Festival Focus - Brook Farm

The last weekend in July saw riders make their way to Brook Farm, 29 – 31 July in Essex. It was a show of spectacular dressage with many riders pushing over the 70% mark, gaining their ticket to Arena UK in October.

Petplan’s picks!

It was an eventful run up to the show for the winners of the Advanced Medium Bronze, Karina Hall and King of the Street after their lorry broke down a week before, “luckily my very kind yard owner lent me her lorry for my training that week and the show too,” said Karina.

Their first test also did not go to plan Karina told us, “I entered the Medium Silver as I halted my pony when flying backwards which meant my test was no where near our best however he came back out and did a lovely clear round test in the Advanced Medium to take the win.” The very cheeky New Forest gelding sustained an injury last year and after a winter of rehabilitation the pair came back in May of this year, “the highlight of the test was his extended trot and canter. I’m forever grateful for every ride I get on him. We been together for nearly 16 years and I’ve trained him up from Prelim to Advanced Medium with the guidance of my trainers Becky Moody and Jill Day.”

First-time Area Festival goers Claire Collier and Hot Gossip just missed out on a qualification coming third in the Prelim Bronze however they couldn’t be more delighted with their podium placing, “having always shown we have a massive lack of shows in the area and traditional Cob ‘Hot Gossip’ had never seen white boards or done dressage before so it was a learning curve for us both,” Claire said.

Talking about their experience so far, “I never ever thought I would have done as well as I’ve done over the last few months! My first Area Festival was just amazing, I was hoping to be in the top 10 as there were 44 entries but just to get there was an achievement. I was third to go and was over the moon when I saw my score and actually was in the lead for a considerable time and then to end up third I was over the moon.” They are now looking forward to many more British Dressage shows together.

“I’m still buzzing from the show and being insufferable to all my friends!” Fiona Gordon-Clarke told us after her second place in the Medium Freestyle Bronze, “It’s a dream come true to compete in the Area Festivals and qualify for the Petplan Equine Summer Area Festival Championships with her. I am so excited to be going to Arena UK in October.”

Falling in love with the unbroken three year old Tinnakill Golden Star, Fiona brought her as a 50th Birthday present to herself, “I started from scratch and have worked hard with my two trainers Rui Campeao and Julie Hugo -Ross, we even kept up lessons via Zoom!” It hasn’t always been plain sailing as Claire (Tinnakill Golden Star) developed glandular ulcers Fiona told us, “they stubbornly refused to heal but finally we’ve succeeded and she’s back to her normal generous hard working self.” Nothing can stop them as they hope to climb the dressage ladder as well as competing in the occasional British Eventing show and Novice Team Chase whenever the opportunity arises.

It was a big achievement for Sarah Knights’s Marquis Metallo getting over his fear of music, “he is a very talented horse that has taken a while to create a partnership with but we are certainly getting there. I had a few issues qualifying for the music as Murphy was scared so I only just qualified in time. He now has music played in the stable, hacking and schooling! Finally, he now loves it and dances his socks off.”

The pair came fourth in the Novice Freestyle Silver and have been on cloud nine since Sarah said, “It has been a journey with my beautiful seven year old Hanoverian. I have only had him a year and he had never competed before then. It’s been a tough journey after losing my horse of a lifetime, so Murphy has big shoes to fill.”

Eleven year old Rocky Leahy had the time of his life says mum Leia, “he a wonderful time at Brook Farm, competing in both Prelim FSM Silver and Novice Bronze which secured himself two podium places!” Waxwing Pocket Money, known as Chip, and Rocky started their journey together a year ago at the venue, just missing out at last years Petplan Equine Summer Area Festivals they made their debut by attending the Peptlan Equine Winter Area Festival Championships.

“They rode their socks off in the Prelim U21 class to come a well-deserved fifth with 67%” says Leia about their time at Hartpury. They are all looking forward to October, “Arena UK here we come. They are training hard at home with their trainer Katie Dartnell with the hope to step up a level to Regionals for winter.”

