High scoring winners impress at Vale View’s High Profile

Leading combinations were out in force at Vale View’s popular High Profile show (31 October – 2 November) in Leicestershire where competitive entries saw strong challenges for top slots across the levels.

Man-of-the-moment Gareth Hughes proved unbeatable in the Grand Prix posting an impressive 74.37% with the Kroll family’s big moving 13-year-old Swiss-bred gelding KK Woodstock (by Wolkentanz II and pictured above) who he describes as “a huge talent”.

“I’ve had the ride on ‘Woody’ for two years and he’s getting stronger and more engaged so is increasingly able to show off his talent – we work well together and understand each other. He’s such a trier with a great work ethic, but at 17.3hh it’s taken him time to find his balance and learn to close up,” said Gareth. “I was so proud of him and how it all came together in our test, which was pretty much mistake-free. As we went through the test, I could feel Woody’s confidence and understanding growing. It felt like he really stepped up in all the movements and was happy to take me forward rather than relying on me to nurse him along.

Woody’s a real gentle giant, a big sensitive lad and we suit each other well. I’m very excited for our future together, which will hopefully include some internationals abroad next year and then we’ll see where we end up!

Team Hughes continued its winning form with Gareth’s wife Rebecca runner-up in the Grand Prix with List 3 judge Lorraine Sattin’s 16.2hh good looking dark bay Rubini Royale scoring 67.70%.

“Beanie’s got a big engine and can be quite exuberant, but he’s always good at shows and I really enjoy riding him,” said Rebecca who has competed the Rubin Royal gelding from elementary level at the age of nine. “Unfortunately he’s known at home as a bit of a ‘self-harmer’ so our competitions together have been a bit stop-start. The plan now is to do more so as long as we can keep him out of trouble and look at doing a few internationals with him next year.”

Rebecca was also delighted with her win in the FEI Prix St Georges with Adele Rawlinson’s 11-year-old Ibisco (by Spielberg) who she is preparing for sale after a very successful season together, including winning the Inter I at Hartpury Premier League.

“He’s a real pleasure to ride, forward thinking and responsive, yet sensible and an absolute darling at shows,” said Rebecca. “He has a brilliant work ethic and always on side. In our test his changes were expressive, straight and balanced and he made everything feel easy.

“I’ve really enjoyed training and competing Ibisco; he’s so sweet that we popped our 11-year-old daughter Ruby on him the other day to have a play with some tempi changes!”
Following their successful HOYS Future Elite debut last month, Emily Harris was on a high after claiming two confident wins in the Prix St Georges classes at Vale View with Fay Thomas’ 16hh nine-year-old home-bred mare Freya FST on plus 72% scores, a personal best at this level.

“HOYS was our biggest challenge to date, but she’s an amazing mare, a real career girl who loves her job and always rises to a big occasion,” said Emily, who has trained with Belgium’s Jan Dupont since she was 10 years old and has recently returned to her base in Dorset after working in London.

“I’ve ridden Freya since a just backed three-year-old and I just adore her. She is feisty, but has a great attitude and so much personality. It doesn’t matter what you throw at her, she does her best and takes it all on. Sometimes I feel like I struggle to keep up with her, but I’m excited by what the future holds, she’s an absolute legend!”

Ruth Edge was also on form with her two rides, winning the Advanced Medium 92 by a clear margin on 74.05% with her nine-year-old German-bred Falcon II (by Valeron).

Bought from the Brightwells Sales in 2016, Ruth has always believed in Falcon’s ability and talent, and although proving “a bit tricky” in the early days, Ruth says the past 18 months have seen a marked change in the 16.3hh gelding’s attitude.

“He’s a sweet, affectionate horse who is eager to please and a pleasure to ride,” said Ruth who trains with Judy Harvey and Bert Rutten. “We’ve been working on him accepting the aids better and noticed quite a difference in that he’s now realising that it’s actually quite good fun and is much more onside. Falcon doesn’t have any weaknesses and you couldn’t ask for more.”

Ruth also won the FEI Inter I on 69.47% with Suzanne Turner’s consistently successful 10-year-old mare Donna Priamera, who she has been riding for the past three years.

“Pria is highly intelligent which can also work against you as she can be quite feisty, but she’s grown in confidence and at Vale View she really felt onside and everything fell into place. She’s very powerful and has a real ability to sit with a particular talent for piaffe/passage. We’ve upped our game in training and it’s starting to show in the arena – I’m excited about our future.”

British Dressage thanks the team at Vale View for another hugely successful High Profile show.

Class winners:
Class 1 Medium Q overall
Amy Woodhead and Don Cara, 72.97%
Class 2 Advanced Medium Q overall
Amy Woodhead and Don Cara, 71.41%
Class 3 Prix St Georges Q overall
Emily Harris and Freya FST, 72.85%
Class 4 Inter I Q overall
Kate Cowell and Sirocco, 71.67%
Class 5 Inter II overall
Amy Woodhead and Esquadra MVL, 68.33%
Class 6 Medium Q overall
Sue Carson and Gucci SCS + DHI, 70.76%
Class 7 Advanced Medium Q overall
Ruth Edge and Falcon II, 74.05%
Class 8 Pony Team Test
Beatrice Butterworth and Carlsson, 68.85%
Class 9 Prix St Georges Q overall
Rebecca Hughes and Ibisco, 71.45%
Class 10 Inter I Q overall
Ruth Edge and Donna Priamera, 69.47%
Class 11 Grand Prix
Gareth Hughes and KK Woodstock, 74.37%
Class 12 Medium Q overall
Lucinda Huzzey and DHI Cuba, 67.30%
Class 13 Advanced Medium Q overall
Lily Payne and Z Flemmenco, 73.55%
Class 14 Pony Individual
Ella Glennon and Platimum Honey’s Hope, 64.76%
Class 15 Prix St Georges Q overall
Emily Harris and Freya FST, 72.70%
Class 16 Medium Freestyle Q overall
Louise Davson and SP Street Dancer, 73.0%
Class 17 Advanced Medium Freestyle Q overall
Emma Littlewood and Expo, 74.67%
Class 18 Prix St Georges
Natalie Widdowson and Gorgeous George IV, 70.88%

Click for full Vale View HP results

Photo: © www.kevinsparrow.co.uk