SHOWJUMPING
A mare makes it three for three tickets, while combinations battle the elements
HIGHLIGHTS 20–26 May
Second Rounds Show, Vale View Equestrian, Leics
WHILE a handful of combinations achieve qualification for multiple Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) finals in a given year, few accomplish the feat as emphatically as Ben Bick and If Evers Girl MS (Joy) have – qualifying for each final on their first attempt, via three outright victories in just three weeks.
Heading the 15-strong jump-off for the Redpost Equestrian Foxhunter second round landed them their third and final ticket, all of which have been secured with impressive performances against the clock.
“I genuinely can’t remember another horse qualifying the way she has,” said Ben, who also collected tickets for the talent seekers at Chard and grade C at Hertfordshire County. “She’s very happy with herself. She knows when she’s won, she goes into the ring with her ears fully pricked at the cameras – she’s a real show-off.”
Ben had two horses in the third round, jumping first on his first ride, Marseille, before a useful late draw on eightyear-old Joy, who is owned and was produced by his partner Abbie Summers.
“It was a nice bit of luck being last to go on Joy. I followed Holly Smith and Une Copine Van Overis Z. They went into the lead, so I knew roughly where I had to be to qualify if I left the sticks up. I took the same route as Holly, but Joy is just naturally a bit faster than her horse,” he said. The mare was bought by Abbie from Harry Whall at the end of her five-year-old year and has really shown her talent this season.
“She was very green at first and Abbie really took her time with her, not going fast but making her learn to turn,” Ben said. “She came into her own at the end of her seventh year and this year she has come out so mature and a year stronger.
“She really knows her job and loves to compete. She dra
