‘I’m never put under any pressure’: 19-year-old rider takes second sash of the show after novice silver victory

The incredible pairing of young rider Georgie Nicholls and Katie Haigh’s Woodcroft Kika Quina (Luna) picked up their second win of the Lemieux National Dressage Championships, this time in a competitive BETTALIFE Novice Silver Championship.

Their well-deserved score of 73.827% landed them the title, over Lucyanna Westaway and Keystone Rocketman who netted 72.346%. Third place on 72.037% was Matthew Procter and AB Kensington.

Luna was in the spotlight only the previous day at the National Dressage Championships, when she won the Equitop elementary silver, a class where Georgie, 19, also placed second with Headmore Figaro.

Katie bought Luna, a six-year-old Johnson x Rohdiamant mare, two years ago after she’d done a handful of young horse classes, with the eventual aim of doing para classes with her herself once she has been classified for a grade.

“Luna always gives 100% and she’s super consistent,” said Georgie. “I said this yesterday, but this was probably one of the best tests she has ever given me.”

Georgie is based at the Headmore Stud where she began as an apprentice and is now second rider. Luna has been her ride for just over a year and is also based with Alice Oppenheimer and her team at Headmore.

“I get all the support and more at Headmore; I’m never put under any pressure so I’m really lucky,” Georgie added. “Luna is the perfect pony in every way, she’s so affectionate and she really loves her job.”

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Alex Robinson

H&H showing editor

Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 since when she has cemented its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK.