Festival Focus - Keysoe Equestrian  21

The first festival of the year at Keysoe (30 April – 2 May) was the start of an amazing season of dressage, all competing for places at the Petplan Equine Area Winter Championship at the end of the June. 

This is the chance for qualified riders to showcase their best tests and win over the judges to secure a first-place sash, their ticket to the Championships.

Petplan’s picks! 

Abi Cross is off to a flying start in her British Dressage career qualifying late last year, also at Keysoe, with Trilogy 1 to win the Prelim Bronze with 70.56%. The fourteen-year-old gelding recently started competing with British Eventing in the BE90. This pair have a lot to look forward to together.

It will be their first time at the Petplan Equine Area Winter Championships, after winning the Medium Silver, Rosie Lonergan and Thorndons Likley Lad earned their place with 68.68%. A home bred gelding, “who has high aims for Prix St George” says Rosie, “always gives 100%,” have been working hard during lockdown on their flying changes whilst out hacking. Well deserving of some apples and carrots, which are his favourite.

In two large Novice classes, Eliza Yeardley and Dysart Dun came out on top with 70.07% in the Bronze. Alongside Emma Dance and Arvorek Pilgrom in the Silver with 71.04%. These high scores gained them a place at the championships.

The palomino gelding, Arvorek Pilgrom, was also runner up at the Native Pony Championships in 2019 and third in the Prelim Silver Winter Champions in 2017. Brought for her daughter six years ago, the family pony “just takes everything in his stride,” states Emma, “He is very quiet and very easy…will do anything for food and is very friendly.”  

B Squad rider for the North & East Region, Eliza and known at home, Duncan have also been working hard, stating “Can’t believe how much this little horse has come on over the last couple of months.” 

Keysoe Equestrian Winners  
  
Petplan Equine Preliminary Bronze 
Abi Cross and Trilogy 1, 70.56% 
  
Petplan Equine Preliminary Silver  
Daisy Bullman and Godrics Dionysus, 72.99% 
  
Petplan Equine Novice Bronze  
Eliza Yeardley and Dysart Dun, 70.07% 
  
Petplan Equine Novice Silver  
Emma Dance, and Arvorek Pilgrom, 71.04% 
  
Petplan Equine Elementary Bronze  
Michelle Woods and Ramzes Van Silesia, 69.61%   
  
Petplan Equine Elementary Silver   
Joanne Dagley-Cleworth and Uptimistic, 68.77%  
 
Petplan Equine Medium Bronze  
Charlotte Jones and Foxhill Betty Boo, 66.42% 
  
Petplan Equine Medium Silver  
Rosie Lonergan and Thorndons Likley Lad, 68.68% 
  
Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze  
Danielle Balsdon and Lord Lennox, 66.79% 
 
Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Silver  
Kate Moisson and Welthausen’s Onour, 68.25% 
 
Petplan Equine Prix St George Bronze 
Jane Littlejohn and Urban Knight, 68.36% 
 
Petplan Equine Prix St George Silver 
Charlotte Tuckwell and DHI Alligator, 69.01%   
 
Petplan Equine Intermediate I Bronze  
Jane Littlejohn and Urban Knight, 67.17% 
 
Petplan Equine Intermediate I Silver 
Emma Ann Bird and Soliman, 68.09%