Festival Focus - Northallerton Equestrian
Riders made their way to Northallerton Equestrian (10 – 13 February) to try and gain the last few spots at the Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival Championships.
Petplan’s picks!
It’s been a rollercoaster of a journey for runners up in the Elementary Silver, Leanne Crawford and her gelding OFS Pitch Black, “It feels like a fairy-tale! It means the world to me, the love and time I have put into Pete and the journey we have been on makes this even more special.” After a life changing phone call a few years ago, from his previous owner it set their career in motion, “I met Pete at a previous job as an organiser at a venue that ran dressage and I couldn’t believe how beautiful he was. I spoke to his owner a few times regarding day stabling and just general chit chat then that evening I got a phone call saying they were looking to find him a new home.”
“I knew I couldn’t afford a horse like him, but she said would I like to have him and that she wanted to give me the opportunity to have a horse like him. Here we are five years later!”
They first started their journey together at Prelim where they attended Regional Championships and Area Festivals at almost every level, “He’s the most talented horse I have ever owned but also the most frustrating, he can be quite sensitive and sometimes a little tricky.” They then focused on their training during lockdown where Leanne taught Pete flying changes, “He loves them and finds it very exciting!” Going out for the first time at Medium and Advanced Medium straight after lockdown the pair had found their rhythm but then Pete fell ill with laminitis.
“It was really bad - he had total hoof wall separation, severe rotation and his pedal bone was so close to penetration. The vets gave me the option to euthanise Pete and said the likelihood of him coming sound and ever coming back into work was very slim,” Leanne told us. However she was determined t not give up on him, “He was a very happy horse, looked great in himself and I wanted to give him a chance.” They then spent a year recovering. In January last year started to come back into work but Pete had lost his confidence in the arena but with the help of Leanne’s support team they qualified for at Area Festivals.
“It was an emotional day. I can’t wait to ride down the centre line at Petplan Equine Winter Area Festival Championships,” Leanne said about their opportunity to ride at Hartpury. Their goal for this year is to have a go back at Medium and Advanced Medium and hopefully try out freestyle, “I would love to one day ride down the centre line in tails! But I am just grateful that I have a healthy happy horse.”
Young rider Millie Wisher and her seventeen year old Welsh Section B, Talachddu Valentino have been each other’s best friend since starting their journey together six years ago. “He has thought her everything, she had her first canter on him and jumped her first cross pole on him,“ Mum, Charlotte told us. “They do everything together; pony club, dressage, showing, show jumping and eventing!”
This is the pairs second full year doing affiliated dressage where they started out on their yard’s Quest team, then deciding to qualify for the Petplan Equine Area Festival this year, “Before the show she did a test riding clinic with Andrea Smith and had a lesson with Jess Griffiths; mainly to practice riding in a 20 x 60, as nearly all the tests she has ridden have been in a smaller arena,” said Charlotte.
With Val by her side Millie’s nerves went away in the warm up due to his unique character, “He loves to show off and point his toes when he is out competing.” Coming second in the Prelim Bronze they are now training towards Hartpury, their first stay away show by attending more clinics and lessons. Also hoping to be part of a squad in the BD Youth programme in the spring. Proud parents and little brother Jack have their fingers crossed for a successful season ahead!
The highest placed U21 in the Elementary Bronze, Laura Robson has only recently fell in love with dressage, “We only started with BD in 2021, I love competing in the Area Festivals, the atmosphere is lovely and so friendly. It’s only our fourth one!” Having owned her dancing partner Holling Blue Rock, known as Flynn, for seven years the pair started out at Prelim and are now working up the levels, “I’m excited to debut our freestyle test this summer.”
Laura is proud of their journey so far saying, “I love looking back to see how my scores have improved since I first started and especially my scores at the Area Festivals.” Aiming for Medium level next year the pair can’t wait to celebrate together at Hartpury, “I always give Flynn a well-deserved scratch when we have finished our test.”
