Limited Edition is top of the field at BSHA Autumn Gala *H&H Plus*

A ladies’ combination finishes supreme, a novice riding horse cements her future and a home-produced hack impresses at British Show Horse Association (BSHA) Autumn Gala, Arena UK, Lincolnshire on 12–13 September

DANIELLE HEATH crowned a sparkling weekend for her team at the British Show Horse Association Autumn Gala when landing the final overall open supreme.

Guy Mears’ ladies’ show horse champion, the ultra-mannerly and ever-cheerful maxi cob Brookdale Limited Edition (Archie), gave a magical show which earned the only two perfect scores of the day.

Devils’ Horsemen director Camilla Naprous judged alongside David Puttock and former world cutting horse champion Constance Jaeggi.

“I gave this combination my only 10 of the day,” said Camilla. “The horse was exceptional as soon as he entered the ring – a real showman. He pricked his ears, got on with the job and had a smile on his face. He looked the type of horse you would love to ride all day long.”

This was not only Archie’s first outing of the year, but a debut in “sideways” supreme ranks for Danielle.

“I decided to stay in the side-saddle because he just rocks it,” she said. “He’s a mega Rolls-Royce ride sideways as well as astride.”

Earlier, Archie had collected the maxi cob title partnered by Issy Mears, 19, and the team’s tally was further boosted by Anne Leigh’s six-year-old cob, Bobbi Dazzler, who headed the novice class and made a triumphant open debut to stand champion.

Guy Mears’ riding horse Times Square, also six and novice champion at Royal Windsor last term, put a further notch in his belt when standing open reserve to Jayne Ross with the prolific Casino, after taking reserve in the young riders’ section with Issy.

Tight for reserve

AFTER a second inspection by the judges, the reserve open supreme went to Dot Clowes with Edwina Al Humaidhi’s part-Connemara working show horse champion Templebready Alainn (Molly), who gave a giant-killing show, delivering precisely what this lovely dun mare said on her tin.

She had tied on marks with Casino – ultimately second reserve – and Jo Bates with Suzannah Welby’s hack Elusive.

Leicestershire-based Dot returned to the show ring last term after a 50-year absence.

“We are primarily a hunting family, but when Edwina’s daughter Laila – who previously showed Molly – went to university, they offered Molly to me on extended loan,” said Dot, 60. “She is nicest, kindest mare in all ways and I’m so lucky to have this opportunity to come into showing later in life. Today we felt very honoured to be in a championship among such elite company.”

The whole show was a successful, joyous and well-supported occasion – and a triumph of organisation by new BSHA general manager Lucy Savill.

“The standards of production and animals were remarkable, too,” added Camilla, who also officiated in the amateur and home-produced supremes.

The overall home-produced supreme fell to Lucinda Haines and her immaculate large hack, Fridebi Supreme Way (Dolly), who delivered a foot-perfect, flair-filled show.

“I was looking for a horse I would like to put on a plane and take back to Texas, and a rider who took risks to put on an exciting show,” said Constance Jaeggi.

Helped by her mother Linda, Lucinda juggles producing their six horses with a full-time job in publishing — albeit currently working from home. The Dolphin Supreme seven-year-old joined the family at the end of last year.

“I got a chance phone call asking if I would like another hack,” added Lucinda, who also won with her small campaigner, Thurstonhouse Miss Moneypenny. “With my soft spot for hacks I obviously said yes.”

The amateur supreme was another nail-biting affair, as three partnerships finished on equal top marks. After the judges took another look, the top spot went to Jemma Ellison with her Team Moore-produced small hunter Master Of The Hounds (Paddy), a workmanlike grey who went about his job with style and enthusiasm.

“It was very mannerly, covered the ground at all paces, had a good gallop and looked a pleasure to ride,” said co-judge David Puttock.

Liverpool-based construction lawyer Jemma has had Paddy – a seven-year-old full Irish Draught – for two years.

“He is the perfect amateur horse – really well-behaved, a comfortable ride and takes very little working-in,” said Jemma. “He loves jumping, too, so we will do some of that over the winter as well as hunt with the Cheshire.”

Steller run for young rider

ALICE HOMER was on top form. Her four-year-old Ballinclare headed the novice hacks, and Angie Coggins’ Bloomfield Eloquence gave her a first major hunter double. Having won the open weights, this upstanding six-year-old also made a winning side-saddle debut in an exceptionally strong ladies’ hunter class and stood ladies’ reserve.

Alice, 18, then completed her tally by taking her first senior worker title with a new ride, the restricted victor Little Joe. The 17.2hh seven-year-old newcomer had previously evented, and was sent to the Homer yard to be sold.

