Localrider Magazine
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Veterans
February 2015
CAREERS What to do next
February 2015 • VOLUME XV NUMBER 1
readers 43 share their stories
Winter News & Show Reports from your area, including: www.localrider.co.uk
❖ Crawley & Horsham Hunt Gate Jumping ❖ The Coakham Bloodhounds ❖ And much more…
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VETERANS FEATURE Mr GiGi
27
years old
Mr GiGi was a grade A show jumper in Finland before he came to England, when he was 13. Abbie Ellis-Saunders has been riding the now 27-year-old Mr GiGi for the last five years. She describes him as the love of her life and the perfect schoolmaster. She says: “He has taught me everything that I know.” The combination are members of Horsham District Riding Club, and participate in lots of local unaffiliated dressage competitions at Prelim and Novice, where they have produced some good scores, winning on a few occasions. In 2013 they were second in the Sunshine Tour Prelim Dressage Championship. Unfortunately in March 2014, Mr GiGi injured himself and scans showed a hole in his super flexor tendon. Abbie said: “He needed a whole year to recover, so this year we hope to catch up. We entered a Prelim and a Novice before Christmas and got 61% in both. We are entered for a few unaffiliated dressage competitions at Belmordean with Horsham Riding Club and I hope to do some teams dressage as well. But mainly I want to have awesome fun on him with my best friend and her pony. Hopefully we will go to the beach a few times, do lots of hacking around and also go to the gallops at Coombelands. I hope he has a really great fun summer and year because he deserves it. I love this little pony with all my heart and know that every time I get on him he will do his absolute best for me!”
Abbie jumping the former grade A show jumper, Mr GiGi
Left: Abbie and Mr Gigi were second in the Sunshine Tour Prelim Dressage Championships in 2013
Your Veterans
We have had a wonderful response from readers writing in to share stories about their veteran horses and ponies. The oldest is Cindy, who is 45, the most famous, in terms of international competition is perhaps Star Quality and the most honourable, is probably Valiant. All the veterans featured have completed in a diverse range of disciplines and each is special in their own way. I hope you enjoy reading their stories as much as I did. FR Left: Ali and Clannad Amber taking part in the Frensham Sponsored Ride, when Amber was about 20. Ali said: “She gave me the ride of my life!”
Clannad Amber
26
years old
Ali Graves has been riding Clannad Amber since the purebred Irish Draught mare was eight-years-old. She belonged to Ali’s Below: Amber pictured with her daughter, Clannad friend at the time and the pair have done a bit of everything Diamond Star (she’s by Roma Diamond Skip) over the years. Ali said: “I was lucky enough to be able to breed a filly foal from her in 2004 (her fourth foal) and finally bought her from my friend in 2007 at the age of 18, I have now owned her for coming up to eight years.” Ali continued: “She is still fit and well, and ridden out a few times a week and can still get a bit excited when the mood takes her. More recently we have been doing ridden and in-hand veteran classes at local shows (and she has appeared in Localrider at some of these shows). We no longer jump as I don’t wish to strain her joints, but in her day she was a formidable jumper. She seems to be happiest when I ride her out, leading her daughter alongside. I think she is a tremendous example of a purebred Irish Draught, immense fun, safe, sensible and a joy to own.”
Celestial Navigation Amy Boaler has owned the now 17-year-old Celestial Navigation aka Orion for 13 years. Sadly Orion was previously diagnosed with a tumour in his eye, but this hasn’t slowed the successful combination down.
17
years old
Amy said: “I bought Orion as an unbroken four-year-old old from Ireland. I started him and the plan was to enjoy bringing him on as my old mare was beginning to slow down. I have competed Orion over the years in show jumping, cross country, hunter trials and dressage and he turned his hoof to le trec as well. Five years ago he was diagnosed with a tumour in his eye. Orion had six months of treatment and laser surgery and he coped extremely well with the poking and prodding in his eye. Unfortunately the tumour was quite big and it became clear that it wasn’t going to go away. Once we knew about the tumour, we decided that we were going to really enjoy ourselves. We qualified for NPS Spring Champs, NPS Dressage Champs, winning the Prelim section and being placed ninth in the Musical Ride-off Final. We also qualified for Equifest, 15+ Southern Region Dressage Champs, where we were placed in the Prelim and were Novice Champions. We qualified for the VHS Regionals and BD Area Festival, where we were placed fourth in the Prelim section and at the local three counties 15+ Championship Orion stood Reserve Ridden Veteran Champion and Overall Reserve Veteran Champion. We are still looking forward to competing in 2015, although eventually Orion will need the eye removing, but we do hope to continue with his love of dressage and jumping.”