A familiar face, Samantha Eke and Gibside Jacob who we caught up with at Morris Equestrian in the Advanced Medium Bronze a few weeks ago, contested the Medium Bronze. “I am in a dream land of sashes and golden tickets! This was my ‘redemption test’ after my previous disqualification at Morris, I had another set of qualifying scores so I thought I’ll give it another go,” Sam told us. It was a successful outing scoring 67.35% in a strong class, “I will not lie when I saw the class entries I didn’t think I had a chance but after some wise words from my trainer I gathered myself and went with the intention to ride my horse the best I can and to have a good time.”
It was a nervous wait until the end of the class to find out they had gained their second ticket to the championships, “I honestly thought I was going to need medical attention, my heart was beating so hard every time I looked at the score board. I burst into tears (again) when the scores finalised, an absolute dream come true.”
Freelance rider Sophie Isaacs came to buy her Hannovarian gelding by accident a year ago, “I say accidentally because I wasn’t supposed to be getting or looking for another horse, I already had three and al of those were job related ‘accidents.’ I started riding Hugo for his owner in October 2021 after she broke her arm and I instantly liked him. A few months went by and his owner did get back on him a few times but decided he was too much horse so after a few weeks of pondering he became mine.”
The seven year old known as Hugo then unfortunately got a foot abscess and then shortly after Sophie broke her collarbone just after taking him to his first show. After Sophie’s recovery Hugo was still not completely right and the vet diagnosed him with pedal bone ostitis, “It has been really challenging to get and keep him sound but our farrier Rodney has been just brilliant.” Fast forward to October last year they we finally out and about gaining their scores Sophie told us, “His confidence increased every time and he gained his qualification for Prelim Winter Regionals and Novice Area Festival.”
With the Winter Regional first they had a slight confidence knock as it wasn’t their best performance, “On the day it just wasn’t to be. I felt we were ready and it then had me second guessing if we were.” So when heading to their Area Festival Sophie’s aim was to do a satisfactory test with no pressure on the results. “The day came and he felt great! The most relaxed he has felt yet at a show. When I asked for his medium trots and canters, he really delivered which gave me a fantastic feeling,” Sophie said about the big day. Being drawn quite early on in the class they shot up into first and stayed there until the end of the day with 69.24%.
The pair have also just been assessed in the BD Youth programme for B squad and are looking forward to their future together, “I would love to get onto the teams if I can! I have had music put together for my Novice Freestyle test so I’d like to get out competing with that soon as well as Elementary by the end of the year.” Sophie has certainly found her dream horse, “I have no intentions of selling or moving him on so ultimately my long term aim is to produce him all the way to the top, as slowly as it takes and making sure we are both enjoying the ride.”
Northallerton Equestrian Winners
Petplan Equine Winter Preliminary Bronze
Ellie Mccarthy and What-A-Catch, 70.42 % & Oliver Lawery and Seiont Glesyn, 68.47 %
Petplan Equine Winter Preliminary Silver
Megan Harrison and Garthfach Whisky Rocks, 70.14 %
Petplan Equine Winter Novice Bronze
Inola Smith and Upsall’s Lorna, 69.31 % & Sophie Isaacs and Donaigo Ace, 69.24 %
Petplan Equine Winter Novice Silver
Charlotte Sloan and Galant IV, 70.21 %
Petplan Equine Winter Elementary Bronze
Nicola Shuttleworth and Snowman, 67.99 %
Petplan Equine Winter Elementary Silver
Laura Robinson and GF Dupuis, 69.61 %
Petplan Equine Winter Medium Bronze
Samantha Eke and Gibside Jacob, 67.35 %
Petplan Equine Winter Medium Silver
Molly Rose and C No Limit, 66.32 %
Petplan Equine Winter Advanced Medium Bronze
Caroline Peatfield and Wintermann, 65.51 %
Petplan Equine Winter Advanced Medium Silver
Emily Clarke-Attwood and Inspector Gadget II, 68.50 %
Petplan Equine Winter Prix St Georges Bronze
Tracy Thirlwall and Tapaidh Frankie (IRE), 64.22 %
Petplan Equine Winter Prix St Georges Silver
Victoria Clare Johnson and Temujin, 66.52 %
Petplan Equine Winter Intermediate I Bronze
Lisa Clarkson and Giannova, 67.25 %
Petplan Equine Winter Intermediate I Silver
Samantha Bloor and Elason, 65.25 %