The Showing Journal November 2020 13 in Nottingham that I discovered New horizons . I was keen to try something Lucinda Martin and Fly at home stick and balling. new with like-minded people, so I joined the polo club. However, by the end of my final year, I had become the president. I was never especially good, but I enjoyed the camaraderie, the adrenaline rush and the social life of course! I met my- now best friends, who were all at the top of their game in their own equestrian fields, ranging from junior GB and Pony Club teams to horse ball GB teams. ‘I had to give up polo when I left university to pursue my career in interior design in London, as I just did not have time to play whilst fitting in the showing, which always came first. I once missed out on a holiday to Mauritius as I wanted to compete at RIHS. Luckily, I ended up going champion in the amateur hunters with my middleweight Boss, so that made up for it! ‘I moved back to Shropshire 18 months ago, and after a chance encounter with the Shropshire Polo Club manager Major Terry Warburton, I decided to take it up again, becoming an official member of the Hurlingham Polo Association. It is now coming to the end of the grass season and Variety is the beginning of the winter arena polo season. I wanted to get some practice in with a stick and ball and my show horse Fly is the perfect the spice of life height. So, with a harrowed and rolled arena at home, I intend to keep practising through the winter. It has long been said that diverse training can improve the show horse. Now, I think that the partnership we have built up over the years in the more than ever, with the show season being cut unexpectedly short, riders are show ring has meant that he has discovering that their show animals have many hidden talents. So, is it time taken to the mallet much more to get out of the arena and take the plunge with your training? …We find out easily, because he trusts me. My from various The Showing Journal readers who have done just that… aim for next season is to continue showing Fly, who absolutely loves being the centre of attention and in front of the camera. I will also be doing some winter arena — including scooping the £1,000 June with my show hunter Boss as some By Natalie Reynolds Horsfall supreme at the North Of England Show, practice before he comes out as a winning five part-bred championships in a row at veteran next season.’ rying something different, Royal Cheshire County and twice being fourth at thinking outside the box and the Royal International (RIHS). ‘Fly trialling a variety of new disciplines is a wonderful horse,’ enthused Lucinda. ‘I had can really help your show horse’s success in my 20s showing al ion Tdevelopment and training. Exposing them to new hunters but Fly, who is at in u experiences and challenges can help to de-sensitise q barely 15 hands, has E f and acclimatise them to different situations, o even taught me to y s e helping to develop into an educated and well- t ride side-saddle r u rounded horse. o and we were c Lucinda Martin and o t her part-bred Arab Lucinda Martin’s super-versatile 15-year- unbeaten in o h champion Fly By old Fly By Moonlight (Fly) has successfully the concours P Moonlight at Royal competed in intermediate show riding type, d’elegance Cheshire 2017. part-bred Arab, small hack and side saddle at the Cherif classes, and is now turning his hoof to the sport Championships. It was Continued of polo. He has swept the board in the showing when I went to university overleaf... www.theshowingjournal.co.uk 14 The Showing Journal New horizons Photo courtesy of Richard Weller Photography Photo courtesy of Equinational

Charlotte Hunkin riding Charlotte Blair’s Equador at Poplar Park ODE 2020. Jess Hardiman and Comberton Cirrus at the CHAPS Covid show 2020.

