Nicole Pavitt is in flying form at Scope, securing a brilliant win in the Horse & Hound Foxhunter Masters riding her mother Sandra’s Festiena Van Texelhof (Bentley).
“As she tends to rise to the occasion, she much prefers a jump-off and was really on song tonight,” said Nicole, who has produced the Bentley Van De Heffinck seven-year-old through the grades.
“She didn’t make her reserve at the Brightwell High Performance Sales (Addington) as a three-year-old, so her owner Koen De Waele, whose father Joe bred her, asked me to take her on,” she explained.
After backing Bentley, Nicole soon recognised her potential and the Pavitt family bought her.
“She always had a lovely attitude and she rode away as nice as you please. When we started jumping her, she was way over the top and jumped everything too big at first, but she soon settled down. We have brought her on slowly and are delighted with her progress,” added Nicole.
The 24-year-old has a simple keep-fit routine at home in Copthorne, West Sussex.
“I have eighteen horses to ride and muck out, so that keeps me on my toes”
While Festiena Van Texelhof is a joy to ride in the ring, she does have her quirks.
“She hates having her ears touched, and we do have to be careful fastening the girth on the saddle and belly straps on rugs. I can get on her without any problem once, but I wouldn’t be getting off to open gates out hacking on my own,” admitted Nicole.
“Bentley is a very good doer and easily puts on weight, so we have to be careful with her feed. Workwise we do plenty of flat work to keep her fit and balanced, and she is turned out for a few hours a day to keep her relaxed” concluded Nicole, who first rode at the Scope Festival in the 10 years and under class, and won her first championship aged 14 , when My Gizmo triumphed in the 138cm Primary at Bingley Hall.
Scope Festival results
Shaw Farm Stud National tiny tots.-1 & 2, Coco Can & Tiger Tim (H Bishop); 3, Whinney Lass (A Aitken). Equiport National 5yo prelim.-1eq, 44 shared. BS National championship prelim.-1, Billy Grand (D Moseley); 2, Caritiar Z (P Miller); 3, Diaghilev (A Edwards). Whittaker Coachbuilders National snr riders.-1, Valentino XIV (N Proffitt); 2, Floryy (R Tillson); 3, Alexander II (A Barry). Blue Chip Feed Balancer pony newcomer masters.-1, Prospect Eddie (E Ward); 2 & 3, Another Twisted & Minison (R Hegarty). Horse & Hound Foxhunter masters.-1, Festiena Van Texelhof (N Pavitt); 2, Fleur IV (J Burgess); 3, Anyway II (R Whitaker). Sports Horse Classic Blue Riband prelim.-1, Mr Business (E Eynon); 2, Zamiro (J Lye); 3, Chesterfield Z (A Edwards). Graham Heath Construction National under 16 prelim.-1, Twilight Van Het Rietven (C Dawson); 2, Uragan O.I (W Fletcher); 3, Cast No Shadow (D Ward). Thermohomes Europe National 1.30m prelim.-1, Temple Ryefield (P Barker); 2, Satonamillion (Z Adams); 3, Vilka B (A Squires). Geoffrey Robinson Jubilee open pony prelim.-1eq, Ilar Max & Dafina K (E Ward) & Destavelars Misty (C Dawson). Independent Asset Management pony progressive prelim.-1, Charlie Boy II (A Pritchard); 2, Bay Friend (S Selby); 3, Rockfield Smoke Leo (M Poskitt). Graham Heath Construction National primary prelim.-1, The Jacaloupe (O Poole); 2, Midsummer Magic (K Waldock-Smith); 3, Alfie III (G Babes). Elite Stallions National 4yo prelim.-1, D Hollinwood Rusty Ryan (A Condo); 2, True Blue III (J Botham); 3, Zurichs White Gold (Z Adams). Smarter Training Group National 1.15m prelim.-1, Clio V (J Punter); 2, It’ll Be Me (K Shaw); 3, Marinello (E Slater).
