SHOWING
Amateurs and first-timers lead the field in mini M&M ranks, and a riding pony filly’s quality breeding shines through
MIDLAND COUNTIES
1–2 June
Edited by Alex Robinson alexandra.robinson@futurenet.com
@alexrob_journo_
Midland Counties, Arena UK, Lincs
ONE of the youngest jockeys on the showground triumphed in a hotly contested mountain and moorland (M&M) Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) lead-rein qualifier before landing the mini M&M championship. Four-year-old Penelope Rae Dale rode home-produced Dartmoor gelding Hisley Caliph (Sven), owned and led by her mother Leigh Dale.
“It feels like it’s not real,” said Leigh. “You have to be in it to win it. When you are home produced it’s hard, and the class was huge today with every single professional in it.”
This was the icing on the cake for Preston-based Leigh, who also rides Sven in the open Dartmoor classes and is already HOYS-bound, having qualified at The Showing Register amateur show last weekend.
Judge Mathew Lawrence said: “Our winners were both lovely types and had a super ease in their way of going, which is most important for these classes. Our champion had the edge on the day; it went uphill with a smile on its face.” The HOYS supreme in-hand ticket went to Mark and Rosemarie Buckley’s two-yearold home-bred riding pony filly, Marcosie The Spirit Of The Dance, produced and handled by Simon Charlesworth.
By Small-land Tapdance out of the 2018 HOYS in-hand supreme champion Crafton Blithe Spirit, “Zara” is living up to her quality pedigree.
Long-term, Zara is to be a broodmare at the stud. She will also hopefully be brought out under saddle at some point.
“The riding pony had lovely limbs and was straight as a die. She will make a wonderful ridden pony in the future,” said in-hand supreme judge Clare Dew, who chose Kimberley Heffer’s Welsh section C colt, Glanhayl Toddwick, shown by Josh Hampson, as reserve.
“It did what it said on the tin – moved beautifully and had good bone,” commented Clare.
MEANT TO BE
VIOLET HAWKINS, 14, jumped at the chance to ride the Welsh section B Melau Aramis in the HOYS junior M&M small breeds qualifier as his usual jockey, Evie Walker, was nursing a broken shoulder.
While Violet’s main focus is dressage – she is on the shortlist for the pony European dressage team – she was invited to ride the gelding by his owner Samantha Walker.
“It all seemed meant to be,” said Violet’s mother, Alex. “We were free
