Becky Moody wins third HOYS Future Elite title

European and Olympic medallist Becky Moody rode to her third Dressage Future Elite title at the Horse of the Year Show, producing a spellbinding freestyle on board her own eight-year-old Magic Dream. 

The Dressage Future Elite class at Horse of the Year Show provides equine stars of the future with a great opportunity to experience one of the country's top indoor atmospheres, and compete for a shot at a title which has seen plenty of great horses grace its roll-call. This year's contest was a showcase of some of Britain's top riders and upcoming horses, riding in front of Stephen Clarke (C), Peter Storr (H) and Richard Baldwin (M). 

Jezz Palmer and Ketcher B (Negro x Stedinger) opened the show on 67.833% riding to a theatrical programme of music by Two Steps From Hell; the elegant music matched Emily Ivins' stallion's way of going, and Jezz rode some interesting lines with the ten-year-old, especially in the canter work. Commenting from C, 5* judge Stephen Clarke began the analysis on the class after Jezz's performance, saying, "it's great that horses have the opportunity to compete in this amazing atmosphere. It's a wonderful way to develop them for the future. There were a few mistakes today but this pair make a really nice picture. Some of the lines were really interesting and he tried to show a nice degree of difficulty."

Next up, Magic Prix St Georges Winter Champions Matt Frost and Kerouac would take an early lead and blow away the crowd with their 75.500% performance. Riding to an atmospheric mix of dance beats with stunning vocals, Matt showed Kerouac's power with highlights in the extended paces, with beautiful expression and an open frame in both trot and canter. The lateral work was also a mark-earner, bringing in 7.5s for both paces. After rapturous applause from the HOYS audience, Richard Baldwin commented, "This was a really exciting freestyle and Matt showed really good use of the curved lines, as well as lots of joinedup movements. It was excitement from the start to the end. This was a beautiful test and harmoniously ridden by Matt today."

Gloucesteshire's Darren Hicks has enjoyed a wonderful season to date, and brought Fiona Langdale's Franklin-sired ten-year-old Kinnear to the HOYS arena, scoring 69.458% for their first appearance at the show. Darren exemplifies light riding and did a great job of supporting Kinnear throughout his test, riding to cinematic music. "Darren's horse showed a little tension tonight," FEI 5* judge Peter Storr, "but it's great for our horses to get exposure to these big championship-feel atmospheres. If there's tension, as judges we have to take it into account, but it wasn't a lot today and it's still a beautiful horse - so there were some nice marks to give." 

Tom Goode and Margot look to be a combination set for the big stage, and showed that in their test which earned 73.542%. Lady Caroline Rake's mare is powerful, enthusiastic and always works with her ears forward; set to dramatic music, Tom piloted her through plenty of high quality work, including a high-scoring pirouette to the right and very well presented tempi changes. Stephen Clarke praised the peformance, commenting, "what we've just seen was very soft, elegant and harmonious. There could maybe be a little more expression and implusion, but that'll come and the picture was really super. We saw a very good job here."

Fresh from success at the Middle Tour Championships, Lewis Carrier presented Sarah Field and Patricia Baker’s Rubico (Rubin Royal x Stedinger) for 68.333%. Lewis rode a bold, fresh freestyle programme created by Equidance, featuring 90s music including The SugarHill Gang's Jump On It. A flowing extended walk was a highlight in their test, alongside accurately ridden and well-balanced tempi changes, which Richard Baldwin commented on during his review, saying, "they were secure and on the aids. Overall, Lewis rides in a very calm, harmonious way."

Former FEI WBSFH World Breeding Championship representative Waverley Fellini has progressed from Young Horse titles to Small Tour with Greg Sims, and today the duo earned 72.375% for their Intermediate I Freestyle effort. The pair showed lovely three tempi changes on a curved line, a bold extended canter and plenty of quality from the basic paces within the marked movements. Greg's atmospheric music also stood out, especially over the pirouettes. Peter Storr analysed their top scoring ride: "We have to see a horse with the correct way of going, rhythm, contact and suppleness, I think we saw that here with this last horse. There were lovely moments, just one little mistake, but the horse looked very confirmed within all the work, Greg did a good job." 