“I fell in love with him, though, and persuaded Grandy [David Tatlow] to buy him for me as my first horse worker,” said Alice. “He team-chased and went cubbing as his preparation for this – he’s a superstar in all ways.”

Novices were out in force on day one, and the overall top spot sealed a triumphant show for Team Walker’s newcomers when Robert emerged a convincing winner with Miranda Wallace’s young riding horse, Springpond Diamond Legacy (Ziva), who had also dazzled on her ridden debut at the UK Nationals.

“I gave this horse my highest mark,” said co-judge Tim Wiggett, the outgoing society president. “It owned the ring from the moment it walked in, and just oozed star quality. The show was foot-perfect and magnificently ridden.”

This brought the yard’s novice tally to six wins, four championships, one reserve and one supreme.

“I was especially pleased because all my owners had a winner, which was great for them after they were amazingly loyal through lockdown,” said Robert. “As it was only Ziva’s second show I just thought I’d see how she left the line, but from the word go she rose to the occasion and answered every question I asked of her.”

However, Robert was pipped to the coveted novice hunter title by Oli Hood with Julia Moorhouse’s Emperor Augustus six-year-old Timpany Imperial (Tim), who came from Sally and Peter Hobbs three years ago but has only been lightly shown under saddle.

“He only went to three shows last year and the UK Nationals this time,” said Julia, an MRI radiographer for the NHS.

“He hasn’t been out of the top two but needed time to mature. I’ve been working non-stop through the pandemic, so it was lovely to see what a great job Team Hood has done.”

Amateur home-producers provided absorbing competition, and Heather McCloy’s trip from Yorkshire with the maxi cob Colour Print – her sole outing this term – was rewarded with a good section win.

Fellow Yorkshirewoman Hayley Erner was another on form, taking the amateur novice heavyweights and standing reserve on her exciting new cob Captain Pugwash, who then came out to be reserve in the open home-produced cob section.

“This was only his second-ever show,” said business management adviser Hayley. “I spotted him on Facebook earlier this year and although he was very raw, there was just something about him I loved – I wanted a cob just to have fun on. He’d originally come over from Ireland and was totally feral.”

Cornwall-based livestock transport manager Lisa Davey had double cause for celebration. After her new cob, the five-year-old Red Butler, landed the novice cob title with Sarah Walker to continue his unbeaten three-show run, her home-produced hunter Redemption Ground (Cheerio) again pulled out all the stops to win his heavyweight section, partnered by Lisa’s great friend, stage four cancer survivor Christa Davis.

“We love having Cheerio at home and do all sorts of things with him,” said Lisa. “He carries a side-saddle, goes jumping and competes in dressage. He’s a joy to have around.”

Lucinda Freedman’s middleweight hunter Big Ben has embarked on a new career – contesting workers with Hannah Horton. Here, at only their second attempt over fences, the pair claimed the novice worker title and ended the day as second reserve supreme.

“He’s been a big winner on the flat, and was third at HOYS last year and third in his weight class here,” said Hannah, another to enjoy a successful day with her team’s string. “He has the most phenomenal gallop and is a dream to ride – he’s also a natural showman over fences.”

“We really thought we weren’t going to make it”

A WEEKEND which began badly ended in triumph for Olivia Edmondson and the exciting Double Mocha, who claimed the home-produced hunter title and stood reserve supreme overall.

Manchester-based Olivia suffered a lorry breakdown – which closed the A1 for a time – which forced them to return home on the Friday.

“We really thought we weren’t going to make it at all but Jenna Tyldesley very kindly lent us her lorry so we set off again on Saturday morning,” explained Olivia. “It was definitely worth all the effort – my amazing horse didn’t let me down and I also owe my thanks to my chief groom, driver and the best mum, June Francis; I couldn’t do it without her.”

“Breeding is like a padlock”

PROGENY of Emma Edwards-Brady’s Runnon Stud-based stallion Leander dominated novice hack ranks.

The 16-year-old thoroughbred sired both the champion and reserve novice hacks: Vicky Smith’s large victor and novice reserve supreme Power Of Love – a Cuddy finalist and Ottergayle champion last year and now partnered by Elliee Stunt – and Jane Scriven’s small winner Brown Panther, with Harriet Scriven up, also produced by Steve Pitt and Vicky Smith.

Leander was also responsible for the third-placed novice large, James Woodington’s Legend In Manhattan, and Louise Fonnereau’s Runnon Littlewood, third in the novice amateur/home-produced large class.

“I was absolutely thrilled to hear this news,” said Emma. “Breeding is like a padlock – you have to try different combinations but once you find the right one, it unlocks amazing results. Leander doesn’t have lots of mares each year so this is a huge achievement.”

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