Festival Focus - Solihull Riding Club

The buzzing atmosphere at Solihull Riding Club found Area Festival competitors displaying an amazing standard when competing for championship qualification.

 © Top Shots Photography

Petplan’s picks!   

Alice Griffiths and 14hh Hillrow Harvest (pictured above) finished an impressive 6th place in the Preliminary Bronze class, it seems the combination were meant to find one another, “he was a rescue cob” Alice tells us, “and was dumped about half a dozen miles up the road from me.” After a difficult mission to catch the young cob Harvey, as he is known to his friends, he found a home with Alice.

Their journey has not been an easy one with the now 6-year-old piebald having a very anxious disposition, likely due to his previous experience of life, “thankfully once he was gelded things became easier, he was broken in professionally.” Harvey can still be quite sensitive Alice describes, “he gets nervous and anxious quickly, I think we wind each other up as I do the same!”

Alice believed having the Winter Area Festivals as a goal would keep them going through the winter months, “we have done relatively well, I normally tend to hibernate over the winter, I was hoping doing a Winter Petplan would stop me from doing that and try to keep us riding through the winter.” The hard work has paid off, with the two of them having their best experience to date, “at the last two something seemed to go wrong and then I completely messed up, but Solihull had such a good vibe from the start.”

Reflecting on the day, one of Alice’s highlights was competing indoors, 'as having a cob with white feathers, he is particularly difficult to keep clean, although this didn’t help 100%!” The atmosphere on the day was inviting, “everyone was really friendly and lovely at Solihull, the stewards were really kind and appreciated the thank yous.”

The great result was helped by the support team Alice and Harvey had with them, “I had a friend come with me, Rebecca Everitt, who was really good at supporting!” Describing what is next for the two of them, Alice tells us, “I would like to get back out showing and perhaps start looking at doing some Novice tests! I am quite excited to do more with him!”

Kizzie Lucas and Candito (pictured above) have had an extraordinary journey together in only 17 months, finding the bay gelding after a 6 month long search, the combination have competed from Prelim to now Advanced Medium and Kizzie tells us there is only more, “exciting new steps in the pipeline!”

During their first year of partnership, they were based at Hartpury College, where Kizzie was studying her A-Levels, in this time period Kizzie explains how the pair, “got to know each other, inside and outside the boards.” During this time their dressage journey began, “we won the Elementary Bronze U21 Championship on home turf at Hartpury, represented Wales at the Youth Home Nations, winning the Elementary Final there too and attending our first High Profile.”

The combination have only continued to shine in the arena since then, now based at Eilberg Dressage where Kizzie has worked since last August, “training is a huge focus.” Despite qualifying for the Summer Area Festival Championship at both Elementary and Medium, they were unable to attend. Shifting focus to the Winter Area Festivals Kizzie and Candito qualified for both the Medium and the Advanced Medium classes, “I was really pleased with home both my tests went last week, The walk has always been one of his highlights but I was most pleased that the work we’ve been focusing on, the half passes and medium/extended work, really shone through too.”

The judges were left impressed on the day, as Kizzie and Candito won the double! Winning the Medium Bronze with a score of 71.81% and also winning the Advanced Medium Bronze with a score of 68.68%. Speaking on what it means to leave Solihull top of the leaderboard in two classes Kizzie tells us, “there is always such a huge feeling of pride when the effort and dedication pays off. As always there are things to practise and so we will continue to train the more advanced movements too.”

Reflecting on her experience at this years Area Festival, “My mum and I enjoyed our two days at Solihull very much and the facilities are a credit to their staff. Of course the wins also added to the experience!” The 16hh gelding didn’t put a hoof out of place during the competition and Kizzie describes how thankful she feels towards the bay, “I am wholeheartedly grateful to Toto for being such an awesome partner. Whilst he isn’t the flashiest, or most extravagant of horses, his trainable nature allows us so much progression and is ultimately what is to thank for our string of successes.”

Kizzie’s love for Toto goes hand in hand with the success the pair have had, “he is my best friend and there is no other horse I’d rather be in that ring with.” Their Area Festival journey is an example of how you can aspire to move up the levels and enjoy the challenge, “it’s the opportunities like the ones Petplan offer that keep our journey moving forward. The Petplan Area Festival series is a great opportunity to work towards the excitement and prestige of a major championship show, having all the benefits of fantastic knowledgeable judges and beautifully presented venues along the way.” Providing a starting point for all, “it gives the amateur rider and the more average, but equally adored, horses their chance to shine and we are very grateful.”