Charlotte Blair purchased her multi-talented show horses are challenged in other disciplines, dressage so helpful to combat those nerves. I now show hunter Equador (Louie), now 11, from Neil as it serves to freshen them up and prevent them think of my show as a dressage test with markers. Fiddes as a five-year-old. He has had a wonderful from going a bit stale.’ This enables me to focus on the arena and plan my showing record to date, having competed Huddersfield-based Jess Hardiman’s eight-year- shows with more accuracy. successfully with Charlotte in the amateur and old coloured mare Comberton Cirrus (Puzzle) ‘Puzzle seems to have a natural flair for open lightweight hunter classes, and in the novice was purchased five years ago by her mother from dressage and has taken to it brilliantly. So far, the workers with her good friend Charlotte Hunkin. John Dodson as a 21st birthday present. judges have liked her big movement and flowing His highlights of 2019 were clinching the tests. Her sire was an advanced dressage Photo courtesy of James A Wilson amateur lightweight hunter title at the Royal horse, as well as winning numerous showing Windsor Horse Show and winning both his championships, so perhaps she is following novice worker classes. Equador has also in his hoofprints. With most of the planned qualified for Horse of The Year Show (HOYS) shows in my calendar cancelled this year, we three times. ‘In late September, I passed the have concentrated more on dressage. On only a reins back to my friend Charlotte (Hunkin) for handful of dressage outings, we have managed his first one-day event (ODE) at Poplar Park, to be in the top 20 out of 85 starters on the where he finished on a dressage score of 21 and Northern Region leaderboard, resulting in us jumped a double clear to win his section,’ said qualifying for the regional finals, where we Charlotte. finished fifth! My aim this winter is to move ‘With limited shows this season, it seemed up to full BD affiliation and elementary level. a good opportunity to keep the competitive I have regular lessons with top dressage rider spirit flowing by trying something a little Becky Moody. She has really helped me — not different. Louie had taken to cross country like only in the dressage, but also in the general a duck to water, so we took the plunge into the way of going of the horse for the showing world. We plan to continue his career Jess Hardiman and Comberton Cirrus at Aldham Mill BD arena. Next season I hope to continue with the in eventing alongside the showing, as it has MyQuest, where they won the prelim and novice classes. dressage and get to HOYS, with assistance been such a wonderful experience. His flatwork from Julia Moorhouse who helps me so was already there from the showing, and with him A full-sister to the successful small riding much.’ enjoying the jumping as well, it seemed the perfect horse Comberton Capriccio and half-sister Nine-year-old show cob Great combination. I also have ambitions to ride him side to HOYS, RIHS and Royal Windsor- Expectations (Nobby) has certainly saddle. He has been an absolute superstar horse to winning small hack Comberton Carbon lived up to his show name, by exceeding own since day one and his versatility has definitely Copy, Puzzle was bred by Sally and Peter all of his owner Nikki Mountain’s shone this year. I think it is important that the Hobbs. Puzzle is by Stanhopes Diddicoy dreams when taking her to HOYS. out of Comberton Chloe. He is also now proving his versatility ‘I have owned Puzzle since she by competing in dressage and was three,’ said Jess. ‘Showing going on bloodhound exercise. ‘I has always been my main bought Nobby as a newly broken aim, although due to four-year-old purely just for her age, I have only general hacking and some local shown her lightly showing,’ said Nikki. so far. We were sixth ‘Never did I think we at the Great Yorkshire would be going to HOYS! Show and my friend

Photo courtesy of 1st Class Images Class of 1st courtesy Photo It was my friend and Jordan Cook was instructor Michaela Pollitt second on her at who convinced me to CHAPS last year. try some Search For A She has qualified Star qualifiers. We qualified every year for RIHS, but we for HOYS in 2018 and thanks to have not yet managed to get to Nobby, Michaela and her husband HOYS. I decided to have a go at Tony, all of my dreams came true. some dressage, as I was always very nervous in the showring when performing my individual show and Nikki Mountain and Great Expectations had started to make a bit of a mess competing in dressage at Oakley Equestrian Centre 2019. Charlotte and Equador in the lightweight hunter class at HOYS 2018. of it, if I’m honest. I have found the

