Charles Owen Advanced Medium Open Championship
British team rider Fiona Bigwood (pictured), who hails from West Sussex, has won a prestigious national title today at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire. Fiona rode exciting young talent Cashmir, her seven-year-old Serano Gold x Michelangelo gelding to take the Charles Owen Advanced Medium Open Championship with a score of 74.65%.
This championship, as it typically does, attracted a high quality field yet Fiona and Cashmir prevailed. “I’m so pleased,” said Fiona after the prize giving. “I went early so it was a waiting game until the end of the class. He’s only seven so some of the older horses are more polished, but Cashmir has such a nice way of going. He is balanced, with power.”
Cashmir was bought as a four-year-old from the Equine Elite auction in the Netherlands: “We liked the way he moves his body the way you’d want for grand prix,” said Fiona. Initially, the horse was ridden by Fiona’s husband Anders Dahl who took him to Verden for the 2012 World Young Horse Championships. Fiona though, has recently taken over the ride to allow Anders time to focus on superstar ride Selten HW who recently returned, unbeaten at small tour, from the Barcelona CDI.
“Cashmir and I just clicked and I find him such a fun horse to work with,” said Fiona who works together with Anders as well as receiving help from Richard White. “I’m thrilled as you never know how horses are going to develop. Last weekend he got 74% in a PSG at Merrist Wood so will soon be ready to step up.
“He’s such a sweet horse and is lovely to train. He’ll do piaffe and passage work, then immediately walk on a long rein. He finds the work easy and enjoys being busy though he doesn’t need much work to progress.”
Spillers Medium Open Freestyle
One of Britain’s promising young equine stars collected his first national title on his journey to the top today in the Spillers Medium Open Freestyle Championship. The young pretender in question is Hannah Biggs’ Don Caledonian who came out on top with the narrowest of margins, just 0.5%, over Jo Hamilton and Corchapin.
A clearly elated Hannah proclaimed; “I just love riding to that music! All his extended paces were great today and his lateral work was the best to date. I just love him to bits!”
‘Archie’, as he is at home, is by the prolific sire Don Schufro is still just six but Hannah has high hopes for the chestnut. She bought him from a small stud nestled in the Highlands, Caledonian Sports Horses, from a video. His breeder, Reay Campbell, journeyed all the way down to watch him and wasn’t disappointed. “She was so incredibly proud of him and it’s so special she was able to see it,” said Hannah.
Hannah describes Archie as the puppy dog of the yard; “He loves people, he loves work, he just loves life!” Archie has a favourite treat and not what you’d normally associate with horses; not polos, not carrots, not sugar lumps, not apples but bananas!
The duo has another title chance tomorrow in the Albion Medium Open Championship and with the form they’re in, it could be a banana filled day on Sunday! Petplan Equine Novice Restricted Area Festival Championship
Petplan Equine Novice Restricted
Wigan-based rider Zoe Ball rode the pintsized seven-year-old Irish gelding Garvery Boy, to win the Petplan Equine Novice Restricted Area Festival Championship with a strong score of 71.37%.
Garvery Boy at 14.2hh proved that size doesn’t matter. He may have been one of the most ‘vertically challenged’ on the starting list but this proved no barrier to him posting a great performance. “I can’t believe it!” beamed Zoe. “When I saw someone was leading on 70% I never thought we stood a chance. He was tired in the second test too, but in a way I think it helped as I had to ride him more.”
Not your typical dressage horse but capable nonetheless, ‘Beau’ was found through a dealer, from a field in Ireland. “The dealer said he thought Beau might make a good working hunter. I bought him, the plan being to sell him on, backed him, but it turned out he hated jumping. So, I thought I’d better do something with him if I’m going to sell him.” That’s where the dressage came in: “He was placed first time out and we never looked back. Needless to say, I kept him.”
Zoe, who works as an Equine and Animal Care Lecturer at Salford City College, described her pony’s qualities: “He has an ability to ‘sit’ and engage his hindquarters in all paces plus he has an amazing walk. It’s very natural for him.”
Petplan Equine Area Festival Medium Open Championship
It was a fairytale victory for Bury St Edmunds rider Sarah Carmichael and her petite bay mare Bell Amie in the Petplan Equine Area Festival Medium Open Championship. The duo was drawn last to go and simply wowed the judges to steal the win with a four percent margin on a score of 72.88%.
“We’ve achieved everything and more than I’d ever hoped for. I just adore her – we have a close bond and just understand each other,” said a proud Sarah. “I rode here on Tuesday in the Elementary and rode a safe test in the first round and then tried something different in the second round but sadly it didn’t quite come off. Today my friends gave me a wake-up call and said I had nothing to lose and ride like a do at home or in a lesson. So, I did just that and it came off!” she explained.
Sarah came across ‘Beans’ when she was imported from Holland having been sold as a hack after being deemed too small for a dressage horse. Hacking wasn’t quite the career the Flormencio mare had in mind so she found herself at the Brightwell Sales in Britain. The team at DHI bought her with a client in mind but Sarah saw her and knew she had to have her.
A graphic designer by trade, Sarah clearly thinks the world of her equine partner; “I like to think of her as autistic at home! Everything revolves around her but she always tries 100% to please so it works.”
The duo trains mainly with Mark Ruddock and Carl Hester every so often. These lessons are treasured and Sarah says Carl really gets her and Beans motivated.
It’s been a fairly turbulent journey to get to Hartpury. Last year Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer but to give her goals to keep up the motivation, she entered the Petplan Equine Area Festival at Sheepgate two days before her operation. She won, securing her place here and used the thought of getting here to lift her spirits at the low times. “I rode throughout my treatment, but only Beans; she seemed to know to look after me.”
Just as Sarah was returning to full fitness, there was a new setback. During the wet weather, Sarah was leading the mare along an asphalt road when a sink hole appeared, swallowing Beans up! Fortunately, she managed to scramble free without any serious injuries, just bruising. “My physio Jo Spears has helped her recovery and got her right,” said Sarah.
So today’s win was welcome but even more so as they missed their first opportunity for a lap of honour. “I’m so glad she finally got her moment in the spotlight!” said Sarah. “We went to Hickstead last year and unfortunately our sheet was added up wrong and we only realised when we got home. The result was changed but we didn’t get the prize giving glory. I certainly made the most of today though!
“Today has made everything just perfect,” summed up Sarah.
KBIS Preliminary Championship
Aberdeenshire dressage rider Debbie Murray rode her own six-year-old gelding Fancyman MFS, to post 72.76% for a resounding victory in the KBIS Preliminary Championship.
Debbie and the athletic bay impressed to take the class with a plus 2% margin. “I’m so happy, it feels great! Though it still hasn’t fully sunk in,” said Debbie, obviously thrilled with ‘Fendi’. “I’m delighted with him. The test felt relaxed and flowing and once in the zone he has such a nice rhythm.”
The British-bred Fidertanz x De Niro gelding was bought as a foal by Debbie specifically for dressage and she has brought him on with the support of trainers Jennifer Johnston and Harry Payne. “He’s been very good to train and is always really chilled. He has an old head on young shoulders,” said Debbie who fits her riding around running her own livery yard with her father.
Debbie and Fendi’s first foray into affiliated dressage was just 12 months ago. They have so far won all but two competitions entered and the promising horse and rider, who are now aiming for the summer regionals, certainly look to have an exciting future.
They head for home this afternoon on the first leg of their journey back to Scotland, via a stopover at Somerford Park. “Dad’s driving so we can crack open the champagne!” smiled Debbie.
For a full list of the day's results, click here.