Festival Focus - Sheepgate Equestrian

Sheepgate Equestrian (9 – 12 August) hosted riders from Lincolnshire, where they put their best dance moves forward to gain their place at Arena UK in October.

Petplan’s picks!

The highest under 21 rider in the Prelim Bronze, Isabel Hind and her pony Sydserff Gismo have only recently turned their hand to dressage after competing in showing, “I have had Gismo for nearly three years and have predominantly competed in showing including gaining three qualifications for The Royal International Horse Show.” Starting their Area Festival journey in January and have since been selected to represent Suffolk for the BD Inter county team.

Talking about their day, “It was only being our second Area Festival, I was over the moon to have achieved such an amazing result. It was such an exciting atmosphere at the venue; met some lovely new people and had an overall fun time. I am thoroughly excited about the future where I hope to progress up the levels and begin dressage to music.”

Arogo, the six year old ex-racehorse who was brought ten days after his last race as a three year old by Kate Hayward claimed his first rosette in the dressage arena by taking second in the Prelim Freestyle Silver. Kate tells us about her thoroughbred, “He was brought to event but he’s not the bravest so we fell in love with dressage and joined BD August last year where we did Prelims and Freestyle to Music which we started early this year.”

They dance their way to a Queen compilation says Kate, “so to qualify in the music was just a dream come true and was my aim for this year. I had a really nice day and popped some champagne open too.”

Leanne Jackson was on winning form at Sheepgate Equestrian with her two horses Jazzwooerh and Brackensoa Bright Spark, “I finally got the sash! Our Prix St George Freestyle Bronze win means another pass the Petplan Equine Summer Area Festival Championships!” Leanne said on social media. The pair also came second in the Prix St Georges Bronze so have gained two tickets to the championships in October.

“Another qualification to the Petplan Area Festival Championships for Pip (Brackenspa Bright Spark), with a lovely 69.67% only missing the sash by 0.18%, but lots to work on and judges loved my choreography and music that I had compiled myself,” Leanne said about her ten year old mare who also claimed fifth in the Medium Silver. “Awesome Pip completing her fourth ever Medium test. I can’t believe how well everything has gone, even with mistakes in the test, we have managed placings,”

It was a busy show for Leanne but was worth all the effort, “it is so worth it. All the team at home who work so hard to help me keep all the ponies in such good condition. I’m so lucky to do a job I really love and work with some awesome people!”

It was a shock for the Medium Bronze winners Samantha York and Oakring Santino to take their place on top of the podium, ”Not quite sure how we pulled it off but we did!” It was be the eleven year old black gelding’s (Oakring its Sods Law x Sandreo) fifth championship.

Samantha tells us about the run up to the show, “he was just fantastic again! I’ve been away working for nearly two weeks solid now and then a late night night arrival to sheepgate equestrian to get our heads down and then up early to get our dancing shoes on. Considering the lack of riding lately I could not ask for more! I again cannot thank the team at home enough, who I could not survive without Emma, Vicky and especially mum and my amazing sponsors.”

Winning three our of four classes Alison Woulds and her eighteen year old gelding Zagalote II came away with two qualifications to Arean UK – Prix St Georges Silver Freestyle with 64.88% and Intermediate I Freestyle Bronze with 63.81%. The Lusitano has been with Alison, who is a BD judge since 2019 where they first started their journey together at Prix St Georges. It will be the pairs first time at the Petplan Equine Summer Area Festival Championships.

Sheepgate Equestrian winners

Petplan Equine Preliminary Bronze 

Ann Savage and Machno Gwenlli, 72.64 %                              

Petplan Equine Preliminary Freestyle Bronze 

Ann Savage and Stormur Fra Blesastodum, 69.72 %

Petplan Equine Preliminary Silver 

Kelly Hetherington and A Rio Negra, 70.97 %

Petplan Equine Preliminary Freestyle Silver  

Katherine Sarah Hughes and Marble Arch VIII, 68.89 %   

Petplan Equine Novice Bronze  

Kelly Hetherington and A Rio Negra, 69.17 %

Petplan Equine Novice Freestyle Bronze  

Louise Pepperdine and Larry, 70.83 %

Petplan Equine Novice Silver 

Jane Somerville and Faside Sir Derry, 71.18 %  

Petplan Equine Novice Freestyle Silver 

Katie Throup and Nolton Banter, 70.28 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Bronze 

Charlotte Wood and Alfred de Niro, 70.93 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Freestyle Bronze 

Tracey Rose and Hero Harvey R, 69.23 %               

Petplan Equine Elementary Silver  

Thomas Eastwood and Amitola Warrior, 68.58 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Freestyle Silver  

Rebecca Holloran and Regal Rendezvous, 69.81 %  

Petplan Equine Medium Bronze  

Samantha Jayne York and Oakring Santino, 69.71 %        

Petplan Equine Medium Freestyle Bronze  

Jenny Salisbury and Born Fighter, 64.11 %          

Petplan Equine Medium Silver 

Alice Elliott and Chatsworth Chieftain, 68.87 %            

Petplan Equine Medium Freestyle Silver 

Caroline Peatfield and Wintermann, 67.89 %                   

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze 

Caroline Peatfield and Wintermann, 66.58 %            

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Freestyle Bronze 

Alice Elliott and Chatsworth Chieftain, 69.94 %     

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Silver 

Frances Anne White and Tango X, 67.44 %           

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver 

Nicole Marie Turner and J'Eton Hit LDS, 69.00 %       

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Bronze  

Harriet Millar and Dirty Den, 62.79 %                

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Freestyle Bronze  

Leanne Jackson and Jazzwooderh, 64.46 %          

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Silver

Patrice McAllister and Santa Rite, 64.26 %

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Freestyle Silver   

Alison Woulds and Zagalote II, 64.88 %  

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Bronze  

Alison Woulds and Zagalote II, 60.74 %

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Freestyle Bronze

Alison Woulds and Zagalote II, 63.81 %

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Silver

Antonia Frances Brown and SJL Duuk, 68.09 %