Festival Focus - Alnwick Ford
The penultimate Winter Area Festival of 2024 took place at Alnwick Ford Equestrian, where championship hopefuls competed for the top spots from Prelim to Intermediate l.
© Paul Dobson Photography
Petplan’s picks!
Liz Anne Dobson and Mowglii took the win in the Prix St Georges Bronze with a score of 66.03%. Reflecting on how her test went on the day Liz Anne tells us, “I was pleased with my test as Mowgli has not had much arena time, meaning that he got a bit of stage fright! Despite the gelding finding the arena a bit scary, and needing his ‘hand held’ most of the way round the combination finished the day at the top of the score board, the highlight being, “nailing the two lines of changes."
In preparation for the Area Festival with the weather being so unpredictable, Liz Anne tells us how, “it was a case of just getting as much riding and practise as possible in between the rain, wind and snow!” Not having an indoor arena left riding outside in the winter a bit challenging on the run up to the event, but Liz Anne explains, “Mowgli and I wouldn’t be where we are now without the support and training we have received from Paul Hayler and Harry Payne.”
The 14-year-old has a history of being a bit accident prone over the last seven years Liz Anne has owned him, resulting in him being a little behind in his training for his age. “The Area Festivals let us compete at a level we feel comfortable at, without putting too much pressure on trying to aim for Regional qualification.”
Liz Anne and Mowgli also placed third in the Intermediate I Bronze at Alnwick Ford, speaking on the opportunity to work through the levels Liz Anne explains, “I enjoy the challenge of riding at this level, it makes me and Mowgli have to really concentrate and think quickly throughout the test as movements come up in quick succession and you need to be very accurate to get the high scores.” Continuing to progress on their Area Festival journey, next they plan on gaining their qualifications for both Prix St Georges and Intermediate I at the Summer Area Festivals in both straight and Freestyle to Music!
“Mowgli is a gentle giant at just short of 18hh, we have a great partnership and I can take him to any competition or training event on my own without worrying.” Having had to spend many hours with him walking and grazing in hand during his periods of box rest due to injury, the two of them have built a wonderful partnership. “In January 2022 he sustained a stress fracture of his pastern resulting in three pins being inserted into it and six months box rest and rehab.” Getting back to PSG and Inter I level in only 18 months says an incredible amount about Mowgli, the partnership between both and their training from Paul and Harry and they are hopeful for “training to continue up the levels.”
Our winners of the Intermediate I Bronze were Victoria Clare Johnson & Temujin with a score of 67.65%. Victoria spoke to us about her experience, “I was really pleased with Bertie and our test, it was only our third time competing at this level! I was really pleased with how rideable he stayed in the pirouettes and the changes.”
Despite the difficultly the weather has caused training this year the combination produced a test that impressed the judges, “we both felt like we’d semi-retired during January with the weather, we kept practising in bits and having lessons.” Fortunately, the timing of the upcoming competitions worked out, “I’d had a lesson with Becky Moody the week before the regional at PSG and then competed at Myerscough Winter Regional. It also fitted in to have an extra lesson with Becky on the way up to Alnwick Ford Equestrian.”
Competing at the Area Festivals is something that Victoria loves to do, “Bert and I have worked out way up the levels through the Area Festivals.” The two have seen success through the levels at both Area Festivals and Regionals since 2018, including wins at Medium, Advanced Medium, then second place at Prix St Georges Bronze and both Summer and Winter Area Festivals in 2021/2022, then last year winning the Prix St Georges Silver at Northallerton Area Festival. Speaking on her Area Festival journey Victoria tells us, “I love the atmosphere at the Areas and seeing all the different types of horses working their way up the levels.”
Victoria’s seven-year partnership with the lovely 18-year-old Hanoverian has taken them on an amazing journey, “Bert it a lovely horse to have around, he has had to learn how to be a big pet and I think he likes it a lot!” They continue to go from strength to strength together, now concentrating on preparing for the Winter Area Festival Championships and qualifying for the Prix St Georges and Intermediate I again for the Summer season.
Jennifer Bowman & Licanto.H (pictured above) achieved the double at Alnwick Ford Area Festival, winning the Novice Silver and the Elementary Silver classes, with two impressive scores over 70%. Jennifer spoke to us about the surprise she felt receiving the highest score in both classes, “I couldn’t believe it when I won the first class, so to win the second was just amazing!”
Over the two days they were at the competition Jennifer expected Licanto.H, or otherwise “Ralph” as he is known at home, to be more relaxed on the second day, “my tests went really well for me on each day. I was happier with my Elementary test, which was on the second day. But I knew to expect this as my horse is always better in his second test as he relaxes more.” Reflecting on the highlights of their test Jennifer explains it was definitely the, “consistency and rideability throughout, Ralph is really responsive so it allows me to ride an accurate test, which always helps with gaining extra marks.”
Preparation for the event throughout the winter has been tough, living on the top of at hill over looking the Lake District, they are exposed to the extremes of all weather. Jennifer speaks to how they have continued with training, “I am really fortunate to keep the horses at home, and we have an arena with floodlights which helps massively. Ralph is also not a particularly spooky horse so I can get away with riding when the weather isn’t ideal.” Training with coach Susan Bowman, who is also Jennifer’s mother-in-law she says. “I’m really lucky to have access to training and her watchful eye all of the time.”
After a five-year break from affiliated dressage, Jennifer return to the sport last summer with the Area Festivals as an aim after having so much time off, “I felt it was good aim to have, our break was enforced as Ralph needed time to recover from tendon injury and I have also had two babies!” The 16.3hh gelding was bred by Jennifer's husband Karl, owning Ralph from a three-year-old she has been able to back him and has done everything herself. “He (Ralph) evented successfully up to Intermediate/2-star level before his injury, he is as brave as they come XC.” Known for being a kind and gentle horse, loved by everyone who meets him Jennifer tells us how he, “babysits the young horses on the roads and even lets me ride and lead my young niece on her pony round the fields which has helped her learn how to canter.”
Telling us what it means to win at an Area Festival Jennifer explains, “it makes all the hard work worth it! The endless weeks of walk work on the road rehabbing Ralph from his injury was long (and cold!) and it seemed like we were never going to get there, but it has worked and has been so important.” After taking the time to get the 14-year-old back out competing and training hard with Susan the combination are starting to see the results and “can’t wait for the Winter Championships!”
Alnwick Ford Winners
Petplan Winter Preliminary Bronze
Erin Grier & Buriana Larkrise, 69.17%
Petplan Winter Preliminary Silver
Nina Gribben & Cratloe Tommy Boy, 68.89%
Petplan Winter Novice Bronze
Emily Havis & Valido’s Starlight, 70.35%
Petplan Winter Novice Silver
Jennifer Bowman & Licanto.H, 70.42%
Petplan Winter Elementary Bronze
Melissa Hargreaves & Harmony Lox, 69.56%
Petplan Winter Elementary Silver
Jennifer Bowman & Licanto.H, 71.57%
Petplan Winter Medium Bronze
Claire Marshall & Samuel II, 70.00%
Petplan Winter Medium Silver
Tracey Kibler & Furst Showgirl, 67.75%
Petolan Winter Advance Medium Bronze
Freya Walsh & Seventh Heaven II, 68.33%
Petplan Winter Advanced Medium Silver
Hannah Gajczak & Imarlo, 66.28%
Petplan Winter Prix St Georges Bronze
Liz Anne Dobson & Mowglii, 66.03%
Petplan Winter Prix St Georges Silver
Clare Hinchliffe & Cascento, 67.99%
Petplan Winter Intermediate I Bronze
Vicotria Clare Johnson & Temujin, 67.65%