www.theshowingjournal.co.uk Photo courtesy of David Sharp November 2020 15 experiences. ‘I am so much more confident than I used to be and the showring seems a little less intimidating now.’ Sarah Field’s show cob The Cobfather (Bruce) arose from the Photo courtesy of SMR Photography. courtesy Photo ashes of adversity after a freak accident saw him take an early departure Photo courtesy of Catch It Quick Photography. of Catch courtesy Photo from the showring. Proving everyone wrong — including his owner — he is now pursuing a new career in the eventing world. ‘I bought Bruce five years ago as a six-year- Josephine Ready and Wolferlow Esperanto at ECHPC eventer trial. Nikki Mountain and Great Expectations at Osbaldeston SFAS qualifier 2018. old, after a 15-year gap from riding. I ‘Bruce is like a different horse now and I think he ‘Since then, my confidence has grown and we had never done any showing before and never genuinely enjoys it and relishes the challenges, even started competing in some open qualifiers as even owned a cob. I showed Bruce for two years as do I. I will still continue showing, as I love it. well as amateur classes. Nobby showed me that and we even managed to win on home turf at the I have my heavyweight cob Jambalaya who has anything is possible when you have the courage to Suffolk Show and had many other placings. Sadly qualified for HOYS for the last two years and my give things a go. Recently we have been competing though, his showing career was cut short when coloured maxi cob Humphrey will also make some in dressage, which we have found very helpful as a a freak accident in a horse trailer damaged both appearances, as well as some events now he is back schooling session.’ his knees. So, for two years he became my hack fighting fit, with some help and lessons from Nigel and hunter — until this year! I had always been Fuller.’ afraid of jumping him as he could ping people Sarah Ready’s 153cm show hunter pony out of the saddle for fun, once even managing to Wolferlow Esperanto (Leo) was purchased in break my ribs. I also own another maxi cob called 2015 for her daughter Josephine. ‘Leo had never Deards Gold-n-Silver (Humphrey) with whom I been shown,’ said Sarah. ‘He had done a little bit of was fourth in the SFAS at HOYS. I had dabbled dressage and had just started jumping after he was in a bit of eventing with Humphrey and he really expertly started by Katherine Kirkland, fresh from brought my confidence levels back for jumping; I his breeder Sandra Moreton. had previously been terrified of leaving the ground.

After an injury put a stop to Humphrey eventing Photo courtesy of Julian Portch this season, I was desperate to get my jumping fix back, so I began to introduce Bruce to it. I would never sell Bruce. We have had an amazing journey together and continue to do so. He does have his quirks, but I love him dearly. I decided now was the time to get brave and give him a job to do, so in January, I started having some show jumping Photo courtesy of Trevor Meeks lessons with Philip Spivey and cross-country lessons with Phoebe Buckley. Just after lockdown, we plucked up the courage and entered our first BE. We recently competed at the beautiful Weston Park in the BE 80 Team Challenge, where we performed our best to date and the team came second. So far, we have done five BE events and he keeps getting Sarah Field and The Cobfather at Suffolk Show 2018 better and better. I just cannot ‘We have been reserve wait for next season where champion at novice level my next big challenge is in our local winter dressage team chasing and BE 90. series and it is something I must be we are going to stick with, mad! alongside the showing. I also believe that horses should be allowed to be let loose and have some fun, and so we have been out on bloodhound exercise with the Readyfield and Yorkshire Farmer Bloodhounds. I have found that switching it up and doing different things stops Nobby from going sour and keeps him switched on and motivated. I am just glad that he is still enjoying what he is Sarah Ready’s Wolferlow Esperanto having won the doing, and we are having a lot Sarah Field and The Cobfather at hunter pony title at RIHS 2016. of fun together trying out new Little Downham Horse Trials 2020. Continued overleaf... Photo courtesy of Action Replay Photography www.theshowingjournal.co.uk 16 The Showing Journal an allrounder that has kept all our spirits up. ‘Josephine’s riding New horizons virtually has come on so much. What is interesting, though, overnight. is that Leo was always quite a sharp horse when Neither Leo or he was showing, but since doing his new job Josephine had he is extremely laid-back — almost to the point ever jumped of horizontal. We still love showing and we are round a cross quietly looking for another one to run alongside country course our new passion of eventing.’ or ridden a Esme Humpston’s six-year-old small hunter dressage test, Scarlet Ribbons (JLo) already has an enviable so it was a case show record, as well as a successful eventing of finding their

