Festival Focus - Solihull Riding Club
We were back in the Midlands for the next Petplan Equine Area Festival at Solihull Riding Club, 7 - 11 February. We caught up with some of the riders who made their way there from new combinations to familiar faces.
Petplan’s picks!
“I knew when we joined British Dressage that I wanted to have a go at Petplan Area Festivals in our first season and made sure we got our three tests under our belt by October,” Lucy Finn told us about deciding to take the affiliated route in September, after only starting their competitive career a few months earlier.
Riding Welsh Section D mare Rivervalley Bow Peep, known as Dora ‘the explorer’, Lucy had a successful first experience, taking home second in the Prelim Bronze. Telling us about their day, “Dora was quite excited by the occasion from the squeals she gave during the warm up. We didn’t do the arena walk as Dora’s generally not very spooky so I was crossing my fingers that she would take it all in her stride, which she did!”
Wanting to get her best side for the professional photographer Dora had a slight diva moment, “As we made our transition to walk, she had a little stop and sideways step to take a look! However, I was pleased with our test in general but was a complete surprise to be placed.” The eight year old mare was brought by Lucy and her mother two years ago after the loss of their two horses, but it was quite the change to the 13.1hh mare Lucy said. “After always having had bigger horses, Dora is by far the smallest pony we have had but we love her cheeky character, she is always inquisitive and lives up to her name of Dora ‘the explorer’ as she’s into everything, loves being nosey and will pick up anything nearby in her mouth including whips, brooms and feed buckets!”
They are now focusing on their training before heading to Hartpury and going out at Novice to gain their scores for the Summer Area Festivals. They also hope to compete in the Associated Championships later in the year.
Violet Hawkins is no stranger to the competition arena, with many regional and national titles and placings under her belt she brought forward Glenlichd Fair Un Square this time in the Novice Silver. “I had a great time at Solihull, Squire was amazing showing off his amazing paces in the medium trots and canters to get a really good 70.4% to start the season.”
Talking about her thirteen year old, grey gelding, known at home as 'Squire', “I’ve had him since October 2019, and he is my best friend! We started our dressage journey at the beginning of 2020 when we had some lessons with Jayne Turney." Violet is also on the longlist for the U21 International Pathway Squad with her two other rides DZL Royal Sunrise and Cruz III, who will be contesting their own titles at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships is looking forward to the year ahead. “Our plans with squire this year is to get more confident in elementary and maybe try a medium on him as he really enjoys all of the lateral movements."
Practice nurse Tracey Hunt and her Novice Silver winner Risk N Reward, are a new partnership only coming together in October of last year. Known at home as Sam, the pair had only been to four competitions before making their way to Solihull to their Petplan Equine Area Festival, Tracey told us “We are still building a partnership together so to win was absolutely amazing!”
The eight year old Clydesdale X Thoroughbred gelding has also competed in eventing but Tracey wants to focus on the dressage, “He has the most fantastic temperament and movement. We can’t wait to compete at the championships in April and experience the atmosphere.” Talking through her test Tracey said, “Our test felt amazing to ride, Sam was certainly up for it all. He loved the prize giving.” They want to continue up the levels, as they have already gained their scores to the Petplan Equine Summer Elementary Bronze Area Festivals and grow their partnership together.
Horse of a lifetime, Wacton Billy over exceeded Rebecca Parsonage’s expectations, “My aim was a top ten finish so to win the Advanced Medium Bronze is an amazing achievement for us!” The twelve year old piebald cob was originally brought as a four year old to back and sell but Rebecca saw the potential in him, “Billy is a true allrounder, he enjoys eventing and hunting when he’s not in the dressage arena. He’s not a flashy, big moving horse but he always tries his hardest to do an accurate and obedient test.” They are excited to move up to Prix St Georges this year and their debut at the championships.
Solihull Riding Club Winners
Petplan Equine Winter Preliminary Bronze
Isabel Coombes and Abou Ben Adhem, 69.10 %
Petplan Equine Winter Preliminary Silver
Polly Tompkins and Glencarrig Knightcap, 70.49 %
Petplan Equine Winter Novice Bronze
Peggy Postma and Ice Cold Fever G, 69.10 %
Petplan Equine Winter Novice Silver
Tracey Hunt and Risk N Reward, 70.56 %
Trudy Johnson and Kohinoor II, 70.49 %
Petplan Equine Winter Elementary Bronze
Sarah Rotheram and Demi Minutus, 69.75 %
Petplan Equine Winter Elementary Silver
Rosie Morgan and Tramontana Scorsese, 70.29 %
Petplan Equine Winter Medium Bronze
Erin George and Diamond Rombeartino, 67.40 %
Petplan Equine Winter Medium Silver
Daniel Stephen Henson and Define Time, 71.47 %
Petplan Equine Winter Advanced Medium Bronze
Rebecca Parsonage and Wacton Billy, 66.24 %
Petplan Equine Winter Advanced Medium Silver
Lucinda Huzzey and Cuba, 68.68 %
Petplan Equine Winter Prix St Georges Bronze
Shirley Wright and Vanilla Courage, 66.52 %
Petplan Equine Winter Prix St Georges Silver
Lily Kelly and High Boy Van DE C, 67.11 %
Petplan Equine Winter Intermediate I Bronze
Sian Nash and Woodcroft Dream Boy, 66.42 %
Petplan Equine Winter Intermediate I Silver
Emily Rose Perry and Dondersteen, 68.19 %