Celestial Navigation
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18
years old
Amy Maris and Mastermind, currently competes at Elementary level, but hope to progress further
Pic by Nicola Elliot Photography
Mastermind Amy Maris loans Mastermind aka Monty, an 18- year-old, Westphalian gelding. Amy said: “Monty was the Canadian Young Rider Champion in 2007, winning three golds and one bronze at Inter1 level. I have loaned him since June and he has taught me so much and has helped me improve my confidence and riding. We won our first show together and now compete at affiliated Elementary level and hope to progress up the levels together. Despite his age, he acts more like an eightyear-old and can be a bit of a diva if he is not taken out to shows every week! I owe him a lot as being able to ride him has opened so many doors for me, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us.”
Anna Verrall bought Fern as a five-year-old in 1996. She said: “She was in a bit of a neglected state when I bought her. However, she showed great character and was bold and brave to ride and hasn’t changed much in 19 years. We chose the sport of eventing to concentrate on, mainly as it is a discipline, where her brain and energy could be channelled. But still to this day doing dressage on grass is way too exciting.” Over the last few years the combination has been concentrating on Veteran dressage classes and in 2013 they were placed at 15+ horse and pony events, as well as at the Novice and Prelim Southern Championships at Hickstead. Anna continued: “We were unable to compete at Hickstead in 2014. However, we qualified and competed at the VHS National Dressage Championships at Bury Farm, where we came fourth in Prelim class and Fern was the oldest horse competing. We also qualified for Oldencraig Dressage Championships. I am looking forward to carrying on in 2015 and I can’t see Fern slowing down yet, She is still full of energy and happy in her work.
Anna and Fern competing at Rackham Horse Trials in 2011
Pic by Spidge photography
Fern
24
years old
Anna and Fern competing at the Hickstead 15+ Championships in 2013
Barney
Little George
23
years old
In 2014 after four years of riding him at Squirrells Riding School, Catriona McDonagh finally became the legal owner of 19-year-old, Barney. Catriona said: “Barney is a 16.3hh hunter. He is the perfect all rounder and has taught me so much. In 2014 we went to our first hunter trials together and being a hunter he knew exactly what to do. We have pretty much done everything together: dressage, show jumping, hacking, cross country and galloping at the beach. I have loved Barney for many years, treating him as my own, however, 2014 was a special year for me as in September Barney became mine, all thanks to Hayley Squirrell of Squirrells Riding School. It was an emotional day for me, as I have waited so many years to know he was finally mine. I was filled was a relief and pride knowing that he was there to stay. We have a very strong bond and every day I look forward to seeing him and no matter what he always finds a way to make me happy, whether it be him being cheeky, being lovable or just showing me that he’s not too old and he’s got a lot of life left in him! Barney means the world to me, he has put a smile on so many faces and really doesn’t know how amazing he is.”
19
years old
The now 23-year-old Little George was the first pony Rose Waller rode when she went to her local riding stables. A clear favourite, her parents bought her Little George for her sixth birthday on 26th October 2013.
The combination had a busy year in 2014. They took part in the 2014 New Year’s Day Parade, won the Best Rider under eight years old at the Surrey Spring Show and won their Riding Club league for Walk & Trot dressage.
Above: Catriona and Barney have competed in various disciplines
Rose and her mother are currently planning Little George’s 2015 season and hope they qualify for the Sunshine Tour Championships and The Veteran Horse Society Dressage Championships. Rose is looking forward to returning to the Surrey Spring Show and progressing to Prelim level dressage.
Left: In 2014 Catriona and Barney competed in their first hunter trial together
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Rose’s mother, Beverley Waller said: “Since then Rose has come on in leaps and bounds. George has taught my daughter so much and is so much a part of our family now. Although a veteran in his own right, he still has a cheeky side to him and doesn’t let my daughter just sit there and steer.”
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