Photo courtesy of Catch It Quick Photography career. ‘I bought her three years ago from Devon- feet together in based Tina Sharp who had her to break for breeder very uncharted Carolyn Bates,’ said Esme. ‘Carolyn stood the waters. Whilst legendary event stallion Jumbo, as well as his it was a steep offspring Jigilo and Brief Encounter. Tina had learning curve, jokingly nicknamed Scarlet Ribbons JLo, as she both of them thought she had a lovely face and a strong back Travel in Style! have rolled their end! She is by the advanced event stallion Wish sleeves up and Upon A Star, which was by Gribaldi — the famous Luxury Canvas Luggage with the help of sire of Painted Black and Totilas — and is out of the best trainers a Jumbo mare. With breeding like that, I always we could find, knew that JLo would be multi-talented, and so they are doing when we ventured into showing her, I always brilliantly. Lisa wanted to explore her other talents, which turned Josephine Ready and Wolferlow Esperanto at Puckeridge West Pony Club ODE. Street has taught out to be workers and eventing. ‘He was a late starter at everything, including Josephine for years and we also showing, which was to be our venture. Josephine have dressage help from Dan and Leo went on to achieve success beyond our Sherriff, Sue Underhill for cross wildest dreams, under the fabulous production of country and Sharron Kivlochan John Harvey. They were twice show hunter pony for the show jumping. After champions at RIHS and well placed at HOYS; the purchase of many saddles they won the £1000 riding pony championship and lots of hard work, their at the NPS Summer Championships. This year first ODE — at Bramfield Event was to have been their last season together, as Training Centre in July — saw Josephine would be out of the class due to her Available

them gain the top dressage mark Images Class of 1st courtesy Photo age. After a strong start, winning their first RIHS and just one unlucky fence down in Navy qualifier in March, the dreaded lockdown came, in the show jumping resulted and our hopes were dashed. When the reality hit in an overall second. They have home that HOYS and RIHS were not going to & Grey also been clear in their first happen, we took Leo home feeling totally deflated. 80cm eventer trial in August at Not only were we disappointed, but so was John Enfield Chace, which involved as you can imagine. We had to have a long hard their first skinny and water think about what to do next. We have had lots complex, which for a horse that of offers for Leo over the years, but we decided did not even like puddles was a that we just could not bear to part with him. In the back of our minds, we always thought he was fabulous achievement. We have capable of another job, but we realised now was really missed the showing, and Esme Humpston’s small hunter Scarlet Ribbons and Amy Tough at HOYS last year. the time to seize that opportunity and re-invent it is very strange to have our There was only one jockey on my mind that could him in a new guise. It also gave Josephine the champion horse start at the very bottom all accomplish all of this, and that was Amy Tough opportunity to keep riding the pony she loved. over again, but the challenge has been (nee James) who is based in Pembrokeshire. We sold Josephine’s ‘fun’ pony and Leo became thrilling and a really positive experience Amy had her from a very green five-year-old and was an ideal partner for her as she was already a successful showing and advanced Amy and Scarlet Ribbons stepping up to novice level eventing. event rider. Amy has won the HOYS horse workers twice with her own Columbo Nimbus — in 2013 and 2014 — and the large mountain and moorland working hunter pony class four times on Welsh section Ds Prince, in 2010, and Fairlies Red Flare in 2011, 2012 and 2013. As I fully expected, Amy and JLo did make a wonderful partnership and have been ninth at HOYS, won the SEIB working show horse final at the BSHA National Championships and competed in BE events, where they are now at 90cm level. She was third at Keysoe in the BE 90 in August and our future plans are to move up the ranks in workers and eventing. They also enjoy beach rides, which blow away Perfect Christmas Gift! all the cobwebs. She enjoys playing in the sea almost as much as she does the cross- country phase. I do think it is very important that JLo has had the chance to explore all of her talents and Amy has done a Photo courtesy of 1st Class Images Class of 1st courtesy Photo fabulous job of producing her in many end Available from all disciplines.’ major LeMieux stockists www.theshowingjournal.co.uk www.lemieuxproducts.com

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