Dancing their way to the Petplan Equine Summer Area Festival Championship to music from Harry Potter is trainee judge Jackie Shearer and fifteen year old Irish Draught Africa. Starting their journey at Prelim eight years old they have progressed through the levels together, “the introduction of Summer Area Festival Freestyle classes has been amazing and are delighted to win the Elementary Bronze Freestyle. It was encouraging to have lots of friends come out and watch our test!”  

Hilary French topped the podium in the Advanced Medium Silver with her ride Adaeus with 67.86%, “it was such a surprise to win! I have owned Ralph for just under two years but the day he arrived I was called to hospital to have an operation that took me out of action for nearly three months, so we had a disjointed start,” Hilary tells us.

However this did not stop them, ”when I got back on and started going out again, it turned out that Ralph didn't cope with new arenas, he'd only really competed in one place I had to retire on more than one occasion!” Picking themselves back up they focused on their training, arena hires and camps Hilary said, “I put my brave pants on, put him up to Advanced Medium and got qualified. I went to Brook Farm aiming to just get him round without being eliminated or retire! He was such a good boy and I still can't believe we won.”

Brook Farm winners

Petplan Equine Preliminary Bronze 

Gracie Flin and Brookfield Hugo, 70.35 %                                      

Petplan Equine Preliminary Freestyle Bronze 

Amie Langley and Tysilio Connolly, 66.57 %   

Petplan Equine Preliminary Silver  

Lois Anne Neall Seymour and Diorissimo, 70.90 %

Petplan Equine Preliminary Freestyle Silver 

Ann Housden and Haweswater Ignatius, 70.74 %        

Petplan Equine Novice Bronze  

Tabitha Leicester and In The Post, 70.07 %

Petplan Equine Novice Freestyle Bronze  

Mia Cooper and Loughrea Prince, 71.11 %

Petplan Equine Novice Silver 

Angela Westgarth and My First Romance, 70.42 %

Petplan Equine Novice Freestyle Silver 

Hannah Gilbert and Ivoor, 76.48 %  

Petplan Equine Elementary Bronze 

Lucy Payne and Mabel 55, 69.51 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Freestyle Bronze 

Jackie Shearer and Africa II, 71.60 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Silver  

Sophie Chatwin and Katharina-Trix US, 72.94 %

Petplan Equine Elementary Freestyle Silver  

Sophie Chatwin and Katharina-Trix US, 78.59 %

Petplan Equine Medium Bronze  

Cheryl Stacey and Mannanan Cool Customer, 67.84 %                  

Petplan Equine Medium Freestyle Bronze  

Bethan Young and jackpots Forsetti, 70.50 %

Petplan Equine Medium Silver 

Sian Morgan Sheridan and Ardie, 71.03 %

Petplan Equine Medium Freestyle Silver 

Sarah Jane V Coulten and Jaleo I , 73.11 %         

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Bronze 

Katrina Hall and King of the Street, 69.53 %                  

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Freestyle Bronze 

Emma Slater and Goldbay V, 69.94 %              

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Silver 

Hilary French and Adaeus, 67.86 %

Petplan Equine Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver 

Jane Von Seelen Hansen and Missy II, 73.11 %            

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Bronze  

Louise Mcdonald and Zander, 62.75 %                     

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Freestyle Bronze  

Rebecca Townsend and Feedmark’s Blaze, 66.71 %                       

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Silver

Claire Knowles and Singing Skyjacker, 65.10 %

Petplan Equine Prix St Georges Freestyle Silver

Shelley Ellen Reeve-Smith and Foxtrott, 67.04 %

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Bronze  

Claire Knowles and Singing Skyjacker, 66.57 %

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Freestyle Bronze

Elizabeth Ann Bulmer and Watergate, 67.13 %

Petplan Equine Intermediate I Silver

Shelley Ellen Reeve-Smith and Foxtrott, 66.86 %