Festival Features: Overcoming Adversity

The latest Petplan Winter Area Festivals saw Rebecca Holloran and Jemimah Channon shine, with Rebecca winning the Novice Silver class on Dora the Explorer and Jemimah performing strongly in the Novice Bronze with DBS Campbeltown. Their achievements reflect the perseverance and the incredible journeys they have been on.  

Pictured above Rebecca Holloran & Dora the Explorer © EmmPix

Rebecca Holloran riding her own lovely mare Dora the Explorer, achieved top honours at Bishop Burton Winter Area Festival, winning the Novice Silver class with an incredible score of 69.50%. After buying Dora in October, Rebecca’s partnership with her mare has grown so much and their journey together has only just begun.  

“I’ve had a tough year with horses, my beloved home-bred Woody nearly died from Guttural Pouch Mycosis and was miraculously saved by Rainbow Equine Hospital. He is fine now but head shakes from nerve damage, so competing is out of the question.” Doing the best thing for Woody, Rebecca thought her dressage journey was over until she took her daughters pony Froggy to her coach Melissa Chapman’s camps, “in walks Dora and I’m in love. Melissa had given her to a lady on the camp to ride as her horse was lame. Afterwards she told me to ‘get your hat, you’re getting on’ and I loved her from the first instance.”  

“She is unlike any horse I have had before,” Rebecca shares, “the weekend before the Area Festival it had all gone wrong for us and I was in a panic and wanted to withdraw from the competition. A frantic “help” call to Melissa saved it all.  So, after a tricky week to get there it was great to do such a calm relaxed accurate test was amazing and then to win was the icing on the cake!”  

Dora has helped Rebecca get her “fire back” as she shares, “I really didn’t think I could ever do dressage again to any standard, I ride my daughter’s two Connemara ponies but they don’t have the pizazz that Woody has or in fact lovely Dora. I love them and I felt that it was now my horsey role in life, to help Georgia my daughter and to accept that my competing days were over.” In such a short space of time the duo has already been on an amazing journey, “we kind of found one another and to win at the Area Festival with my best friend Kim watching was really an amazing experience,” Rebecca describes.  

Having her support team around her means so much to Rebecca, she tells us how Melissa  helped her prepare for the Area Festival, “she is always on the end of the phone telling me I can do it and she’s there to help me when I feel it’s not going right. It’s great she knows Dora too and couldn’t have matched us better together. I don’t always find it easy and get as nervous as everyone else.”  

Reflecting on their test, Rebecca shares, “the best part of the test for me were my medium trots, as I only really found them a few days before! And the fact Dora was with me literally every step. She couldn’t have gone any better. I was and still am thrilled.” Rebecca is finding her own confidence again, and is enjoying the process, “I’m 54 and we have four horses between my 14-year-old daughter and I, so it’s pretty full on but I very lucky to have another chance to do what I love.”  

Already excited for the future Rebecca tells us, “it was a turning point too with Dora and I as I felt she was a complete professional and didn’t pick up on my nerves. It’s lovely to have her and I’m really looking forward to this next chapter of my dressage life with her.” Rebecca shares her gratitude to those around her, “the biggest thank you to Rainbow vets for saving my Woody and the marvellous, amazing Melissa Chapman for making literally everything happen.”  

Pictured above Jemimah Channon & DBS Campbeltown © LRG Photography  

Jemimah Channon and her lovely gelding DBS Campbeltown have overcome adversity and worked incredibly hard to trot down the centre line at Parwood Equestrian’s Winter Area Festival. “I’ve owned DBS Campbeltown for seven years, and he previously had kissing spines and has gone through a long rehabilitation process,” Jemimah shares with us.  

The combination received a great score from the three judges on the day, which Jemimah was pleased with, “it was fantastic to gain a score of 66.5% in the Novice Bronze.” Hugo was diagnosed with kissing spines two years ago, making this achievement even more special as Jemimah tells us, “it’s been a long road to help him use his body comfortably with the help of vets, physios and other practitioners.” 

Part of the journey the two of them have been on involves Jemimah’s coach Tracey Lawson, “my fantastic coach Tracey Lawson and I trained him from the ground last year, teaching him to stretch, perform lateral movements and properly engage his core. This was what really propelled him into Novice dressage.”  

The combination has really enjoyed competing in the Area Festival series, “the Area Festivals are a great opportunity for riders like myself to compete at a championship-like show and expand their experience, and I look forward to working towards the Summer Area Festivals.” Looking back on her first Area Festival experience, Jemimah tells us, “I loved the atmosphere of the warm-up and all the horses turned out to such a high standard. It was so lovely to hear the commentator say my name and a little bit about myself going into the ring, that felt really special. Being judged by three judges made me feel my score was well-earned. It was also fantastic to see such a variety of breeds at the competition, I love how inclusive it is.”  

Jemimah explains that Hugo is known for being a “kind and sensitive chap” who just loves to please, “he’s the first horse I’ve ever owned and it’s been the greatest learning curve and most rewarding journey I’ve ever been on!” Already planning what they are focusing on next, Jemimah tells us, “my goal for the summer area festival is to hopefully achieve the same score or higher at Novice level.”  

Rebecca and Jemimah’s successes in the Winter Area Festivals are a true testament to their hard work, dedication, and the strong partnerships they’ve built with their horses. Their journeys show that the series is perfect for riders and horses of all levels, and at all different stages of life.