Annabella Pidgley takes Grand Prix win at Vale View High Profile Show

The first High Profile show of the year kicked off in tremendous style at Vale View (26-28 January 2024) with Annabella Pidgley securing the Grand Prix win and Ruby Hughes topping the Under-25 Grand Prix. Pony rider Abigail Gray and George Clooney B.S laid down a marker for team selection with the one of the highest scores of the show while Nikki Barker bagged three red rosettes.

Annabella Pidgley and Vamos Amigos, pictured above, have started 2024 with wins at both Vale View and Onley. The double European Young Rider Champion has now racked up four wins in a row with the 12-year-old Vitalis x Hotline gelding who won team gold and individual silver medals at the 2022 World Equestrian Games with Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour.

Annabella campaigned him internationally last year alongside her Young Rider mount, Espe, with a highlight being three wins at Le Mans in the Under-25 Grand Prix. An assured performance put her in first place, with Tom Goode and Dior III and Callum Whitworth and Damaris S not far behind.

Triple winner
Nikki Barker had three small tour wins - at Prix St Georges (PSG) with Shareholder II and Inter I and PSG with Iwan. Twelve-year-old Shareholder (Sir Donnerhall x Rubinstein), pictured below, belongs to husband Will and was bought as a lockdown project and it looks like he might have found a permanent home with Nikki.

“I spent a year just hacking him and he’s been brought on slowly,” explained Nikki. “I love him. He’s very leggy and gives you an incredible feeling. He’s rock-steady in the ring and tries so hard. He only started small tour last year and he’s going to be amazing. He’ll probably stay at small tour this year while we work on the [Grand Prix] bits and bobs. He needs to build his strength to get through the higher tests.”

Sarah Lucas’s Charmeur gelding Iwan had a tough year in 2023 with two colic surgeries in March. “He finally feels strong again. He’s a big horse and didn’t feel powerful for a while. He’s a bright character so needs lots of outings,” explained Nikki. “He’s too clever! Once he learned his one-tempis he likes to pop them in or throw in a cheeky buck after a change which would’ve scored an eight! His sheets had lots of 7.5s and 8s but there were some mistakes.”

Who wouldn’t like to be a fly on the wall when the Hughes family discuss who gets the next competition ride on Classic Goldstrike? Rebecca and Ruby took advantage of dad Gareth being away to take Goldie to Vale View for a Grand Prix ride each. Rebecca took a top 10 place in the senior GP while Ruby, pictured above, took the winning place on the podium in the Under-25 Grand Prix.

“I’d not ridden the test before so I didn’t really know the lines,” said Ruby. “It was our first Under-25 Grand Prix together and he held my hand through the test. I was a complete muppet and got in a muddle and missed my ones [one-time changes]! He’s the most gorgeous horse inside and out and just goes along with the flow.” Ruby is hoping for team selection as a Junior this year.

Future star
Richard Jackson’s Furstenrausch PS (Fürstenball x Festrauch), pictured below, is one to watch for the future. The talented nine-year-old won his fifth Inter II with rider Tom Goode. “Richard bought him as a Grand Prix prospect from Germany and I’ve been riding him since he was five,” explained Tom. “We’ve been taking our time with him. We spent a while at novice getting his confidence – he’s always been a bit over-exuberant. He has an amazing talent for collected work and he really shines at Inter II level. We want to take our time and may do a Grand Prix later in the year.”

The last time Becky Moody competed Inter I winner, Rachel Platt’s Gracia du Rona (Quality Time x Chin Chin), was in last year’s High Profile show at the venue where the pair were third in a PSG. Gracia has been produced by her owner with Becky’s help and is now for sale.

“She’s a really cool little horse. In the PSG test she was a little too spicey and had a couple of extra changes but in the Inter I she tried her heart out,” commented Becky. “She’s lot of fun to ride and has a lot of talent. She would train to GP and would make a cracking Young Rider horse.”

Julie Hyslop, Event Organiser for the show, took time off on the Sunday to grab a PSG win on her own Rubin Star Lioness (By Rubin Star N) who she trains with the help of Ian and Amy Woodhead. “I was so busy in the office I just hacked her round the village to warm up – maybe I’ll have to do that every time!” she said. “She’s a real character. She works at the level she does and then the next day she will take all the babies round the village as nanny.” ‘Elsa’ is working at Grand Prix at home and Julie plans to do their first Inter II in a month or so.

The top score of the show went to Maria Griffin and Satin II (by Santa Domingo) with 74.89% in the Advanced Medium Freestyle. She owns the nine-year-old mare, pictured above, with Adrian Baker. “She’s the nicest, kindest, lovely horse,” enthused Maria who explained that she can struggle with her confidence at shows. “On the first day she was overwhelmed so I retired. On the second day she relaxed half-way through the warm-up and felt lovely to ride. My music programme was produced by Leonie at Daneswood Dressage. It’s emotive and tells a story so it’s easy to know where I am.”

“She’s only been doing Advanced Medium for a couple of months so the floor plan is difficult enough without being over tricky. We got an eight for our ‘degree of difficulty’ and the judges made nice positive comments.”

