Ponies produced by Ron and Debbie Thomas hit top form in the Charlotte Morgan show pony classes at HOYS.
The 138cm Diptford Amazing Grace stood champion for Katie Roberts with 128cm Mount Pleasant Arabella standing reserve for Joshua Thompson. “We were very impressed with the movement and manners of these small ponies,” said performance judge Lorraine Partridge.
In her debut season under saddle, Diptford Amazing Grace has been a winner at county level, and she was champion show pony at the Royal International. Well ridden again by Katie Roberts, the six-year-old mare remained rock solid to head her 138cm en-route to the evening championship.
Team Thomas also fielded the 128cm winner, Valmi Thomas’s home bred Mount Pleasant Arabella, who is a nine-year-old mare by Cusop Dimension.
Also coming into the final reckoning was Karen Burkin’s Rotherwood Flight of Fancy, who topped the 148cm line up for Emma Dewhurst.
The South Essex Insurance Brokers Search for a Star Series concluded with the all-important championship held in the international arena.
Taking the overall title was the winning show pony Archwood Romeo Giggle ridden by Jessica Hilton. The Rotherwood Gigolo four-year-old was bought unbroken last December, and has since been shown very lightly at local level. “This is an amazing result at our first major show,” said Alison.
Rachel Peyton and winning the riding horse Ricardo took the reserve.
Judges Robert Oliver and Marjorie Ramsay were again impressed with the overall standards. “Riders have obviously done their home work on tack, turn-out and presentation,” said Robert.
Jo Geddes celebrated her first Horse of the Year Show win with June Snedker’s Keep Talk Cuddy Working Hunter of the Year. The Oklund eight-year-old produced one of six clears, and he gave Rosemary Connors a superb ride to stand above the 2006 and 2007 winners, Jack Cochrane and Mountain Ember.
Stay in touch with all the news from HOYS throughout the show on Horseandhound.co.uk and don’t miss H&H’s 17-page special report, on sale 15 October, ’09
