Always a force to be reckoned with, Louise Saywell is having one of her most successful seasons yet.
Just one month into her partnership with Susan Platt’s Ardenteggle Poltarf, the Nottinghamshire-based rider produced a brilliant final effort to claim the Halsall Electrical National grade C title.
“Normally we just meet up with her at shows, but before Scope I had her at home for a month. She is a nice genuine mare, quite sensitive, but I think she has a lot more to give.
“This was a fast jump off, but I wanted to win. She is careful, and I can let her run to a fence, so I would rather have gone for it than played safe,” said Louise, 22.
Born into a family steeped in equestrianism — her mother Vicky competed, and father Mick rode at the Munich Olympics, it is hardly surprising Louise and her brother Andrew have both been successful riders all through ponies and into senior ranks.
“I couldn’t wait to leave school and work with the horses from dawn until dusk,” said Louise, who also mixes riding with some teaching, and going to the gym for “relaxation and a change of scenery”.
Louise, whose thirst for knowledge was quenched still further when she spent two years in Holland at the yard of Vincent Voorn, rides everything from four-year-olds to established horses at home in Retford, and mixes their routine with schooling and riding out.
“I think road work is good for horses fitness and legs, so we like to do plenty hacking,” said Louise, whose European medal haul includes pony 2005 individual gold and team silver, 2006 individual bronze, and junior 2008 team gold and individual bronze.
In addition to her grade C win with Ardenteggle Poltarf, Louise also gained additional places at Scope, and she has qualified three horses for five championships at this year’s Horse of the Year Show.
Scope Festival results – Saturday 1 September
Tacklockers.com National pony British novice championship. 1, T Rifle (W Walker); 2, Mr Billy Joe (D Lane); 3, Prince Pearl II (J Roberts). Autostop Adventurer championship. 1, Venus UK (C Foreman); 2, Gitta (A Bratt); 3, Custinov (C Foreman). Halsall Electrical National grade C championship. 1, Ardenteggle Poltarf (L Saywell); 2, Lux Fabulous (P Barker); 3, Rubiroso JX (K Shore). Shaw Farm Stud National tiny tots championship. 1, Forever Penny (M Deakin); 2, Coco Can (H Bishop); 3, Martlets Masters Madam (E Mitchell). Great Coffee Dunglenn 148cm championship. 1, Razorlite II (J Mendoza); 2, Enzo III (D Ward); 3, Wizard VIII (E Ward). Bilton Ward Developments midget & mighty masters relay. 1, Ballindooly Queen (T Ward) & Cassi Go (D Ward); 2, Magic Trick (G Lovegrove) & Jerome II (E Lovegrove); 3, Mitchel Troy Welsh Express (E Crawford) & Temple Ryefield (P Barker). Montse Benitez Foundation British showjumping National Championship. 1, Special Lux (A Condon); 2, Zanzibar (E Whitaker); 3, Stranger (K Shore). Cats & Pipes pairs challenge. 1, All Rise (K Grimster) & Just Jasper (E Eynon); 2, Obelix Z (L Whiteway) & Temple Ryefield (P Barker); 3, Sat On A Star (S Pountain) & First Musical (R Barton. Jubilee & Dunglenn 148cm consolation 1, Dantes Ghost (Y Whiteside);2, WSH Ryehill Dixie (N Mitchell); 3, Mosstown Ralph (R Mason). BS Business Partnership National 6yo championship. 1, Lucy Loo IV (S Price); 2, Basic (P Miller); 3, Bart VI (E Stoker). National Team jumping championship. 1, Suffolk Saints (Area 12); 2, Essex (Area 40); 3, Derby (Area 21). Independent Asset Management pony progressive consolation. 1, Crystal Chandelier (S Colson); 2, Ronald XII (M Wright); 3, Llettycrudd Cardi Bach (M Argo). Graham Heath Construction primary consolation. 1, Little Meg (J Woodward); 2, Pablo IX (B McCrory); 3, Tita II (G Blakemore). Tacklockers National pony British novice consolation. 1, Moyralla Bay (H Thubron); 2, Appache Brave (J Ingham); 3, Kristena (R Horner). Shaw Farm Stud tiny tots consolation. 1eq, Kitty (L Freeman-Attwood) Bowdenfarm Tiger Lilly (O Fletcher); 3, Ninfield Discovery (R Woodward). Autostop adventurer consolation. 1, Carel Cruise (A Hudson-Smith); 2, The Smirnoff Iceman (J Saunders); 3, Columbcille Colleen (J Watson). Smarter Training Group National 1.15m consolation. 1, Carel Cruise; 2, Penny Market (J Saunders); 3, Simply Billie Bunter (E Slater). HOYS 128cm qualifier. 1eq, Tatty Desire(S McLean), Top Gun XI (G Taylor-Jones) & Barnee Rubble IV (J Whitaker).