Leanne Holford gushed about her beautiful mare Ristol Cleopatra (pictured above), who after brilliant success in the show ring has now turned a hoof to dressage, showing their class between the white boards the combination finished 4th place in the Elementary Bronze class. Telling us more about 13-year-old Welsh Cob Leanne said, “Cleo wad bred by Cheryl Frith at the Ristol Stud by Gwenllan Samson out of Ristol Corrin. She has done very well in the show ring, taking championships at many shows, such as the Royal Welsh, qualifying and competing at HOYS, RI and Olympia.”

Deciding to make the switch following an illustrious showing career was due to Leanne always personally preferring the dressage to the show ring, “having done BD before on another Welsh Cob, I wanted to now change Cleo’s direction to dressage too.” Producing a show horse to a dressage ring has been challenging she describes, “this is my passion, I have worked very hard with help from home and my coach Guy Reynolds. We have had to be very patient with Cleo and go at her pace.”

After doing well at a few unaffiliated shows Leanne decided it was time to affiliate, during the pairs first season of BD Leanne has found “BD offers more challenges and I can progress further.” After qualifying for the summer but being unable to compete due to illness, Leanne was very excited to qualify again, choosing to compete at Solihull because it was most local and a venue they like.

Leanne describes the highlight of the day as, “the mounted prize giving, that was an experience in itself!” Reflecting on her experience, “that particular test is a tricky one for Cleo but we worked hard and she gave me her best. 4th place may not be a big thing to some people but the journey we have been on, it’s huge. To get into the top ten was a big achievement for us.”

Excited for what is to come in the future, Leanne plans to take the step up to the silver section and qualify for the Area Festivals again. Alongside that they are in the process of trying dressage to music and working slowly towards medium level at home, “we can’t wait for the next chapter.”

Rachel Gallop and Sazarro Ballante (pictured above) won the Preliminary Silver with an amazing score of 74.38%, the highest score of the entire competition. Despite the testing weather conditions while competing outside at Solihull, Rachel tells us the 6-year-old gelding, “really concentrated and tried his best.” Looking back on what impressed her most she says, “I am really proud of him for his concentration and relaxation on a very wet and windy day, especially being a young horse. He wasn’t phased at all by the presentation either, he takes it all in his stride.”  

Having owned the lovely 16.2hh bay since he was two-years-old Rachel explains, “he has taken a while to grow into himself, but he’s really matured now and feels great.” Describing his charming personality at home, “he’s a softie and loves a cuddle, he really tries for you in the arena.”  

Sazarro has also been able to enjoy his usual turnout away from training Rachel tells us, “as everyone knows it’s been a very wet winter! We are very lucky to have winter turnout sand pens, enabling the horses to enjoy time out without sinking in mud.” In preparation for the event the combination have not changed their usual routine, “all our horses enjoy a varied routine and Sazarro loves to jump for his fun days, he is very brave.” 

This exciting young horse has shown amazing potential for the future, “he has naturally loose and active paces, I love riding him, he’s very talented and has a lot to offer.” Rachel aims to get some more shows under their belt before heading to the Area Festival Winter Championships, grateful for the opportunities the series offers, “thank you so much to Petplan for your continued support, these festivals are amazing.”  

 

Solihull Riding Club Winners  

Petplan Winter Preliminary Bronze 

Soph Icke & My Gentleman Jack, 69.79%

India Popadich & SBS American Dream, 73.82%

Petplan Winter Preliminary Silver 

Rachel Victoria Gallop & Sazzaro Ballante, 74.38%

Petplan Winter Novice Bronze

Lydia Holmes & Caramelle, 70.63%

Charline Thomas & Black Jacko, 70.56%

Petplan Winter Novice Silver 

Georgia Hambly & Bootylicious, 71.74%

Petplan Winter Elementary Bronze

Justina Cook & Ideal EL Divino, 69.80%

Charline Thomas & Black Jacko, 70.15%

Petplan Winter Elementary Silver   

Susan Kiernan & Just Me, 70.54%

Petplan Winter Medium Bronze 

Kizzie Lucas & Candito, 71.81%

Petplan Winter Medium Silver

Emma Agnew & Heroique J, 71.62%

Petplan Winter Advanced Medium Bronze 

Kizzie Lucas & Candito, 68.68%

Petplan Winter Advanced Medium Silver

Jessica Sanders & Gershwin FH, 68.55%

Petplan Winter Prix St Georges Bronze

Heather Clark & Enzo III, 66.32%

Petplan Winter Prix St Georges Silver

Jade Clark & Honesto, 65.64%

Petplan Winter Intermediate I Bronze 

Olivia Wrennall & Disneyland, 68.56%

Petplan Winter Intermediate I Silver

Leonie Brown & Wishaw Lord Nelson, 66.43%