Festival Focus - Wellington Riding

Wellington Riding (19 – 22 July) was the venue of choice for many returning Petplan Equine Area Festival riders but also some new faces topped the podium for the first time. Find out who will be making the trip to Arena UK to contest their first or reining title at the Petplan Equine Summer Area Festival Championships.

Petplan’s picks!

Freestyle first-timers, Lauren Lanik and her nine year old mare, Sew N Sew gained their ticket to the Petplan Equine Summer Area Festival Championship in Prelim Freestyle Bronze with a cracking score of 75.09%. Only picked up their dancing shoes this year Lauren was thrilled with the result, “I am over the moon and I can’t wait for the championships! I can’t believe we won it.”

Known at home as Mega, the mare recovered from kissing spine surgery only the year before making their debut at their first Area Festival in the winter of 2021. They then received a wild card to the Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival Championships, their first championships where they came in the top 20.

Proud owner Kate Hobart watched from the side lines as Alison Heywood piloted the eight year old gelding, Thomas K to victory in the Elementary Bronze. It was a highly contested class but the pair topped the podium with 69.51%. Starting their journey together two years ago they have formed a great bond and have made great progress.

Gaining a top 20 placing at their first Petplan Equine Winter Championships at Prelim then a top 10 placing the following year at Novice. Kate spoke about her day, “he’s such a clever boy and his wonderful rider Alison Heywood. They are such a good team and I am so excited for his future!”

Saracen Horse Feeds Quest Intro and Petplan Equine Prelim Bronze Champion Lola Rega and her grey pony, Amy 13 are back to add another title to their record. A 69.10% put them top of the class in the Prelim Silver gaining them a ticket to their third Championships in ten months! Mum, Lisa is very proud of her daughters achievements and can’t wait to be celebrating at Arena UK in October.

Young rider Ruby Milson and her 17hh gelding got their dancing shoes out to take the win in the Petplan Equine Novice Freestyle Bronze by pushing over the 70% barrier with 71.94%. The pair have only been competing together for less than 12 months but have already been to their first championships earlier this year for the Petplan Equine Winter Championships.

“It was a fabulous to watch Ruby and Hippo tackle two days at a big show with so much confidence, it made my heart burst with pride,” Ruby’s mum Natalie mentioned on social media.

Starting their Area Festival journey was Sue Brougham and Amazing VY. “He was a present to myself on my 60th birthday,” Sue told us and they have steadily make their way up from Advanced medium to Prix St Georges over the last year. Finally earning their first Petplan Equine rosette in the Prix St Georges Silver, winning the class by over 4%.

“It has always been a dream to ride in a tailcoat and he has far exceeded my dream, he is such a gorgeous horse. I felt him grow when we went around the beautifully dressed arenas at Wellington. He gave his all and I still cannot believe we won,” Sue said about their day.

Wellington Riding winners

Petplan Equine Preliminary Bronze 

Daisy Mossman and The Longhouse Rosadonna, 70.07 %

Charlotte Bloodworth and Comeragh Flight, 74.51 %                         

Petplan Equine Preliminary Freestyle Bronze 

Lauren Lanik and Sew N Sew, 75.09 %      

Petplan Equine Preliminary Silver  

Lola Rega and Amy 13, 69.10 %

Petplan Equine Preliminary Freestyle Silver 

Polly Tucker and Chaceley Bobby, 72.78 %          

Petplan Equine Novice Bronze  

Amanda Lewis and Bullion II, 70.28 %

Scott Williams and Sapphire Blue, 72.71 %

Petplan Equine Novice Freestyle Bronze  

Ruby Milsom and Skjoldsgaard Hippo-VO, 71.94 %

Petplan Equine Novice Silver 

Hugh Train and Jesmond Jasmine, 69.72 %

Benjamin Headley Smith and Hammerwood Ruscha, 72.43 %

Petplan Equine Novice Freestyle Silver 

Patricia Ann Smith and Joost, 74.07 %    

Petplan Equine Elementary Bronze 

Pip Frankish and Danieli, 70.88 %

Alison Heywood and Thomas K, 69.51 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Freestyle Bronze 

Michelle Parish and Clohessys Sinbin, 70.45 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Silver  

Kathy Staples and Le Blanc Ter Selle, 70.05 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Freestyle Silver  

Victoria Homden and Olly, 74.10 %          

Petplan Equine Medium Bronze  

Jayne Chapman and Bankers Draught, 67.99 %                   

Petplan Equine Medium Freestyle Bronze  

Hanna Stenvall and Cavicii, 71.67 %

Petplan Equine Medium Silver 

Kathy Staples and Foxs Castle, 70.54 %  

Petplan Equine Medium Freestyle Silver 

Natasha Gibbons and Godington Trinidad, 76.00 %             

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze 

Beanie Sturgis and Jerezano CXXXVIII, 69.79 %                   

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Freestyle Bronze 

Nicola Byam-Cook and Queen’s Counsel, 68.56 %             

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Silver 

Amy Mai Blount and Double Rhondezous, 65.34 %

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver 

Samantha Jane Kent and Sandfontein C, 69.56 %               

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Bronze  

Fiona Harter and Diamond X Fandi, 64.95 %                       

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Freestyle Bronze  

Gracie Catling and Tsjebe Fan 'E Vesta Hoeve, 67.67 %             

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Silver

Sue Brougham and Amazing VY, 67.11 %

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Freestyle Silver

Claire Elizabeth Ackerman and Woodcroft Heinrich, 66.46 %

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Bronze  

Fiona Harter and Diamond X Fandi, 63.68 %

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Freestyle Bronze

Claire Elizabeth Ackerman and Woodcroft Heinrich, 68.42%

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Silver

Ailsa Gunn and Force Ten Gale, 63.68 %

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Freestyle Silver

Madeleine Gardner and Whatapallaver, 69.13 %