Pammy Hutton has been at the top of the dressage tree for a long time and her passion for competition has been relit by black Tobiano mare, Honeybrook Extra Special (Negro x Karolinger I), winner of Sunday’s Advanced Medium class and second in the PSG. She was bred by Lynne Phillips and gifted to Pammy and is also a successful advanced eventer. “She’s not going to represent Britain on an Olympic team but she’s got a temperament I’ve only met one or two times before,” said Pammy. “She’ll give you her heart. My long-term plan is Grand Prix – her piaffe and passage is already established. I’m coming on 72 and I’m doing it for fun and the pure pleasure of riding such a nice horse.”

Gorgeous George
Abigail Gray and her lovely pony George Clooney B.S (by Caesar 171), pictured below, had the second highest score of the show of 73.48% to win the Pony Team Test. In preparation for the show, Abigail had been working on her simple changes which truly paid off as one of the judges scored her a nine for them.

Hailing from Aberdeen, it was a long trip for the pair, who train with Becky Moody and have help from Sarah Higgins at shows. Their next outing will be the international show at Le Mans in France.

The Pony Individual class was won by Daisy Bullman and Godrics Dionysus, known as Haymitch. “I was really pleased with him,” commented Daisy. “We’ve done a fair bit of training with Becky Moody over the winter and he’s just getting to his full potential. He’s getting stronger and the work is getting more consistent. His highlight is his simple changes and he gets really good marks for them. Becky comes down to us once a month and we try to go there in between.”

Demi Howard-Cartwright won a Medium, an Advanced Medium and came third in the Junior Team Test with Elite Dressage’s Newton Astro Nascente (Apache x Don Schufro). Demi is training the eight-year-old with the help of Anna Ross and Beth Bainbridge.

“At first he was based in Devon at Elite Dressage and I live in Ascot so I would go down there every two weeks. Now he’s based at home with me. He’s massively improved since the High Profile at Arena UK,” explained Demi. “His confidence has grown and there’s so much more to come.”

Myles Graham and Nibeley Black Pearl (by Nibeley Union Jack) won the Junior Team Test and were second in the Individual test. “Since Arena UK High Profile, we’ve been working on getting more consistency and harmony. ‘Whitney’ really stepped up in the arena – she held my hand as much as I held hers!” said Myles who manages to ride three horses, even on a school day. “It was only her second stay-away show and hopefully we are set up now for Addington CDI.”

India Hamilton-Burnet and Kissingdale (Lord Leatherdale x Santano), pictured above, pipped Myles to the victory in the Individual Test, having acquired him from Sarah Millis 10 months ago. “At the beginning it was quite hard as he’d only ever been ridden by Sarah,” explained India. “It was a big step up but we are finally getting to know each other. He’s a very powerful horse and still quite green.”

Kissingdale is kept with Sarah which means a three hour round trip for India to ride, which she does three times a week.

The Young Rider classes were won by Claudia Davis and Fergus RT (Team) and Morgan Haerr and Behroez (Individual).

Annabelle Wesley scored an impressive 72.85% to win the Children on Horses Team Test on Vanir Kamira, just ahead of Avah Heath and Koningshoek Jackpot on 72.6%. “Tilly’ is owned by Annabelle’s granddad, Trevor Dickens, and is 19 years old. Only 13, Tilly is Annabelle’s first horse and she is enjoying her training with Jade Clark. “She’s really easy to handle and has a lovely attitude to her work and her simple changes and leg yields have all really improved,” said Annabelle who is aiming to qualify for the Summer Regionals and do more Children on Horses tests.

Congratulations to all the competitors and their supporters and thanks to the team at Vale View, judges, writers, stewards and volunteers for making it such a successful show.

Results (top three)
Friday 26 January
TopSpec Medium 75 Gold
1. Emma Jablonski and Night Vision, 71.15%
2. Georgina Howard and J’Adore, 66.55%
3. Louise Davison and Quamperfect, 66.08%

TopSpec Medium 75 Silver
1. Demi Howard-Cartwright and Newton Astro Nascente, 71.82%
2. Charlotte Smithwright and Luciano, 69.32%
3. Lindsay Wilcox-Reid and Sanbonani, 67.5%

Bret Willson International Advanced Medium 91 Gold
1. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Furstin Fugger, 69.23%
2. Louise Davison and Quamperfect, 66.86%
3. Bronte Watson and Kenwell, 65.00%

Bret Willson International Advanced Medium 91 Silver
1. Demi Howard-Cartwright and Newton Astro Nascente, 71.03%
2. Jessie Kirby and As Well de la Roche CMF, 68.85%
3. Lindsay Wilcox-Reid and Sanbonani, 65.70%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
1. Nikki Barker and Iwan, 69.71%
2. Mark Forrest and Flavio B, 69.41%
3. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Furstin Fugger, 68.92%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Silver
1. Julie Hyslop and Rubin Star Lioness, 67.16%
2. Kate Jones and Hollywood VI, 64.66%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
1. Becky Moody and Gracia du Rona, 69.71%
2. Nikki Barker and Iwan, 68.58%
3. Anne-Marie Cowan and Kracka GH, 68.58%

Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I Silver
1. Claudia Davis and Fergus RT, 69.31%
2. Anya Kolleth and Frings 2, 63.82%
3. Lucinda Bellis and Windhover II, 61.57%

Stübben Intermediate II Gold
1. Tom Goode and Furstenrausch PS, 70.83%
2. Anne-Marie Cowan and Woodcroft Royal Charter, 70.25%
3. Annabella Pidgley and Kadans, 69.07%

Saturday 27 January
TopSpec Med 76 Gold
1. Georgina Howard and J’Adore, 64.32%

TopSpec Medium 76 Silver
1. Charlotte Smithwhite and Luciano, 69.09%
2. Charlotte Thomas and Keep It Special, 65.38%
3. Jodie Frost and Leekfield Jim, 59.09%

Bret Willson International Advanced Medium 92 Gold
1. Bronte Watson and Kenwell, 65%

Bret Willson International Advanced Medium 92 Silver
1. Jessie Kirby and As Well de la Roche CMF, 70.00%
2. Olivia Rimmer and Oscar C, 63.72%

FEI Pony Team Test
1. Abigail Gray and George Clooney BS, 73.48%
2. Daisy Bullman and Godrics Dionysus, 69.05%
3. Lily Cawley and Cognac IX, 68.86%

Children on Horses Team Test
1. Annabelle Wesley and Vanir Kamira, 72.85%
2. Avah Heath and Koningshoek Jackpot, 72.60%
3. Olivia Luscombe and Rosewater Chamonix, 71.70%

FEI Junior Team Test
1. Myles Graham and Nibeley Black Pearl, 69.60%
2. Mette Dahl and Fidelio van het Bloemenhof, 68.69%
3. Demi Howard-Cartwright and Newton Astro Nascente, 68.43%

FEI Young Rider Team Test
1. Claudia Davis and Fergus RT, 69.71%
2. Oliver Gould and Rockwood Virtue, 68.97%
3. Gracie Catling and Quinton, 67.40%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
1. Nikki Barker and Shareholder II, 69.12%
2. Nikki Barker and Iwan, 68.72%
3. Anne-Marie Cowan and Kracka GH, 67.30%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Silver
1. Nicole Turner and J’Eton Hit LDS, 65.88%
2. Kate Jones and Hollywood VI, 63.14%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
1. Nikki Barker and Iwan, 69.31%
2. Anne-Marie Cowan and Kracka GH, 68.92%
3. Laragh Osman and Intergalactic Aimbry, 68.19%

Grand Prix
1. Annabella Pidgley and Vamos Amigos, 71.59%
2. Tom Goode and Dior III, 69.96%
3. Calum Whitworth and Damaris S, 69.86%

Sunday 28 January
TopSpec Medium 75 Gold
1. Emma Jablonski and Knight Vision, 71.35%

TopSpec Medium 75 Silver
1. Alison Calvert and Quando, 65.95%

Bret Willson Advanced Medium 96 Gold
1. Pammy Hutton and Honeybrook Extra Special, 68.03%

Bret Willson Advanced Medium 96 Silver
1. Rafaella Bailey and Kalosca, 64.74%
2. Rebecca Everitt and Frankies Fortune, 64.41%

FEI Pony Individual Test
1. Daisy Bullman and Godrics Dionysus, 69.73%
2. Ella Fraser and Brouwerhavens Viceroy, 68.83%
3. Ella-Grace Dovey and Ode to Shannon, 66.58%

FEI Children on Horses Individual Test
1. Olivia Luscombe and Rosewater Chamonix, 68.91%

FEI Junior Individual Test
1. India Hamilton-Burnet and Kissingdale, 70.10%
2. Myles Graham and Nibeley Black Pearl, 69.02%
3. Marie-Ayesha Barilits-Gupta and Rob Roy II, 68.58%

FEI Young Rider Individual Test
1. Morgan Haerr and Behroez, 67.11%
2. Francesca Cawley and Bon Ton, 65.49%
3. Daisy Hills and Midtgaards Gijon, 65.39%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
1. Alexandra Snape and Da Vinci 299, 67.79%
2. Pammy Hutton and Honeybrook Extra Special, 67.5%
3. Jane Gilbey and Hugo Holunder, 66.47%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Silver
1. Julie Hislop and Rubin Star Lioness, 68.43%
2. Nicole Turner and J’Eton Hit LDS, 63.28%
3. Caroline Scrambler and Favola Di Notte, 62.55%

Medium Freestyle Gold
1. Rebecca Drane and Danseuse, 64.83%

Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Emma Agnew and Heroique J, 70.94%

Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold
1. Maria Griffin and Satin II, 74.89%
2. Antonia Brown and Incredible, 69.78%

Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Amy Knight and Fredansa, 69.78%
2. Lindsay Wilcox-Reid and Beckhouse Able, 68.44%
3. Rebecca Everitt and Frankies Fortune, 67.67%

Grand Prix Under-25
1. Ruby Hughes and Classic Goldstrike, 68.50%
2. Millie Gover and Kamil T, 66.24%
3. Anna Jesty and Grolschstar, 64.83%

VIEW FULL RESULTS

Photos © Kevin Sparrow Photography