Next up, having won previously with Jagerbomb and Carinsio, Becky Moody presented the latest of her rising stars in her own eight-year-old Magic Dream (Governor x Swarovski). Riding to a 'Wednesday' themed programme, Becky delivered a spellbinding performance as the stunning music complemented an intricate, well-executed floorplan. There were ground covering half passes in trot, neat canter pirouettes and very good tempi changes ridden from the centre line onto a curve. The test built in drama throughout, and was concluded with a super halt. "The artistic side was just fantastic," Stephen Clarke praised, "It was difficult, the choreography was amazing and the interpretation of the music was really beautiful." For her Music and Interpretation of the Music mark, Becky earned three straight nines. "The presentation was top class, and this is a young horse who Becky looked after really well." To the cheers of the crowd, Becky's score was announced as a class-topping 78.333%. 

Bringing forward his second ride of the evening, Jezz Palmer presented Martin Price's Rommano Weltino Anmore for a fantastic mark of 70.708%. Entering the arena to music from the movie Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, Jezz showed light, kind riding whilst presenting a test full of activity and expression. This is another beautiful mare who goes with boundless enthuisiasm, enjoyment and energy. Jezz concluded the night by showing another interesting floorplan, including canter half pass into a pirouette, and then returning to canter half pass. 

After eight super, showcase performances, Becky Moody was crowned HOYS Champion for the third time; joined on the podium by Matt Frost in second, and Tom Goode in third. Commenting on the class, Richard Baldwin concluded, "The standout for me was Becky's freestyle, she's the queen of the dance floor, just so good at freestyles. Matt and Becky did a great job fighting it out for the top placings. The best part is giving these horses the chance to come into this environment and learn; all of the horses here tonight will have gained so much experience. 

"It's exciting to see that as a country, we have talented horses and riders, and it's fantastic that we get to see the Olympic medallists of the future coming through at this level."

Delighted with her mare's performance, Becky reflected on her evening in the HOYS arena: "It's super cool, she's such a young horse and she coped so well with the atmosphere. I'm just super pleased with her. The freestyle wasn't actually made for her, it was made for a horse I rode a few years ago. The music is mostly from Wednesday, it's quite atmospheric and the floorplan - it's a funny one because it doesn't feel difficult to ride but it has a high degree of difficulty. So it's a really good balance when you find something like that, that helps the horses flow. It was great."

"She's eight, she's by Governor and out of a Swarovski mare, I've had her since she was three," Becky continued speaking about the lovely chestnut, "she was the first horse I bought unseen from a video! It was during lockdown and it's something I've never done before, but she came highly recommended from somebody I really trust and I loved the video. I forget that the first time I sat on her... she spectacularly ditched me! Since then she's been such a good girl, she's got a great engine and she's a lovely person to work with." 

"There are so few venues in the UK where you get this kind of atmosphere, so for those horses that you hope are starting out on their top international journey, it's amazing for them. I've had five horses that I've ridden here, four have become international Grand Prix horses, and if you look at everyone else that's done it there's a reallly high percentage of horses that have gone on to do really exciting things. That just goes to show the importance of it," Becky concluded. 

Results 

Dressage Future Elite Intermediate I Freestyle 
1. Becky Moody and Magic Dream, 78.333%
2. Matt Frost and Kerouac, 75.500%
3. Tom Goode and Margot, 73.542%
4. Greg Sims and Waverley Fellini, 72.375%
5. Jezz Palmer and Romanno Weltino, 70.708%
6. Darren Hicks and Kinnear, 69.458%
7. Lewis Carrier and Rubico, 68.333%
8. Jezz Palmer and Ketcher B, 67.833%

FULL RESULTS

Image: 1st Class Images - visit online for full show photos.