Festival Focus - Kingswood Equestrian
Many competitors headed to Kingswood Equestrian for their Summer Area Festival with hope to gain the golden ticket to Arena UK in October.
Sophie Noel riding Morrigan Ciara achieved a deserved top ten finish at Kingswood Equestrian Summer Area Festival. Placing 6th in the Novice Bronze, with 66.18%, which was only just over 1% behind the winner, in a very competitive class.
“Competing in the Area Festivals are great because you get to experience being in a more intense competition environment whilst at local venues and I feel it really sets you up for progressing.” Sophie details how she got ready to compete at the Area Festival,
“our preparation was a little bit all over the place with Morrigan Ciara being diagnosed and treated for kissing spine beginning of April this year. We did a lot of rehab and only had our first competition back beginning of July.”
None of this being possible without the incredible support of their coach Rich Hayward at Regal Dressage Sophie explains, “who helped us get back into the best place we could to go down that centre line. He was there on the day to help in the warm up and I had a lot of support from my whole team, including the team from Morrigan Stud who came down from Anglesey to support.”
Continuing their journey together Sophie aims to qualify for the Winter Area Festivals at Elementary level, feeling ready to step and also would like to have a go at the freestyle classes.
Sofia Sewell-Davies and You Can Call Me Al, finished 8th in a big class of 22 competitors in the Novice Silver. Sofia reflected on her Area Festival experience, “Inky and I ventured to Kingswood on the 27th of July this year for the Summer Area Festival. It was only our second ever Area Festival and just like at Aintree, earlier in the year it was super exciting driving through Kingswood gates and seeing the big banners reading, ‘Petplan’!”
Sofia had travelled a long way to compete at Kingswoood, “we had driven from North Wales, but Inky travelled cool as ever.” The combination have only been a partnership for 18 months Sofia tells us, “we bought him as a 5 year old. The first ride I had on him he threw an excited bronc, I just loved his energy and spirit from the start, I just knew he was meant to be mine!”
The grey gelding is full of character Sofia explains, “at every venue, Inky tends to be the smallest horse, but the one showing the fiercest attitude, I am told he will grow out of it, but I am not totally convinced!” Although the striking horse is often confused for a Connemara, Sofia tells us Inky is an Irish Sports Horse. Speaking about his personality, “he is so affectionate and such a character, both these things make him a great partner, there is never a dull moment with Inky around.”
“I know when we go down the centre line Inky’s heart and effort are always with me. He tries his absolute best and so every competition I get to ride him is a privilege.” Sofia tells us she “absolutely loves” his medium canter, “I feel like he is about to grow wings and fly! It’s the highlight of riding him, I look forward to reading the judges’ comments on it.”
“Deciding to do the Area Festivals has been a brilliant decision for me. The focus it’s given me has been unrivalled.” The two of them have been working incredibly hard to get to this point, “I train with fabulous BD coach Sarah Whitehead. It was Sarah who encouraged me to join BD and gave me the confidence and self-belief to start competing in the Area Festival series. Her knowledge of how the Area Festivals work has helped me endlessly as has her dedication to coaching Inky and I through uncountable obstacles, always holding in mind the goal- it keeps me inspired and motivated. Along with Sarah I am massively supported by my parents in all my riding aspirations.”
Isabella Moody and Negotiator I, took the win in the Preliminary Silver, with an amazing score of 70.00%. There was a wonderful atmosphere at Kingswood Equestrian Summer Area Festival, Isabella tells us, “it was so friendly and fun! It was a great series to get out and about competing in!”
What is even more impressive about Isabella’s incredible results, is that it is only her fourth affiliated competition, “I was just utterly shocked to of won it” she describes. The lovely chestnut gelding, Pumpkin, as he is known at home, has competed up to Novice Isabella explains, “we are both learning the ropes together.”
Isabella is riding Pumpkin for his owner, Su Sutton, “I am so lucky to have the privilege of riding this gorgeous boy. I adore him like he’s my own” she tells us. The two of them share a great partnership, “the feeling he gives me when I ride him always puts a massive smile on my face.”
In preparation for their first ever Area Festival, Isabella shares what they have been working on, “we’ve been varying all our training at home, really focusing on trying and getting him balanced. We have incorporated lots of pole work and hacking/hill work for strengthening too.” The hard work at home paying off to be awarded the highest score by the three judges, in a highly contested class of 26 competitors.
Looking back on their time between the white boards on the day, Isabella reflects, “the highlights of the test is definitely his canter, and his pointy ears as he trots down the centre line. He’s also got such a lovely canter which the judges usually tend to like.”
Feeling all the emotions following their win, Isabella shares, “it feels such a privilege to of won, especially on this special boy who means a lot to me.” Following their success Isabella plans on taking Pumpkin out and about to see as much as possible, such as clinics, arena hires and private lessons. Isabella tells us the gelding is, “a sensitive soul” so seeing the world will do him so much good because, “he has a tendency to get nervous and freeze up.” After the Summer Area Festival Championships at Arena UK, the combination aim to step up to Novice level, and keep working on progressing further as their partnership grows together.