2002 until 2013 the pair rose through the levels of British Eventing regularly competing at both Badminton and Burghley. When Percy retired after the 2013 season, Francis recommended to his owners, Maggie and Hen Paget, that he would find the perfect new life with young rider Harriet Colderick. Percy will have been with Harriet four years in March.
years old
Harriet said: “Percy looks amazing and still loves his work. I think he’s a perfect example of how veterans can carry on well into old age and Percy is still as enthusiastic as ever. He really loves to work, so has been kept busy with dressage, combined training and hunter trial outings. We live on the Ashdown Forest, so spend loads of time out hacking as well as heading to the beach when we can. He is such a character and certainly hasn’t lost any of his spark. Percy took to a slightly quieter life very well, he settled immediately and seems to be thriving with the little bits of work he is doing. He is such a joy to have on the yard and whilst he is still enjoying work I will continue to keep him up and running and out competing. His owners Maggie and Hen Paget pop in to see him when they can and Francis has come over and hacked him out. You certainly wouldn’t believe he was 21, he will forever be a 10-year-old in his head!”
Nannini
Carli and Nannini competing at Munstead in 2017, where they won on a dressage score of 26.5
23
years old
Carli and Nannini won the Veteran class and stood Ridden Champions at Jenkey Farm in 2017.
Pics by Quantum Photographic and Spidge Photography
Carli Kent has owned the now 23-year-old Nannini for 16 years and over that time have done a bit of everything, but the pair particular love eventing. Something they continue to love and enjoy, competing to BE90 level. 2017 saw the pair competing in their first veteran showing classes with the SSADL Society. They came fourth at the Heathfield Show and third at Kent County. Carli would like to concentrate on veteran showing in 2018 and she says the dream is to reach the SSADL Olympia final. They will also be doing some British Showjumping competitions and one-day events, as Nannini loves crosss-country. 28 Localrider FEBRUARY 2018
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Crimewave II
Brian
Jane keeps Stanley at home and over the years they have had much success, particularly competing side saddle, as well as various other disciplines, including show jumping and hunting.
Sally said: “Brian still hunts regularly with the Coakham Bloodhounds. He has lost none of his enthusiasm for the job and is, in fact, braver over the jumps now than he was as a nine-year-old. I pick the days that I think suit him best and he loves it!”
We are super proud to be able to include 21-year-old Crimewave II, the Senior Showing and Dressage Ridden Champion at Olympia 2017, in this feature on local veterans. By the fabulous stallion, Criminal Law, Crimewave II aka Stanley has been owned by Jane Harper for 18 years.
Jane said: “We took to competing side saddle some years ago and have won many prestigious side saddle championships over the years at county shows and the Royal Windsor Horse Show, as well as the National Side Saddle Show.
Foaled in 1990, Brian has been owned by Sally Mack, one of the Joint Masters of the Coakham Bloodhounds, since he was seven and started hunting when he was nine. Nearly 20 years later Brian is still hunting regularly, the photo shows him hopping a hedge at the Christmas Eve Fancy Dress Meet. Photo by Nigel Goddard
21
years old
28
years old
In September 2017 Stanley won Champion of Champions at the national VHS Championships, then won the Championship Finals, before standing Reserve Supreme of the Year. We were delighted to be competing at Olympia again in 2017, it was our third time competing at Olympia, having stood Reserve Champion in 2013 and sixth in 2016. So, to win the Supreme Ridden Final in 2017 was a dream come true for us. It’s such a prestigious show to be a part of and I felt extremely proud to be there and especially proud of my wonderful horse Stanley, who was foot perfect, despite not having been ridden for two weeks due to being snowed in at home!
Brockley Star
Pic by Spidge Photography
Emma Baker has owned her great all-rounder for five years and the now 20-year-old Brockley star still loves competing. Last year he competed in six BE100 Open events, finishing fifth at Eridge. Emma said: “He’s a real superstar and a pleasure to ride. We’ve competed in all riding club disciplines for Rother Valley Riding Club, first for the Junior and now the Senior teams and he’s taken me from Intro to Novice at BE eventing. Now that he’s older he will compete comfortably this year at BE100. I will be happy to retire him whenever he is ready, but he seems to be jumping like he has wings at the moment and I hope that continues.”
I have decided not to contest SSADL classes this year as I feel we would rather leave at the top, however, I will still continue to compete Stanley as he is so fit and well for his age and absolutely loves shows and being in the limelight. He will tell me when he wishes to hang up his shoes and until then we will continue to have fun together. I am very passionate about veteran horses and have five other veterans at home, one of which my little boy rides, Bunbury Best Man, known as George at home! My son would love to compete in SSADL and VHS classes this year, so watch this space!”
25
years old
20
years old
Brandy
Emma and Brockley Star competing at Eridge in 2017
Brandy is another pony we recognise from previous issues of Localrider. Now 25, brandy was originally the ride of Caitlin Fahy and for the last five years, that of Katie Helby. Katie’s mother, Julia, said: “Katie has been riding Brandy since she was five and he has taught her everything she knows, without ever putting a hoof wrong. They have done lots of lovely lessons, hacks, little shows, le trec, always with cuddles later. Brandy is one of those one in a million type of ponies.”
▼
Jane Harper and Crimewave II, SSADL Ridden Champions at Olympia in 2017
Pics courtesy of Horsepower
We have a very basic little yard at home with no real facilities and I don’t have a menage so all our show prep is done whilst out hacking around the farm.
FEBRUARY 2018 Localrider 29
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